Current Vacancies at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

The Position:

• Programme Specialist, Censuses and Surveys, is located in the Data and Analytics Branch of the Programme Division, reporting to the Programme Adviser, Data Systems. His/Her primary responsibilities will be to provide technical support to all aspects of the census programme, including supporting the implementation of the census in UNFPA programme countries and the integration of geospatial dimensions in census data collection, analysis and dissemination. S/he will also support population and household surveys by advising and strengthening capacity on survey methodologies, including survey sampling, analysis and dissemination of findings. S/he will support the key areas of UNFPA’s mandate by providing technical input in areas such as geospatial mapping, population modeling, data collection, and analysis and use of population data for policies and programmes that address inequalities and serve those furthest behind. The Programme Specialist will work in an integrated, coordinated, and systems strengthening fashion, which is fundamental for the overall strategy and working ethos of the Programme Division and UNFPA.

How you can make a difference:

• UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
• In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
• UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

• The incumbent supports in all aspects of fulfilling UNFPA’s mission to support implementation of the population and housing census programme and implementation of population and housing surveys. This includes ongoing communication with programme countries to track planning and emerging needs, and assuring timely technical and guidance on: overall census and survey planning and budgeting; effective management of procurement and operational planning; guidance on cartography and household listing; field operations for census enumeration or survey sampling and data collection; promoting the generation and use of geospatial data; and identifying potential synergies and opportunities with regard to geospatial censuses or surveys, the UNFPA Population Data Portal, and other forms of population data in countries.
• S/he works under the leadership of the Programme Adviser, Data Systems to assure the design and deployment of up-to-date capacity strengthening programmes, guidelines, webinars, and related materials and support programmes. S/he supports close communication with other global leaders in population and housing census and survey implementation, including within the UN, donors and NGOs.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Role Description:
In all activities s/he fosters collaboration within the Programme Division, and with the Humanitarian Response Division, and with Regional and Country Offices, ensuring the timeliness, adequacy, relevance and quality of substantive outputs. The primary roles of the incumbent are:

• Technical support
• Capacity development
• Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination
• Technical representation

You would be responsible for:

Technical support

• Works directly under the Programme Adviser, Data Systems, to assure timely and state-of-the-art technical support to the field.
• Provides substantive inputs to UNFPA support for the implementation of the population and housing census programme and surveys, including drafting of technical briefs and guidelines for various aspects of census technical operations.
• Facilitate integration of GIS solutions in censuses and surveys by identifying opportunities for synergy between UNFPA global census and survey support and the geospatial data and GIS teams and exploring the geospatial data needs of select governments and including application of GIS in all census and survey phases, and where needed, the coordinated support for generation of modeled population estimates.
• Supports the successful use of census and survey data, including geospatial data, to generate new research and analyses on development needs, in domains relevant to the UNFPA mandate (i.e. sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and women’s rights, and demographic dividend).
• Provides technical assistance on census and survey planning, enumeration, analysis and dissemination to UNFPA Country Offices
• Assures editorial excellence in all written outputs (in English), including relevant guidelines, peer-review publications, internal briefs, and online documentation.

Capacity development

• Under the overall guidance of the Programme Adviser, s/he organizes technical meetings and learning events for UNFPA and NSO staff including virtual eLearning sessions, in-person seminars and workshops on modern census and survey design and implementation, and the use of census, survey and geospatial data for development planning and SDG tracking.
• Under the overall supervision of the Programme Adviser, serves as a focal point for UNFPA census and survey -related GIS capacity strengthening activities, in coordination with the GIS team, and Regional and Country Offices.
• Maintains the UNFPA global database of consultants and experts in modern census and surveys who can provide technical assistance to National Statistical Offices.
• Provides editorial support to relevant census and survey products.
• Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination
• Ensures regular updating of the UNFPA Census Tracker and dashboard on the Population Data Portal, the Community of Practice and related online documentation.
• Tracks scientific developments in census, survey, geospatial research, remote sensing, facility mapping, and population estimates and projections, and provides advice on their relevance to UNFPA programming.
• Scans the substantive statistical environment and maintains relevant partnerships on technical issues with regional and national technical staff in order to identify substantive gaps and needs;
• Supports monitoring and updating of relevant Strategic Plan indicators.
• Supports ICPD related initiatives, events and knowledge products
• Strategic partnerships and technical representation
• Supports interdivisional and interagency mechanisms related to strengthening of data systems and promotes coordinated technical assistance to governments with partners such as ESRI, WorldPop, the US Census Bureau, World Bank, and UN Statistics Division.
• Advocates for UNFPA’s work on data systems, and the integration of population and development issues in international, inter-governmental, UN and other policy and technical meetings and fora.
• Liaises with UN agencies, academia, research and training institutions; may act as focal point for inter-agency working groups in the areas of census, survey and and geospatial data.
• Under the overall guidance of the Branch Chief, substantively contributes to the mobilization of resources.

Qualifications and Experience:
Education:

• An Advanced Degree in quantitative social sciences, e.g. demography, statistics, population studies, sociology, geography, information sciences or related field. PhD desirable.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At minimum of 7 years of experience in the areas related to strengthening data systems is required, ideally 4 at international level, and with progressive levels of technical and managerial responsibility;
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of modern population and housing census and or surveys;
• Demonstrated experience in managing or coordinating a global programme or initiatives, with deliverables across various countries and regions;
• Demonstrated technical expertise in the use of census and survey data for development;
• Knowledge of GIS and geospatial analysis of population data is an advantage;
• In addition to censuses and surveys, complementary expertise in related areas of population and development research, including area of UNFPA mandate and the ICPD, is desirable;
• Proven excellence in writing, editing, and oral communication in English

Languages:

• Fluency in English; knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Required Competencies:
Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual analysis in the provision of technical expertise – developing innovative and creative approaches.
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners and building strategic alliances and partnerships – identifying and building partnerships.
• Job knowledge and expertise – in-depth knowledge of their discipline.

go to method of application »

The Position:

• The Programme Adviser, Data Analysis and Use is located in the Data and Analytics Branch. They report directly to the Branch Chief who provides overall strategic direction. The Programme Adviser, Data Analysis and Use works in an integrated, coordinated, and systems strengthening approach which is fundamental to the Division's and UNFPA's overall strategy.

How you can make a difference:

• UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
• In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
• UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

• The Programme Adviser, Data Analysis and Use reports to the Chief of the Data and Analytics Branch, Programme Division. He/She is responsible for the technical leadership and strategic direction on the analysis and use of population data to inform the design, location, and evaluation of interventions to advance the ICPD Programme of Action, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the achievement of the transformative goals of the UNFPA Strategic Plan.
• He/She assumes overall responsibility for the evaluation, acquisition, processing, analysis, and use of data from civil registration and vital statistics, population and housing censuses, household surveys - such as the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) as well as administrative records, to show the value-for-money of national efforts towards sustainable development.
• The Programme Adviser, Data Analysis will provide quality assurance and guidance to UNFPA work on population projections, population estimates, small area estimation (SAE), integration of population and service location data for better operational planning, and the use of geospatial data to inform modeling of the SDG indicators, overseeing the continuous updating and revisions of UNFPA’s Population Data Platform as the transformative UNFPA initiative towards improved data access and decentralization.
• He/She will also oversee the capacity strengthening efforts and support of UNFPA to raise awareness on how such new applications can help the disaggregation of SDG and ICPD indicators and the identification of specific development shortfalls.
• UNFPA works at all levels - global, regional, and country, to address needs in sexual and reproductive health and rights, family planning, harmful practices, and gender-based violence in addition to its mandate around population and development and data. The Adviser provides leadership in the coordination of technical support to Regional Offices (RO’s), Sub-Regional Offices (SRO’s) and Country Offices (CO’s), assuming the role of primary liaison for research partnerships as well and promotes a vision integrating the Fund’s work in integrating core data sources to improve programme impact. He/She serves as a principal liaison to UNFPA’s regional and country offices in this regard, ensuring that authoritative data is used for tracking progress in the fulfillment of the UNFPA Strategic Plan, the implementation and fulfillment of the ICPD Programme of Action, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The incumbent will also ensure consistency and collaborative approaches with other projects of relevance UNFPA is implementing or partnering on.
• The incumbent, supervises a team of analysts, including specialists in statistics, demography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), working closely with the Branch Chief and other staff from the Division to prioritize and systematically respond to data needs and innovations.
• The position requires a clear and complete understanding of not only the existing data sources such as census, household surveys, vital registration systems, administrative records, and more recently big data, but also the UN institutional structures and work mandates as well as the diplomatic sensitivities and specific responsibilities to serve Member States and to promote constructive dialogue and policies relating to issues of data sharing, open access, and public dissemination.
• The incumbent will also support UNFPA’s strategic engagement within the UN statistical community, academic communities of practice, development partners, and donors, and will advance UNFPA’s representation and leadership within a variety of inter-agency partnerships and collaborations.

Role Description:
The primary areas of work for the incumbent are:

• Strategic technical support
• Results-based management
• Capacity development
• Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination
• Technical representation and strategic partnerships

Under the guidance of the Chief, Population and Development Branch, and in collaboration with the technical advisers of the Programme Division, the Programme Adviser/ Data Analysis and Use assumes responsibility for the following key areas of work:
You would be responsible for:
Strategic technical support

• Provide overall guidance for data collation, analysis, dissemination, use & quality assurance focusing on core indicators and their linkages to the three Transformative Results and SDGs; and provide technical inputs and review of all major SDG and ICPD monitoring deliverables for quality assurance, with special attention to publications and country support work, and generation of evidence for use in country, regional and global advocacy and programmes
• Oversee quality assurance of all indicator data used in UNFPA flagship and sector-specific publications and reports, speeches, briefing notes, and blogs as well as development of data standards, data governance, protection, and ethical and responsible data collection and use throughout the life cycle.
• Provide technical advice on monitoring and reporting on strategic programme priorities as required, including responding to ad hoc requests to senior management, ROs, COs, partner organizations and others.
• Lead UNFPA’s global, regional, and country-level monitoring of relevant indicators related particularly to corporate priorities, SDGs, ICPD and other global commitments, in collaboration with international partners and governments.
• Lead and provide technical guidance in updating and maintaining UNFPA Population Data Portal focusing on population, health, and development data.
• Guide and conduct analyses and interpretation of data, including contributions to the UNFPA flagship publications, thematic reports, as well as the preparation of peer reviewed journal articles and other documents.
• Provide technical leadership for geospatial analysis and data visualization, and disaggregation to ensure LNOB and better intervention targeting.
• Produce thematic reports on key topics of relevance to UNFPA, SDGs and the ICPD PoA
• Lead and promote more use of routine facility or service provision data, e.g. health facility data, operations data in GBV centers, youth centers, etc; and combine with georeferenced population data, to analyze issues of coverage and programme impact, e.g. where distribution of services can be improved, and results of programme implementation, and advise on which programmes to scale.

Results-based management

• Support the development and utilization of programme indicators and indicator databases;
• Ensure incorporation of evaluation results, lessons learned and new knowledge in the updating of strategies, policies, tools and approaches aimed at the incorporation of an economic perspective to population issues in the national development plans and strategies, social policies and expenditure frameworks,
• Conceptualize, develop, manage, monitor and be accountable for the specific components of the Branch’s global programme; and
• Contribute to technical support efforts, in coordination with relevant internal divisions in the area of population and development linkages for the mobilization of additional resources.

Capacity development

• Contribute to the capacity development of countries to monitor indicators related to population, health, and development, in collaboration with regional and country offices and other partners.
• Contribute to developing the capacity within the organization for evidence-based policy, planning, programming and advocacy through research and data analysis
• Contribute to substantive technical capacity development of national and international institutions in data analysis and use, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Identify, develop and adapt training materials and manuals in the area of population and development monitoring and research, including in emerging areas such ageing and low fertility and ensure their availability for capacity development;
• Coach and manage junior professional staff and associates, direct expert consultants and facilitate working groups and task teams.
• Guide and oversee the technical work of up to 5 statistical and geospatial analysts within the unit, and assure their mentoring and career development;

Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination

• Provide technical leadership in the formulation of UNFPA’s research topics and field research; development of protocols and approaches especially in operations research to ensure UNFPA programmes and interventions are informed by quality evidence and knowledge.
• Devise innovative ways to best serve UNFPA’s in-house data and information needs at country, regional and global levels through the Population Data Portal and other mechanisms, to inform strategic planning, advocacy, CPDs, CCAs, UNSDGCFs and sector specific strategies and plans.
• Advise on efficient and effective ways to prepare and disseminate products and provide input into making data, analyses and products accessible and available through different media and mechanisms.
• Guide methodological development of indicator measurement and monitoring of interventions particularly related to UNFPA strategic priorities and goals.
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement in data quality at the data collection stage, including through censuses, household surveys and routine monitoring systems.
• In collaboration with main partners (WHO, UNICEF and others), modify and adapt existing measurement indicators and tools and develop new tools where appropriate. Test tools in field situations, develop guidelines for their use and provide support for implementation at country level.

Technical representation and strategic partnerships

• Maintain and foster substantive, intellectual global partnerships with most relevant constituencies for advancing state-of-the-art knowledge on population data and statistics;
• Develop and manage substantive partnerships and collaboration with other UN agencies, including in the context of the UNDG;
• Represent UNFPA on substantive issues, elaborate UNFPAs substantive global perspective, and advocate for the substantive issues in international, inter-governmental, U.N., and other policy and technical meetings and fora;
• Lead, engage, manage and convene interagency technical groups on indicator development and monitoring of global and regional commitments and country strategies, including with UN Statistical Commissions and the SDG Interagency Expert Group, and thematic monitoring and evaluation groups such as the Health Data Collaborative, Expert Group on Census and CRVS, UN legal Identity Agenda (UNLIA), Network on Geospatial Analysis, among others.
• In collaboration with the Branch Chief ensures UNFPA’s representation to UN and Global matters relevant to the UNFPA mandates in demography, statistics and data, including in intergovernmental meetings (e.g., UN Statistical Commission), interagency collaborations (e.g., Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities, Inter Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators, Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter Agency Group), and in partnerships with the private sector and academia on data issues.

Qualifications and Experience:
Education:

• Advanced University degree in demography, statistics/biostatistics, epidemiology, quantitative sociology, geography, or related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

At least 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience is required, of which 7 years at the international level. S/he should have substantial work experience in the following areas:

• Generation and use of official demographic, health and development statistics;
• Analysis of population censuses and household surveys;
• Quantitative research and analysis;
• Proven knowledge of geospatial analysis, GIS modeling, Bayesian estimation, and/or their application to public health is essential;
• Prior work experience in developing countries is essential;
• Strong track record of technical leadership and timely results;
• Demonstrated capacity for team leadership, coordination, management, and external relations.
• Prior work and familiarity in one or more of the following topics is desirable: demographic trends (urbanization, aging, migration, displacement); sexual and reproductive health; gender equality and women’s empowerment; harmful practices.

Languages:

• Fluency in English; knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Required Competencies:
Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual innovation - Demonstrates ability to engage development partners at all levels in conceptual and methodological innovation that is pertinent to the global, national and local context for RH, population, gender and development, as well as population data systems.
• Building strategic alliances - Makes effective use of UNFPA’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen alliances
• Expert knowledge of own discipline - Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures

Managerial Competencies

• Providing Strategic Focus
• Engaging internal/external stakeholders and Partners
• Leading, Developing and Empowering People/Creating a Culture of Performance
• Making Decisions and Exercising Judgment

go to method of application »

The Position:

• The Programme Specialist, Geospatial Analysis post is located in the Data and Analytics Branch of the Programme Division, HQ, and reports to the Programme Adviser, Data Analysis and Use. S/He provides technical support to meet the geospatial data needs in all areas of UNFPA mandate including population dynamics, adolescents and youth, SRH, family planning, and gender and across the humanitarian and development nexus. The incumbent works within an integrated, coordinated, and systems strengthening approach which is fundamental to the Division’s and UNFPA’s overall strategy.

How you can make a difference:

• UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
• In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
• UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

• The incumbent serves as the geospatial focal point for UNFPA and will provide technical support and guidance on geospatial aspects of UNFPA programming including LNOB analysis and mapping, and integration of geospatial dimensions in census data collection, analysis and dissemination, humanitarian programming, sexual and reproductive health programming (including family planning) and GBV and harmful practices. S/He will support integration of population health, social-economic and environmental data with other geospatial data to provide substantial cutting-edge in-depth analysis and evidence linking population issues with crucial topics for sustainable development. The Programme Specialist provides technical support to the Branch and other units to ensure that the ICPD Programme of Action in the population and development area is firmly placed within the global development agenda, including the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• In all activities, s/he fosters collaboration with Branch staff; with other Branches in the Programme Division; with Regional and country Offices; to ensure the timeliness, adequacy, relevance and quality of substantive outputs.

The primary roles of the incumbent are:

• Technical support
• Capacity development
• Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination
• Strategic partnerships and technical representation

You would be responsible for:

Technical support

• Review the emerging innovative data and geospatial analysis methods in population and sustainable development nexus and maintain feedback loops on technical issues with Regional and National technical staff in order to identify substantive gaps and needs;
• Develop innovative geospatial data analysis methods, including leverage traditional data, Big Data, satellite and remote sensing data, and service provisional data, to provide cutting-edge and timely data and evidence in population, climate change and sustainable development issues;
• Develop new approaches for geospatial data management, interpretation, analysis and utilization, including SAE, a methodological approach to estimates at subnational geographical level for UNFPA indicators;
• Develop geospatial data dissemination and visualization approaches through generating platforms and geographic mapping of demographic disparities and social, economic, and environmental inequalities; and,
• Analyze new geospatial scientific information, data, and innovative technologies and methodologies and advise on their relevance for UNFPA programming.
• Support on GIS infrastructure and governance, geodatabase, and online geospatial application to PDP.
• Identify appropriate geospatial data sources (including open data and big data) for analytics projects.
• Lead and oversee the technical aspects of geospatial information tools and resources, and development of new products to respond to organizational needs.
• Develop and implement geospatial databases, geospatial data collection systems, geospatial data analytics and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns, using basic machine learning techniques, statistical methods to identify relevant features and variables in structured and unstructured sources of information and data.
• Develop and implement various analysis, reporting and quality control capabilities.
• Create online databases, dynamic web maps and visualization dashboards.
• Provide technical advice in the development and implementation of policies, programmes and methodologies with a view to strengthening geospatial resources and capacities.
• Provide technical support and contribute to the Population Data Portal (PDP).
• Research and conduct geospatial analysis for the generation of a global population database on population exposure and vulnerability to climate change.
• Lead the geospatial analysis such as mapping people’s geographic access to sexual and reproductive health services including family planning services.
• Generate semi-auto tools, models, code packages to automate the analytical process as possible.
• Develop and manage analytical projects/programmes on degree of urbanization, climate change, small area estimation (SAE), and geographic access to essential SRH services.
• Support the coordination and implementation of joint initiatives and the maintenance of project thematic geodatabases
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Branch Chief or Division Director

Capacity development

• Develop tools, training courses and guidance notes to support regions and countries in their efforts to enhance the capacity of carrying out cutting-edge in-depth geospatial analysis integrating population and satellite imagery data for sustainable development and humanitarian response;
• Carry out training and workshops to enhance national capacity for production and dissemination of quality disaggregated data on population and development issues, as well as geospatial data analysis and utilization methods;
• Develop coordination and collaborations within UNFPA and with partnerships outside UNFPA on geospatial data innovation and analysis products, and contribute directly to the maintenance and fostering of global partnerships;
• Collaborate with relevant teams to improve GIS data flows, data quality, etc.
• Support GIS capacity strengthening within UNFPA as well as among partners and stakeholders by organizing technical meetings and learning events for UNFPA and NSO staff including virtual eLearning sessions, in-person seminars and workshops on GIS and geospatial analysis and dissemination.
• Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination
• Conduct geospatial data analysis to incorporate population issues in the environmental aspects of sustainable development;
• Generate and disseminate analytic use cases on the vulnerability of UNFPA’s targeted population such as older people, adolescents and youth, women and girls, migrants, indigenous people and people with disabilities, in the context of climate change and sustainable development using spatial analysis and statistics;
• Support, on a demand-driven basis, regions and countries in their efforts to conduct geospatial analysis and provide technical input, from the data and analysis methodology perspective to the process of synthesizing geospatial technical knowledge and evidence in UNFPA mandate areas;
• Collaborate in the dissemination process for evidence, technical knowledge and analysis of lessons learned in geospatial analysis, in collaboration with the Regional and Country Offices; and,
• Enhance internal communication on GIS through UNFPA geospatial community and the GIS Inter-Divisional working group

Technical representation

• Engage in activities that disseminate and advocate for data innovation and cutting-edge geospatial analysis that incorporate population dynamics, SRH, gender and sustainable development;
• Contribute to technical support efforts for the mobilization of additional resources in applying innovative data and geospatial analysis methods;
• Liaise with UN agencies, academia, NGOs and research institutions; may act as focal point for inter-agency working groups related to data innovation and analysis; and,
• Development and maintenance of global geospatial partnerships and interagency engagement.

Qualifications and Experience:
Education:

• Advanced university degree in geoinformatics (geomatics), geospatial information, Earth sciences, environmental science, remote sensing or other related geoscience field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in geospatial information management, applied spatial analytics, earth observations, mapping, applications development, data visualization or related areas is required.
• Proven experience in utilizing geospatial software (database management, spatial analysis, mapping, web services development or programming languages) is required.
• Experience in geospatial data processing and analysis of population census and household survey data (e.g. DHS data), and analysis and integration with other types of geospatial data (e.g. environmental, land use and infrastructure data) is desirable
• Knowledge of application of GIS to areas of UNFPA mandate (sexual and reproductive health, family planning, gender-based violence and harmful practices), is an advantage
• Technical knowledge of population dynamics and their relationship to sustainable development, and specifically to issues such as climate change, urbanization, socio-ecological systems, natural resources, energy, health and equality is an advantage
• Experience with team and/or project management is desirable.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent report writing and oral presentation skills.
• Familiarity with the UN system desirable

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Required Competencies:
Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual analysis in the provision of technical expertise – developing innovative and creative approaches.
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners and building strategic alliances and partnerships – identifying and building partnerships.
• Job knowledge and expertise – in depth knowledge of their discipline.

go to method of application »

The Position:

• The Programme Analyst- Geospatial Information Systems position is in the Data and Analytics Branch of the Programme Division, HQ and reports to the Programme Specialist- Geospatial Analysis. His/Her responsibilities will be to support the acquisition, cleaning, storage, analysis, dissemination, and use of geospatial data for policy and programme formulation in areas of UNFPA mandate, as well as capacity development.

How you can make a difference:

• UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
• In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
• UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

• The incumbent performs tasks that include gathering, interpreting, processing, validating and using geospatial data and information related to mapping access to services to support areas of UNFPA mandate. He/she will support geospatial specialists within the Data and Analytics Branch in building, maintaining, modifying, or using geospatial databases. May perform custom application development or provide user support when required.

You would be responsible for:

• Supporting data gathering and processing for geospatial analysis of UNFPA core indicators relevant to the achievement of the “three zeros” that UNFPA aims to achieve by 2030, e.g. to facilitate mapping geographic access of population to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services and key subnational variations in harmful practices;
• Collecting and maintaining common geography data such as boundaries, land cover, human settlement layers, road system, high-resolution satellite imagery for internal use.
• Working with your supervisor and the GIS team to select key themes and country use-cases for in-depth geospatial data analytics, and conducts mapping of core indicators at sub-national level, identifying hotspots of need, and interprets trends or patterns using geospatial mapping, basic machine learning techniques and statistical methods (for example, mapping geographic access to essential components of SRH services, linking Gender Based Violence prevalence with HIV, etc.)
• Supporting the integration of remote sensing data with other geospatial information and derives analysis-ready geospatial information products for the specific purposes and disciplines through the design and application of processing workflows and corrections;
• Tracking and reporting on progress regarding Division-specific geospatial information initiatives;
• Supporting the design and building of geospatial applications (including dashboards, web map services or other tools to summarize findings and use cases to management and clients) using UNFPA’s enterprise geospatial infrastructure (Esri ArcGIS-based);
• Maintaining the geospatial applications (including any dashboards, web map services, analytical applications), other spatial data infrastructure and development tools using latest available geospatial technology;
• Documenting methods used, writes technical reports, contributes to knowledge sharing or capacity strengthening in his/her domain and promotes geospatial information products related to service access;
• Carrying out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience:
Education:

• Advanced university degree required; Studies in geography, geospatial information and analysis, public health, or related geo-sciences is an advantage

Knowledge and Experience:

• 2 years of experience in geospatial science, demography and health data, statistics, or information management;
• Ability to write clearly and concisely;
• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members from different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Prior experience in developing countries is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.

Required Competencies:
Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to support data gathering and processing for geospatial analysis of UNFPA core indicators
• Understanding of key themes and country use-cases for in-depth geospatial data analytics
• Ability to track and report on progress regarding Division-specific geospatial information initiatives
• Understanding of integration of remote sensing data with other geospatial information and derives analysis-ready geospatial information products