Consultancy: International Census Technical Specialist

Background

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste recently conducted its fourth Population and Housing Census (PHC) from September to October, 2022. The previous censuses were conducted in 2015, 2010 and 2004. The preliminary results for the 2022 PHC were released in November, 2022.The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other UN agencies are supporting the Government of Timor-Leste with the 2022 census to enable national technical and management capacities in the General Directorate of Statistics (GDS) to implement a high quality PHC in accordance with UN Principles and Recommendations for the 2020 Programme on World PHCs. Results of this PHC will be used for development planning for raising the standard of living of the population of Timor-Leste, good governance and maintaining equity and equality among all subgroups. More importantly, the information will be used to review the short-term goals of the national Strategic Development Plan, 2011-2030.

Scope of work

The International Census Technical Specialist will work closely with GDS and UNFPA on the following:

1. Technical support of census

• Advise the Director General of the GDS and the UNFPA Representative on the execution and management of the 2022 Population and Housing Census of Timor-Leste.
• Provide technical support to GDS Team including co-ordinating the completion of census data editing and coding, PES data analysis, reporting and dissemination, including training to GDS staff.
• Contribute to census data user workshops and policy dialogues; liaise with various stakeholders in the census to ensure their concerns and interests are incorporated to the extent feasible.
• Maintain effective coordination amongst GDS, key national data users, UNFPA and other UN agencies to ensure national interests are effectively addressed in terms of delivering quality census outputs.
• Assist GDS in developing a comprehensive census dissemination plan.
• Support the preparations for the national launch of census main report.
• Support the census analysis activities and take part in the analysis including ensuring quality thematic analysis with the assistance of international and local counterparts as a commitment towards capacity building.
• Support effective data dissemination such identifying modern census products to disseminate data from digital censuses.
• Advise and assist GDS in designing, organizing and implementing short courses and workshops on the utilization of PHC data for development planning and policy formulation.
• Maintain a documentation system for archiving and accessing census and census-related documentation.
• Provide advice to sister agencies for survey initiatives.
• Coordinate the work of TAS to support the project as and when required by GDS.

2. Project Management support

• Support the monitoring and evaluation of progress and challenges, prepare and submit monthly progress reports on the 2022 PHC activities to GDS and UNFPA, and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinate all other census consultants support to the project and the regular reporting to ensure knowledge transfer.
• Identify technical assistance needs and coordinate relevant technical support from development partners and other agencies, as and when required.
• Support resource mobilisation for the census

3. Support the UNFPA CO Population and Development Team

• Support the UNFPA CO Population and Development Team
• Support the P&D Team in promoting more effective and extensive use of population data for development 
• Supporting engagements and partnerships with Government and other P&D stakeholders, to guide and ensure the successful integration of population data and issues into national development plans and the broader decision-making environment.
• Support the demographic dividend agenda activities and strengthen regional partnerships in P&D.

Support the scanning of emerging issues in P&D and constantly review the policy response based on data available.

Duration and working schedule

3 Months upon signing of contract.

Place where services are to be delivered

General Directorate of Statistics with close coordination with UNFPA Office Timor-Leste.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered

The deliverables to be produced by the Technical Specialist are as:

• Additional resources mobilized for the completion of the census activities
• Census edited data file submitted to GDS
• Finalised Census dissemination plan
• The national census dissemination workshop and regional dissemination workshops conducted
• Technical assistance needs to be identified including thematic analysts recruited and brought on board
• Census data products disseminated including census thematic reports
• Regular coordination/ meetings with all other census consultants
• Census Quarterly progress reports to UNFPA and GDS submitted

The technical specialist will be paid on monthly basis upon receiving the monthly report approved by the supervisor.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• At least seven years’ professional experience in the field of population and housing censuses and/or demographic statistics and data collection and or analysis;
• Proven experience in support to and management of population and housing censuses and/or large-scale household surveys in a developing country;
• Experience in providing on-the-job training to local staff in data analysis, report writing and use of Internet resources;
• Experience in the dissemination of PHC data and socio-demographic analyses to broad audiences as well as in motivating the utilization of data and results in development planning and policy issues;
• Knowledge and experience with PHC data processing software (CSPro etc.), demographic data analysis (MORTPAK, PAS), database software (REDATAM), statistical packages (SPSS, STATA) and population projection programs (People, Spectrum, RUP);
• Knowledge in Population and development issues, especially national policies
• Communication skills especially for transfer of knowledge;
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of national and international institutions, parliament, government and non-government institutions;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural, multinational, multi-stakeholder environment and demonstrable ability to motivate people and work in a team setting;
• Familiarity with censuses or surveys in Timor-Leste is an asset.
• Knowledge of the Timor-Leste context is essential.
• Languages
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required;

Knowledge of Tetum and/or Portuguese would be an asset

How to apply

Interested candidates could send the application (e.g. cover letter and P11 form) to the following email address: timor-leste.office@unfpa.org.