INTERNATIONAL DEMOGRAPHER CONSULTANT, PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

 

Individual Consultant International Demographer

Duration: 70 Working days in the period from 01 December 2022 to 15 May 2023

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Purpose of Consultancy:

The surge in COVID-19 cases in Papua New Guinea made it impossible to mount a national population census in 2020/2021 without compromising the health of the field workers as well as the general public while ensuring quality census data. Despite the current challenges, there remains an urgent need for basic population data to aid the government in identifying the concentration and geospatial location of its population including vulnerable groups of people. Proper identification would enable the efficient delivery of basic services as well as the development of evidence-based plans and programs.

To respond to the gap in population data, through the funding support of the Australian Government, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the National Statistical Office (NSO) came up with an alternative approach to the generation of population counts by age and sex through a remote sensing technology and the conduct of a nationally representative Socio-Demographic and Economic Survey.  Results from these two initiatives will feed into the programming system of the government, as inputs for evidence-based plans and programmes, as well as to monitor the progress of the country in terms of targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals, Medium Term Development Plans, and PNG Vision 2050, among others.  

The last population census in the country was in July 2011. However, no population projection was developed due to a lack of input data.  With the data from the 2016 to 2018 Demographic and Health Survey as well as the 2022 Socio-Demographic and Economic Survey, the population projection for the country and its sub-national level may be developed.  

This activity necessitates the services of an International Demographer Consultant (IDC) who will closely collaborate with the NSO and UNFPA to develop the population projection for PNG at the national, and if possible, the sub-national level.           

 

The Individual Consultant International Demographer will be responsible for the following:

With the guidance of the UNFPA Chief Technical Adviser (CTA), the IDC will:

● Work with NSO on the generation of a population projection by age and sex at the national level, and if possible, at the sub-national level (region and province).  The arrangement to be adopted in working with NSO should ensure knowledge transfer to NSO. 

● Prepare the Population Projection Analysis/Report for PNG; 

● Document the procedures followed in the development of population projection by age and sex, including the use of software in the generation, ensuring that NSO will be able to replicate the procedures using the 2024 National Population and Housing Census;  

● Conduct capacity building for NSO staff both on-the-job and classroom training sessions; 

● Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the UNFPA Representative and/or Deputy Representative as required to ensure the success of the above-mentioned activities; and 

● Perform other duties as required.

 

Duration and working schedule:

The contract will cover the period of 70 days from 01 December 2022 to 15 May 2023.  Payments are calculated on the basis of a daily rate.

 

Place where services are to be delivered:

• The Individual Consultant International Demographer will work from Home (55 working days); and In-person visits (15 working days) at - National Statistical Office, Port Moresby, PNG. 

 

Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements:

Qualification

• At least a Master's degree in Statistics, Demography, Population Studies, Economics, or equivalent qualification in a relevant, directly related discipline.

 

Professional experience

• At least ten (10) years of professional experience in the preparation of population projections;
• Has working knowledge of reliable software that can be used for calculating the different inputs to the population projections; 
• Experience in capacity strengthening and development and skills transfer to local counterpart. 

 

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

 

Languages: 

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

  

Other Desirable Skills:

•  Prior experience in the Pacific and/or PNG is strongly preferred;

 

Submission of applications:

Interested applicants should submit their applications of interest to:

The UNFPA Representative, UNFPA,  Level 14, Kina Haus, Douglas Street, PO Box 1041, Port Moresby  on Email: png-recruitment@unfpa.org no later than 24 October 2022.

This should include:

Letter of Interest, CV, and UN Personal History Form