Senior Regional Advisor (Statistics)

Job Posting Organization:
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) was established in 1999 and serves as the statistical office of UNESCO. It acts as the United Nations depository for cross-nationally comparable statistics in education, science, technology, culture, and communication for its 193 Member States and 12 Associate Members. The UIS focuses on delivering comparable data for global and regional agendas, structured around three main pillars: standards and methodologies, data production, and outreach. The UIS aims to ensure that countries' policies are informed by sound statistical information, enabling them to benchmark progress towards national and international goals, and learn from others' experiences. The UIS also provides data and technical inputs for global education mechanisms and responds to emerging data needs, such as those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The position is part of the UIS senior management team and leads the UIS team in Africa, working under the supervision of the Director of the Institute and collaborating with various sections of the Institute.

Job Overview:
The Senior Regional Advisor (Statistics) will provide strategic advice and support to regional, sub-regional, and national authorities to improve the quality of education data in Africa. This role involves providing technical assistance and methodological guidance to enhance statistical capacity and strengthen the region's ability to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG

• The incumbent will be responsible for developing and implementing a Regional Engagement Strategy to improve data quality and completeness, leading capacity development initiatives, and fostering partnerships with various stakeholders. The role also includes contributing to UIS core work by outlining annual priorities and ensuring alignment with national and regional frameworks.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Data Collection: Develop and implement a Regional Engagement Strategy to enhance the quality and timeliness of data collected for the UIS Core System of Education Indicators. Monitor response rates and coordinate actions to maintain or improve data quality, ensuring country validation of reported indicators.
• Capacity Development: Lead regional analysis activities to support SDG monitoring and the Education 2030 Agenda, collaborating with UNESCO regional offices on cross-cutting themes. Deliver UIS responsibilities for the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) and SDG 4 benchmarking.
• Partnership and Resource Mobilization: Establish strategic partnerships with the African Union and other organizations to advance education data strategies. Coordinate UIS field operations and participate in resource mobilization efforts for UIS activities in the region.
• Contribution to UIS Core Work: Provide an annual plan to the UIS Director outlining regional priorities and ensure coordination with UNESCO field offices and stakeholders in UIS program development.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in statistics, economics, demography, education, or social sciences with a strong applied statistics or data sciences component. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience as a statistician, including at least three years at the regional or international level, is required. Experience in partnership development and resource mobilization is also essential.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as statistics, economics, demography, education, or social sciences is required. A PhD or equivalent in these areas is highly desirable, particularly with a focus on applied statistics or data science.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least ten years of professional experience as a statistician, with significant experience in education data capacity building in Africa. Experience working with National Statistical Offices or Planning Units in developing countries is essential, along with demonstrated experience in partnership development and resource mobilization.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of either English or French is mandatory, with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of another official UNESCO language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is considered desirable.

Additional Notes:
The position is a project appointment for one year, with the possibility of extension based on funding availability and satisfactory performance. The role is open to both internal and external candidates. The approximate annual starting salary for this position is 141,026 USD, and benefits may include 30 days of annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, and a pension plan. The selection process may involve video interviews, written assessments, and reference checks. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups.