Individual Specialist for UIS Asia-Pacific Regional Office

Job Posting Organization:
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the official statistical agency of UNESCO, established to support Member States in strengthening education data systems and advancing evidence-based decision-making. UIS operates globally, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, where it engages in regional data collection, analysis, and technical cooperation to assist countries in monitoring progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). The organization is committed to providing methodologically rigorous and context-responsive monitoring and capacity-building efforts across diverse education systems.

Job Overview:
The position of Individual Specialist at the UIS Asia-Pacific Regional Office involves supporting regional SDG 4 monitoring and capacity-building efforts. The specialist will engage in the collection and compilation of internationally comparable data, analytical reporting, and the development of thematic knowledge products. The role requires collaboration with the UIS team to prepare regional education situation analysis reports, UIS Education Factsheets, and to support regional technical workshops. The specialist will be expected to contribute to data collection, statistical analysis, and the drafting of reports and factsheets that are policy-relevant and data-driven. This position is crucial for enhancing the capacity of Member States in education data production and interpretation, ultimately translating evidence into actionable policy.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Individual Specialist will undertake several key tasks, including:

• Preparation of the Regional Education Situation Analysis Report, which involves supporting the development of the analytical framework, data collection, statistical analysis, and drafting analytical sections of the report.
• Development of UIS Education Factsheets, requiring the compilation and analysis of regional data, drafting concise content, and preparing data visualizations.
• Support for UIS Regional Technical Workshops, which includes preparing technical and administrative documentation, coordinating logistics, and providing on-site technical support during workshops. The specialist will also be responsible for integrating a gender perspective in all activities and applying gender analysis concepts where feasible.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in international development in education, economics, or a related field with a focus on quantitative analysis. Additionally, a minimum of three years of experience in education data gathering, processing, and analysis is required. Proficiency in statistical software such as R, STATA, or Python is essential, along with good knowledge of MS Excel and other MS 365 applications. Experience with analytics and data visualization applications like MS PowerBI, Qlik, or Tableau is also required. Strong analytical skills, demonstrated writing abilities, and good organizational skills are essential for this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in fields related to international development in education, economics, or other education studies with a quantitative analysis focus is required. A further advanced degree in education, analytics, statistics, or a related field is desirable, as it would enhance the candidate's qualifications for the position.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of relevant experience in education data gathering, processing, and analysis, particularly in generating policy-relevant documents and reports. Experience with statistical software for data validation and analysis is mandatory, and familiarity with the United Nations system or similar international organizations is considered an asset. Professional experience in a government or international organization, particularly in education statistics, is also desirable.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. While not required, knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the Asia-Pacific region or the work of UNESCO.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is between 7 to 11 months, with the recruitment open to external candidates. The specialist will be based in Bangkok, Thailand, and may be required to travel for mission-related activities. Travel expenses will be covered according to UNESCO rules, and the specialist is expected to manage their own travel arrangements. The position emphasizes accountability, communication, innovation, knowledge sharing, planning, results focus, teamwork, and professionalism as core competencies.