Statistical Specialist (Re-advertised - External), Bonn

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026. Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The Volunteer Advisory Services Section (VASS) positions UNV as a knowledge and policy hub on volunteerism for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It does so by generating robust evidence, consolidating knowledge, and developing policy guidance to support Member States and UN system efforts in integrating volunteerism as a cross-cutting means of implementing the 2030 Agenda.

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1) in 2015, volunteerism has gained recognition globally as a vital force for addressing development challenges. In response, UNV has prioritized the enhancement of volunteerism measurement, focusing on both the scope and scale of volunteer contributions to peace and development. Key to this effort is investment in new data sets, improved methodologies, rigorous analysis, and the development of a global flagship Volunteer Index.

To further strengthen the availability and quality of volunteerism data, UNV is building dedicated statistical capacity within VASS. This position plays a central role in delivering on UNV’s 2026–2029 Strategic Framework, particularly in ensuring that credible, comparable, and timely volunteerism data informs global, regional, and national development planning and policy.

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of VASS, with day-to-day reporting to the Policy Specialist (Evidence), the primary focus of the Statistical Specialist is to establish UNV’s statistical priorities through data mapping, advancing the development of the Global Index of Volunteer Engagement (GIVE), engaging stakeholders to promote volunteer data use.

The Statistical Specialist will promote volunteer measurement methodologies, producing regular statistical datasets on volunteering, and supporting efforts to strengthen the measurement, reporting and inclusion of volunteerism data in strategic development and policy documents.

Subsequently, Statistical Specialist will work to consolidate technical leadership in standardizing and harmonizing volunteerism statistics, and leading capacity-building initiatives with national statistical offices and other key stakeholders. The role also includes identifying and addressing data gaps, building strategic partnerships, and representing UNV in key statistical and policy forums.

The Statistical Specialist will collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including Member States, UN entities, the private sector, academia, and volunteer-involving organizations, to support the measurement of volunteer work and to generate high-quality statistical outputs. The role also involves coordination with UNV field units, regional offices, and the Results-Based Monitoring team to strengthen the analysis of volunteer mobilization data.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides technical leadership on quality, standards, and harmonization of volunteer statistics and data

Participates in the development or revision of international standards on statistical concepts, definitions, and classifications by performing methodological research. Provides strategic technical guidance for developing and conducting assessments/surveys including questionnaires, sample design, analysis plan, data collection and interpretation. Collaborates with qualified selected counterparts for impact assessments development, interpretation and production of related reports. Leads coordination and joint working with ILO on statistical norms and standard setting for unpaid labour and other UN entities as required. Keeps UN Member States abreast of the latest developments on volunteer statistics and norms. Provides statistical advice to the UNV Executive Office and Regional Offices on volunteer mobilization.

2. Provides technical leadership for the establishment of a global volunteer index.

Plays the lead technical role for the design and further refinement of a universally relevant, high-quality global volunteer index. Manages the global volunteer index, including regular review of the variables and indicators, analysis, and calculations. Manage the Global Index of Volunteer Engagement (GIVE), ensuring sustainable data collection and analysis processes are in place. Leads and coordinates consultations and engagement with National Statistical Offices on the implementation of the global volunteer index, ensuring member state buy-in. Coordinates and engages expert external statistical advice and stakeholder inputs into the global volunteer index, including through UNV-convened advisory groups.

3. Provides analysis of all relevant volunteer data and leads efforts to fill data gaps

Leads efforts to identify gaps in volunteer data in close coordination with relevant VASS units. Develops and implements a long-term and sustainable strategy to fill data gaps on volunteerism, especially in the Global South. Undertakes to generate enhanced data sets and more reliable estimates, as required Ensures quality assurance and independent peer review to ensure the relevance and acceptability of key data sets among participating stakeholders. Leads advocacy efforts with Member States, UN entities, Regional Partners, and Civil Society to increase and improve statistics and data on volunteerism.

4. Leads capacity development activities, ensures knowledge management and provides technical support to improve the capacities of member states to collect and disseminate official statistics on volunteerism.

Leads and coordinates the provision of statistical technical assistance to member states to facilitate UNV´s integration efforts. Identifies gaps and opportunities for capacity building and technical support. Oversees randomization processes, data collection training and field supervision to ensure high quality data. Make contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Leverages synergies in these efforts by proactively seeking partnership with other UN entities working with NSOs. Disseminates knowledge inside and outside UNV to leverage opportunities for advocacy on the importance of measuring volunteerism and strengthening statistical capacities to this end.

5. Substantively engages in statistics-related partnerships and represents UNV in key statistical fora.

Contributes to regional, international publications and to expert group meetings and workshops, including statistical working groups in the UN system, if relevant. Explores relevant partnerships and synergistic efforts with other UN entities and other volunteer-supporting organizations. Represents UNV in key statistical fora and disseminates knowledge and lessons learned within UNV on relevant aspects. Actively engages with new statistical partnerships through knowledge sharing and promoting the exchange of lessons learnt and innovative practices.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:

Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility:

Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination:

Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner:

Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

System Thinking:

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Integration within the UN:

Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work. Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.

Knowledge Generation:

Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Communication:

Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Relationship management:

Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Data Literacy:

Understand the potential as well as the limitations of using data driven innovation. Ability to use a mix of data sources (quantitative, qualitative or real time techniques) to develop understanding, identify patterns to inform decision making or identify opportunities for further exploration.

Data Analysis:

Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Statistics, Sociology, Economics, Development Studies, or related field. Or A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (Bachelor’s Degree) of progressively responsible experience in the management, collection, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data or related areas is required. Expertise in statistical production software such as Stata, SPSS, Python, or similar tools is required. Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is required. Experience in a national and international statistical organization, as well as work with a UN agency on data and statistics, is desirable. Experience in innovative data collection and use in a statistical context, such as data mining, big data, data reform, etc. is desirable. Experience and leadership in developing and producing indices and complex statistical exercises are required. Experience in collaborating with governments, UN Bodies, NGOs, academia, and/or the private sector on data-related initiatives is desirable. Data visualization experience will be a requirement. Fluency in English is required. Working language of French, Spanish, and/or Arabic is desirable.

Disclaimer

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment for a Temporary Assignment This vacancy announcement is open to Open to Tier 0, 1, 2 and 3 applicants.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

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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