Note: The duty station is currently listed as New York, USA, but is expected to shift to Florence, Italy, but summer 2024. Therefore, there is no expectation for the incumbent to be installed in New York.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) was established in 2019 to drive decision making and organizational learning, improve effectiveness and achievement of results of UNICEF and its partners to realize the rights and improve the life of every child. DAPM promotes the use of data and monitoring to achieve transformative impact on lives of children.

The Division is responsible for driving, shaping and guiding UNICEF’s evidence-informed analysis, strategic planning, programme monitoring and organizational performance management. As such, DAPM enables the organization to deliver on results in a more coherent manner, based on agile and contextualized programming process, and on data, evidence, and analysis, as well as the application of human-rights based and results-based management approaches.

Within DAPM, the Data & Analytics Team (DAT) is the global go-to for data on children. It leads the collection, validation, analysis, use and communication of the most statistically sound, internationally comparable data on the situation of children and women around the world. For this purpose, both traditional and innovative data and analysis – including administrative and household survey data as well as geospatial analysis, big data and machine learning – are used. DAT upholds the quality, integrity and organization of these data and makes them accessible as a global public good on the data.unicef.org website.

DAT provides leadership, strategic and normative guidance and technical support to generate data and evidence on children. The team works together with other teams within UNICEF as well as partner organizations, to support statistical systems strengthening at the country level. DAT is also fostering a data-driven transformation in how UNICEF works internally and together with partners that includes positioning UNICEF as a leader on data for children, protecting children through governance of data and building an organization-wide culture of data.

Purpose for the job:

Under the supervision of the Chief of Demographics and Senior Adviser Statistics and Monitoring, the Statistics and Monitoring Specialist (Demographics) leads the work on data, statistics and analysis in the areas of demographics including migration, displacement, urbanization, and population, with a focus on children.

The primary function of this post is to lead the improvement of quality, availability, accessibility and use of data in the areas of demographics throughout UNICEF and with partners. This post guides the core areas of monitoring work on migration, displacement, urbanization, and population, including development and enhancement of measurement methodologies, data processing, data analysis and reporting, capacity development and technical support to countries. This function is carried out in collaboration with main institutional partners, national governments, and other organizations with expertise in this area.

How can you make a difference?

1. Data collection, analysis, use and quality assurance on issues related to migrant and displaced children, vulnerable children living in urban settings, and in other areas of demographics. The incumbent will ensure a particular focus in the following:
   1. Carry out analysis and interpretation of data relevant to the assessment of the situation of migrant and refugee children as well as disadvantaged children in urban areas, including contributions to the UNICEF flagship publications, and other reports, as well as the preparation of peer reviewed journal articles.
   2. Provide technical advice and support UNICEF global, regional and country level data collection and analysis in the relevant subject areas, including responding to ad hoc requests to senior management, Programme Division, Regional Offices, Country Offices, partner organizations and others.
   3. Support dissemination of data, publications and other products to maximize the use for advocacy, programming and planning purposes.
2. Methodological development
   1. Provide technical inputs to the methodological development of indicators for measurement and monitoring of interventions related to migrant and refugee children as well as urban and population issues.
   2. Contribute to the on-going improvement in data availability and quality. In collaboration with main partners, modify existing measurement 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.
3. Capacity development and country support
   1. Contribute to the capacity development of countries to monitor migration, displacement and urban and population indicators. The incumbent will develop training materials (and presentations), facilitate/coordinate regional workshops, giving presentations at these workshops and providing technical support as applicable.
   2. Contribute to developing the capacity within the organization for evidence-based policy, planning, programming and advocacy by developing/presenting materials on migration, displacement as well as urban and population data.
4. Strategic partnerships and representation
   1. Build and strengthen partnerships with other UN agencies including UNHCR, IOM, UN Habitat, UN Population Division or organizations/institutions working in relevant area
   2. Lead or participate in interagency monitoring groups and partnerships with regard to migration, displacement and urban and population data and statistics
   3. Represent UNICEF at international meetings and other areas of work as relevant.
   4. Contribute to regular sharing of data and related products with partners at the global, regional, and country levels
   5. Conduct and support fundraising efforts for relevant data and analysis activities.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in demography, statistics, or in one of the social sciences with strong quantitative training and experience.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in data analysis, data collection, measurement, methodological development and other areas of demographics or applied statistics, data interpretation and use in the relevant sectors of concern to UNICEF.
• Expertise in the analysis of large-scale household survey data, data obtained from population censuses, from administrative records and other sources.
• Extensive experience in writing technical and advocacy reports and peer reviewed journal articles in the relevant subject areas.
• Extensive experience in planning, coordinating, and implementing projects
• Excellent partnership building skills and extensive experiences working with international organizations, government agencies, civil society and NGOs.
• Experience in the design and implementation of monitoring frameworks of migration, displacement and urban programmes at country and subnational level an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

The Division is currently undergoing organizational changes, therefore the location of the post is subject to change. As such, the selected candidate has the option of starting the assignment remotely or should the candidate already be in New York, s/he would be expected to relocate to another location as the case may be, during the contractual period. Please note that the new location for DAPM is set to be Florence, Italy, starting summer 2024.

This is a Highly Specialized Post. Therefore, it is not subject to mobility.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.