Governance Data Specialist

Job Title: Governance Data Specialist

Organization: UNDP

Job Identification: 12828

Location: Oslo, Norway

Apply Before: 08/18/2023, 06:59 AM

Job Schedule: Full time

Grade: P3

Vacancy Type: Fixed Term

Practice Area: Governance

Bureau: Bureau for Policy and Programme Support

Contract Duration: 2 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience: Master's Degree - 5 year(s) experience OR Bachelor's Degree - 7 year(s) experience

Required Languages: English

Desired Languages: Other UN languages

Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks

Mobility required/no mobility: mobility required

Job Description

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Governance is one of the six signature solutions in UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 – alongside poverty and inequality, resilience, environment, energy, and gender equality - to support countries towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no one behind and resilience.  The objective of UNDP’s governance work is to ensure that accountable, inclusive, and effective governance underpins sustainable development. 

Rapidly evolving complex crises, demand for transformative change and consistent backsliding on governance indicators are putting governance systems under stress. As a result knowledge, innovation, data analytics and insights on governance related issues are in high demand. The UNDP Global Policy Centre for Governance based in Oslo is designed to respond to this complex and rapidly evolving policy landscape. Under its new project (2022-2026), the Centre will aim to build knowledge, insight and data through drawing on the experience of practitioners, policymakers and researchers. The Centre is also mandated to stimulate global conversation on key governance questions in the world today. It provides programmatic guidance by exploring, pre-empting, and unpacking global policy issues.  The center works across the UNDP Global Policy Network to deliver UNDP’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2025.

The UNDP Global Policy Centre on Governance (OGC) has five specific functions through which a set of specific Research and Engagement Agendas (REA) will be explored: (1) Research, (2) Innovation, (3) Data analytics, (4) Knowledge management and program guidance, and (5) Strategic communications and engagements. 

The Centre currently has the following five REAs that make up the thematic focus of the Centre: 

1. Strengthening the evidence base for achieving Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies (SDG16)
2. Financial Integrity and Economic Governance for Inclusive, Accountable and Effective Governance systems
3. Unpacking the Political Economy of Fair, Green Transitions
4. Information integrity for an Open, Inclusive and Informed Civic Engagement

The Centre’s has two main service lines – (i) providing analysis, data and insights on critical governance issues to improve governance related programming quality and (ii) providing the basis for global thought leadership on frontier governance issues globally. 

A key function of the Centre will be to establish UNDP’s offer on governance data and analytics and strengthen global, regional, and national data systems to support evidence-based policy making on governance issues.  The governance data and analytics function will support the Research and Engagement Agendas. The Centre will help generate analysis and insights on progress on different dimensions of governance, support the development of internationally comparable methodologies for governance data collection and reporting, support collection of timely, reliable and quality data on governance and enable access to cutting-edge research and analysis. The governance data analytics function of the Centre will also have a particular focus on supporting data collection, reporting and capacity development on UNDP custodian indicators for SDG 16 (on participation and representation, inclusive and responsive decision-making, and access to justice) and supporting the implementation of the SDG 16 Survey Initiative with UN partners. 

Position Purpose
The Governance Data Specialist works as part of the Governance Data & Analytics Team at the UNDP Global Policy Centre for Governance to support monitoring of SDG 16 indicators, including capacity development of national actors in reporting on SDG 16 indicators and implementation of the SDG 16 Survey. The incumbent will also work with the team to support the broader Research and Engagement Agendas of the Centre for Excellence on Governance including to further measure governance indicators, including to prepare and update datasets manage databases, support the interpretation and analysis of data to generate insights and data visualization, support the use of new and emerging technologies for measuring governance. 

Duties and Accountabilities: 

Provide technical inputs and quality assurance on SDG 16 monitoring and reporting

• Provide technical inputs to the call for data on UNDP custodian indicators on SDG 16 
• Ensure quality of collection, validation, compilation, and dissemination of statistical data in conformity with the metadata and reporting requirements for SDG 16 indicators
• Provide inputs on technical documents, reports, policy briefs, and other documentation on governance statistics for internal and external partners.
• Work in collaboration with UN agencies, country offices and National Statistical Systems in designing, implementing, and disseminating operations to produce SDG 16 indicators.

Coordinate and facilitate capacity development and advocacy activities on Governance & SDG 16 Measurement

• Provide technical support in the organization and implementation of capacity development activities at country, regional and global level on measurement of SDG 16.
• Organize awareness raising and advocacy activities on measuring governance and SDG 16.

Provide analysis, insights and technical inputs towards data visualization approaches and tools on SDG16 and other governance statistics

• Support the development of innovative data visualization of SDG 16 indicators and other governance metrics to support the analysis and to generate insights on different dimensions of governance.
• Identify different approaches and tools for data analysis and visualization to identify solutions for the Centre’s Research and Engagement Agendas.
• Explore the identification and use of new and innovative technologies that can be applied to measuring governance

Contribute to the Centre’s Research and Engagement Agendas

• Collaborate with internal and external partners on Research, Analysis, Insights, Data Analysis and Analytics on governance, including development of research reports and other publications
• Support the Centre on advocacy and other activities and events related to the Research and Engagement Agendas
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and management of statistical databases 

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervises UNVs and consultants to deliver on the workplan of the Governance Data & Analytics team.  

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:	LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously	LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility	LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination	LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner	LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion	LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Digital and innovation	Data governance	Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies
Business Management	Partnerships Management	Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Management	Digital Awareness and Literacy	Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness	SDG Integration	SDG Monitoring and Reporting
2030 Agenda: Peace	Governance	SDG 16
2030 Agenda: Peace	Governance	Inclusion and Participation
2030 Agenda: Peace	Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights	Rule of Law, Justice, and Security

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master's degree in statistics, data science, social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies or a related area.
• OR, Bachelor’s degree in statistics or data science plus a minimum of two years of professional experience

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of experience at national and international levels working on social statistics (including ideally governance or, gender), and/or in analysis of related data.
• Demonstrated knowledge of national and international statistics systems.
• Experience in researching, collecting, verifying, analyzing, synthesizing quantitative and qualitative information pertaining to sustainable development.
• Strong data management skills, including database languages, with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of data with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience with data visualization tools and applications is required.
• Knowledge of governance, justice, human rights and, Sustainable Development Goal 16 is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience in using data science frameworks is an asset.
• Knowledge and understanding of UN/UNDP’s work and/or other multilateral/bilateral actors’ works, and roles related to governance measurement is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in English is required. 
• Working knowledge of other UN language desirable.

 

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period. 

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)  

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters 

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. 

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Required Skills

Data management

Governance Insight & Analysis

SDG 16 Monitoring & Reporting

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