Data Specialist Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The job is posted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), which is a regional arm of the United Nations established to promote economic and social development in African countries. ECA's mission is to foster the economic and social development of its member states, promote regional integration, and enhance the capacity of African countries to achieve sustainable development. The organization has been operational since 1958 and has a significant presence across various African nations, working collaboratively with governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to address the continent's challenges. ECA employs a diverse workforce of professionals from various fields and operates in multiple countries across Africa, focusing on data, statistics, and policy analysis to support decision-making processes.

Job Overview:
The Data Specialist Consultant position is part of a project titled 'Advancing Data Integration, Innovation and Capacity in Africa,' which aims to strengthen the African statistical ecosystem. This role is crucial in enhancing the capacity of the ECA to transform data into actionable insights for policymakers. The consultant will be responsible for providing technical support throughout the data lifecycle, from data engineering to analytics and AI-enabled applications. The position requires the design and implementation of core data workflows, ensuring the integration of high-impact datasets into the UN Data Commons schema, and developing interactive Analytical Hubs that facilitate data exploration and reporting. The consultant will also work closely with various stakeholders to ensure that the developed solutions meet user needs and contribute to the production of data-driven policy briefs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Designing and implementing data engineering workflows to integrate 7–12 regional and national datasets into the UN Data Commons schema.
• Collecting, structuring, cleaning, and preprocessing datasets to ensure data quality and governance.
• Translating technical specifications into data models and optimizing database performance.
• Co-designing and developing two thematic Analytical Hubs as interactive dashboards with advanced visualization features.
• Developing an AI-enabled prototype for generating data-driven policy briefs.
• Collaborating with domain experts and technical teams to translate user needs into effective technical solutions.
• Producing clear technical documentation and contributing to capacity development programs for National Statistical Offices.
• Supporting policy analysis and contributing to the production of at least six data-driven policy briefs.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an Advanced University Degree (master's degree or above) in statistics, engineering, information systems, or a related field, along with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Extensive experience in the entire data lifecycle, including frontend and backend web development, data engineering, data analysis, and data visualization is required. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and SQL is essential, along with experience in frontend technologies and dashboard/visualization tools. Proven experience in managing large datasets and solving complex data engineering problems is also necessary.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an Advanced University Degree (master's degree or above) in fields such as statistics, engineering, information systems, or a related discipline. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by additional relevant work experience. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of data management and analytics in the context of the project.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of experience working with the entire data lifecycle, which includes data engineering, analytics, and the development of AI-enabled applications. Candidates should have extensive experience in frontend and backend web development, data analysis, and data visualization. Experience with managing large datasets and solving complex data engineering challenges is also essential for success in this role.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English or French is required, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of additional languages is considered advantageous and may enhance the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a diverse work environment.

Additional Notes:
The expected duration of the consultancy is 6 months, and the work location can be either Addis Ababa or remote, depending on contractual arrangements. The position does not specify a fee for the recruitment process, emphasizing that the United Nations does not charge applicants at any stage of the recruitment process.