UN Associate Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development System was reformed on January 1, 2019, to enhance its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This reform led to the establishment of the UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), which operate under the leadership of an independent UN Resident Coordinator. The UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) was transformed into a stand-alone office responsible for overseeing the resident coordinator system. The DCO aims to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda through data-driven strategies and innovative approaches.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist plays a crucial role in the UN Resident Coordination Office in Antananarivo, Madagascar. This position involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including data engineers, data scientists, and external partners, to develop and implement databases, data collection systems, and analytics that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. The specialist will be responsible for identifying data sources, analyzing trends, and implementing process improvements to optimize data analytics tasks. The role also includes developing reports and dashboards to support evidence-based decision-making across development, humanitarian, and peace initiatives. Furthermore, the Associate Data Specialist will contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) products for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, ensuring that data-driven insights inform strategic planning and operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Developing and implementing databases and data collection systems;
• Analyzing and interpreting data trends using statistical methods;
• Maintaining and quality-assuring databases;
• Creating reports and dashboards for management;
• Contributing to MEL products;
• Drafting inputs for various documents;
• Designing internal process improvements;
• Implementing solutions for data-related technical issues;
• Collaborating with data engineers and scientists; 1
• Conducting data collection and preliminary analysis; 1
• Supporting capacity building on data analytics; 1
• Assisting with monitoring and evaluation activities; 1
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, or related areas. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of data analytics, statistical methods, and data visualization tools. Experience in translating business requirements into technical solutions is essential, along with the ability to perform quality assurance of data analysis outputs.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, or social sciences is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) may be accepted with additional qualifying experience.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in data analytics, including the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions, is required. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in data validation, quality assurance, and data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI. Experience in communicating complex data-related matters to diverse audiences is also desirable.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, proficiency in both languages is required, with a minimum level of proficiency specified according to the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term position for an initial period of one year, subject to availability of funds and budgetary approval. The position is open to nationals of Madagascar, and candidates residing elsewhere may be considered at their own expense. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities may be provided upon request.