Statistical Specialist (Re-advertised - External)

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.

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.

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.

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

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. 
   

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. 

• 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.

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.

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. 

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.

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.