OVERVIEW

Post Number : 1CAUIS0076PA

Grade : P-5

Parent Sector : UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Duty Station: Montreal

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 14-JUL-2023

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Duration of contract: initially 2 years, with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Established in 1999, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) serves as UNESCO’s statistical agency for its 193 member states (MS) and 12 associated members. The UIS agenda is focused on the delivery of cross- national comparable data for Global, regional and development agendas, covering the fields of education, science, culture, and communication and information. The UIS delivers the technical support for MS to produce transformative data based on the 3 pillars (Standards and methodologies; Data production; Brokering and outreach). The UIS’ vision, described in its 2022-2029 Medium Term strategy, is to ensure that countries’ policies and decision-making are informed by sound statistical information; that they can benchmark progress towards national and international goals and learn from the experience of others. The UIS is seeking to build a management team that will lead the successful implementation of that vision.

The UIS is instrumental in shaping global education by providing essential data, technical expertise, and leadership in learning outcomes. It actively addresses challenges related to AI and machine learning and establishes a strong foundation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through collaborations with UNICEF, the World Bank, OECD, and the GEMR, the UIS fulfills emerging data requirements. Its joint efforts in conducting the Joint Survey on national education responses to COVID-19 demonstrate its commitment to addressing immediate priorities. The data generated through these initiatives informs global, regional, and funding mechanisms for education, including important platforms like the UN Transforming Education Summit, the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM), G7, G20, and the GPE results framework. Furthermore, in partnership with the GEMR, the UIS has successfully adopted an SDG 4 benchmarking process, becoming a leading authority in data and monitoring within the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM). This process serves as a vital tool for countries to set and monitor targets, positioning the UIS and the GEMR at the forefront of supporting countries in achieving improved education outcomes. Recognizing the significant influence of AI and machine learning, the UIS actively engages in this domain by providing critical data and technical inputs. This proactive involvement ensures that education systems are well-equipped to leverage the potential of AI and address associated challenges through informed decision-making and policy development.

Purpose
Under the overall authority and supervision of the Director of UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the Head of the Foresight and Innovation team (FIT) will contribute substantially to the UIS concept, utilization, design and implementation and quality assurance of all the UIS statistics in the area of Education. The head of the section will ensure all governance mechanisms in the Education area work smoothly. The successful candidate will be part of the senior leadership of the UIS and play a key role in developing the public profile of the institution’s knowledge, work and outreach to a broad range of external stakeholders. The incumbent’s main activities will include the following:

Main Responsibilities and tasks

Main responsibilities and tasks

1. Technical oversight on data production of non-administrative data

• Lead the section including setting goals and providing the leadership to deliver high quality data using multiple strategies and sources for household and learning data.
• Provide guidance to the UIS Director/UNESCO Chief Statistician on the conceptual development and implementation of the strategies regarding data innovation in education.
• Review and manage updates to data governance, protection, and security requirements.
• Oversee the preparation of the business analytics for the data release and to support UIS’s knowledge work, technical assistance and policy dialogue with partners and Member States.
• Advocate for methodological coherence though the harmonization of statistics from different sources, develop and support a methodological program of work.
• Initiate and introduce necessary changes to ensure the section activities respond to current and emerging data needs.

2. Data management and dissemination

• Lead the integration of UIS databases in education and their dissemination.
• Develop analytical and dissemination capacity and products to promote the integration of data and statistics output into the work of key stakeholders and Member States.
• Oversee the preparation of the statistics for the data releases and to support UIS’s knowledge work, technical assistance and policy dialogue with partners and Member States.
• Introduce innovative approaches in compiling, managing and disseminating data.
• Maintains the Global Education Observatory (GEO) and coordinate the GEO 2.0 implementation and operation.

3. Contribute to the overall activities of the Learning Outcomes Unit by:
Support the development and implementation of the UIS strategy in the area of Learning Outcomes:

• Supporting the achievement of globally recognised impact for UIS in the area of Learning Outcomes through methodological development, survey specification, analysis, standard setting, measurement expertise, and provision of advice and technical support to Member States.

Support the development and implementation of the UIS Learning Outcomes Programme:

• Funding proposals: Contribute to the drafting of new funding proposals in the areas covered by Learning Outcomes. Follow-up on existing funding proposals, draft narrative reports and provide updates to partners.
• Support the planning and implementation and monitoring of Learning Outcomes projects and programmes including preparation of budgets, recruitments and management of consultants and implementing partners

4. Global and regional governance

• Build and maintain partnerships with technical and multilateral partners, bilateral donors (and their programmes), and academic institutions to ensure alignment with major initiatives in statistics in education.
• Support the UIS roles in SDG4 indicator governance mechanisms, taskforces and working groups.
• Provide the secretariat to the Technical Cooperation Group for SDG 4 and co-lead the Global Alliance to Monitoring Learning.
• Prepare the technical inputs and carry the preparatory work in support of the UIS coordination in the Global education architecture and within UN.

Long Description

5. People and talent management

• Ensure the section is strategically staffed for effective delivery of the section as defined in bi- annual work programs of the Department.
• Manage, mentor, guide, develop and train staff under his/her supervision.
• Build and maintain a network of experts and institutions to support the UIS’s data collection, methodological research and data management and dissemination processes.

6. Contribution to UIS Core work

• Carry out the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance.
• Lead resource mobilization and develop funding mechanisms for the section in accordance with the Institute’s strategy and work programme.
• Contribute to the UIS reporting, including the preparation of documents for UIS and UNESCO governing bodies; and for other internal and external stakeholder including donors and development partners.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (PhD degree or equivalent) in statistics, economics, mathematics, education or social sciences with a substantial applied statistics / data sciences component.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience as a statistician working with administrative, finance, survey, and/or assessment data relating to education, especially with developing countries, of which at least five years is at international level either within a UN or similar agency or in a Government Ministry or agency.
• Minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in the field of learning outcomes related to assessment of learning skills – of which at least one year acquired at the international level within a UN or similar agency or in a government ministry.
• Experience in educational statistics and in SDG4 measurement and reporting.
• Experience with strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting and database management.
• Experience working as a statistician, researcher or analyst on programmes or activities in the field of education statistics.
• Experience working on statistical work in developing countries with National Statistical Offices or Planning Units.
• Experience in designing, managing, and implementing projects and programme activities pertaining effective data collection in education data.

Skills/Competencies

• Ability to manage and communicate data warehouse plans to internal clients.
• Ability to convey complex / difficult data science topics to clients in a relatable manner.
• Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others.
• Ability to manage an effective and collaborative team in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to think strategically and to design long term plans in line with the strategic priorities.
• High degree of diplomacy, discretion with proven ability to function under uncertainties.
• Ability to meet commitments, observe deadlines and achieve results.
• Good leadership and ability to attract, motivate and retain high quality professional staff.
• Demonstrated capability to plan and manage projects.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Experience on statistical work in developing countries with National Statistical Offices or Planning Units.
• Experience working on/in countries in Africa.
• Experience in the UN system or a similar agency.
• Experience in partnership development and resource mobilisation.
• Record of publications based on quantitative education data analysis and / or statistical modelling.

Languages

• Good knowledge of French.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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