Associate Statistics and Data Analysis Officer

Title: Associate Statistics and Data Analysis Officer
ICA Level: IICA-1/LICA-9
Duty station: Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 01/10/2024 – 31/12/2024 (with possibility of extension)

General Background

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people.

The Statistics, Data Science, and Survey Section (SDSS) located in UNHCR’s Global Data Service (GDS) in Copenhagen oversees the production of global statistics on forcibly displaced and stateless populations. Access to reliable, timely and accurate data is essential to achieve the aims of the Data Transformation Strategy 2020-2025, that is, to position UNHCR as a trusted leader on data and information related to refugees and other populations of concern. The Section develops external products such as the annual Global Trends report, which analyzes the changes in forced displacement and statelessness and deepens public understanding of ongoing crises, and maintains the Refugee Data Finder, which enables humanitarian workers, decision-makers, researchers, and many more to quickly access data and information on affected populations. The Section ensures that quality and coherent data related to forced displacement is systematically, responsibly, and efficiently collected, analyzed, and presented by UNHCR and its partners.

Increasingly, UNHCR’s approach to strengthen statistics, data and information systems is based on collaboration and collective efforts with partners and stakeholders, as the optimal way to both ensure the effective use of resources and to achieve outcomes for those affected by forced displacement.

At global level, UNHCR is a member of several multi-stakeholder statistical expert groups, ensuring that forcibly displaced people are visible in global statistical recommendations and reporting, through disaggregation of data by forced displacement status and, through the custodian role of a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator. SDSS has taken a leading role in the Expert Group on Refugee, IDP and Statelessness Statistics (EGRISS), both as a steering committee member and host of the secretariat. EGRISS is a multistakeholder group, which was established by the UN Statistical Commission in 2016 to develop recommendations to improve official statistics on forced displacement and statelessness. UNHCR coordinates the activities of the group together with other steering committee members, consisting of organizations from country, regional and international levels. In addition, SDSS is co-leading the work of the EGRISS subgroup on capacity building on forced displacement statistics.

The section is a key member of the International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC), a platform that brings together diverse stakeholders working at the nexus between data and the topics of migration, forced displacement, human mobility, development, and child protection. It is led by a joint Secretariat comprised of UNICEF as Chair, UNHCR, IOM, Eurostat, and OECD. UNHCR is also a member of its capacity building and technical guidance working group.

Through the above-mentioned initiatives, UNHCR works closely with global, regional, and national partners to strengthen capacity on how to collect and compile official statistics on forced displacement and to improve the quality and availability of such statistics. Inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless people into national, regional, and global statistical production and systems is an important prerequisite for making these groups visible in policy making and programme development and a key component of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Working as part of the Statistics, Data Science, and Survey Section, in the Statistical Partnerships and External Engagement team, the Associate Statistics and Data Analysis Officer will focus on the section’s partnership in IDAC. Through this focus the Associate Statistics and Data Analysis Officer will have a diverse role involving coordination, communication, and capacity building. Main tasks include strengthening national data systems and capabilities, promoting collaborative and innovative data collection and analysis methods, and improving the visibility, availability, accessibility, and usability of statistical data. The incumbent will also be responsible for building strong partnerships and advocating for best practices in data management.

The selected candidate will be responsible for the following tasks and activities:

Coordination and Communication
• Support global and regional coordination and communication on IDAC-related activities, in close collaboration with IDAC secretariat members and the UNHCR lead. This includes regular information updates to be shared with UNHCR regional levels through existing channels.
• Support the organization of internal and external events focused on data on children and age disaggregation, in collaboration with identified IDAC members. This will include coordination support (e.g. organisation of meetings, documentation of minutes, follow up on workplans), administrative support (e.g. development of TORs, procurement processes, organisation of workshops) and substantive support (e.g. research, writing/editing/presentations) as relevant.
• Support in dissemination and publication of IDAC publications, in close collaboration with UNHCR communication team.

Capacity Building
• Assist in organizing and delivering training sessions for UNHCR staff, partners, and other stakeholders on age disaggregation and how to improve data on children forced to flee, ensuring linkages with other relevant capacity building initiatives on forced displacement statistics, especially the Expert Group on Refugee, IDP and Statelessness Statistics (EGRISS), Expert Group on Migration Statistics (EGM) and Inter Agency Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs).
• Support the organization of capacity-building workshops and rollout of capacity-building tools, terminology briefs, and indicator guidance in coordination with other capacity building initiatives, including EGRISS and EGM.
• Coordinate national data system strengthening and capacity building work related to age disaggregated displacement data on children, in one selected pilot country, working closely with national statistical partners, other relevant partners and the project team.
• Support the development of training materials and tools and as relevant insert age disaggregation language in UNHCR guidance.
• Support internal capacity building and information sharing on age disaggregation, relevant terminology, and definitions.

Data Publications
• Develop thematic briefings and guidance documents, with a focus on age disaggregation and forced displacement.
• Review and provide technical input into relevant publications and other communications and reporting activities, with a focus on innovative and integrated approaches to age disaggregation and data collection on children forced to flee.

Management support
• Budget management support, in close collaboration with UNHCR team lead, including creating and maintaining budget planning and management tools, liaising with relevant finance colleagues for expenditure report reviews, and other tasks as relevant.
• Act as team-focal point/coordinator for common Microsoft Teams channels and workplanning tools, ensure common workplans are developed and used as agreed by the team.
• Contributions monitoring & evaluation activities, with focus on areas of responsibility/expertise.
• Active participation in Steering Committee and working group meetings as required.
• Other duties as required by the unit.

Travel required
• Travel is required both to attend IDAC related events and workshops but also to implement the capacity building data system strengthening pilot work.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Activity 1: Development of 1 thematic brief based on data from UNHCR Forced Displacement Survey with a focus on children by End of 2024
Deliverable: Thematic brief finalized for dissemination

Activity 2: Coordination of one national data system strengthening and capacity building exercise in a selected country (TBC), working closely with national statistical partners and the project team, particularly UNHCR regional and country level by End of 2024
Deliverable: Development of draft project workplan

Activity 3: Support organization of regional capacity building workshop on forced displacement and age disaggregation by November 2024
Deliverables: Provide (1) support to the overall organization of CB workshop and identified follow up, (2) develop lessons learnt document with focus on innovative and integrated approaches to age disaggregation

Activity 4: Provide technical and financial monitoring support to project lead between 1 October and 31 December
Deliverable: External and internal reports as required

Qualifications and Experience

Education:
• University (or Master’s degree) in statistics, economics, monitoring and evaluation, political science, international policy and development or a relevant field.

Work Experience:
• 3 years relevant experience in research and data analysis with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree.
• Proven experience in synthetizing complex policy issues and technical writing.
• Ability to work in an international environment and under tight deadlines.
• Proven experience in capacity building and data system strengthening work with national statistical systems.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder projects with significant coordination needs is an asset.
• Experience supporting the organization of professional conferences or workshops is an asset.

Key Competencies
• Advanced knowledge about displacement and humanitarian and development work.
• Advanced analytical and statistical skills.
• Advanced communication skills both orally and in writing.
• Ability to take initiatives and work independently within established deadlines.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.

Location and Conditions

The successful candidate will be based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

This vacancy is open to applicants residing in Denmark as well as those residents in other countries. The remuneration level and the applicable entitlements and benefits may differ based on the residence of the most suitable selected candidate.

Please note that the initial contract will run up to 31 December 2024 with possibility of extension. The IDAC is projected to conclude in 2026 whilst funding for this position has been secured until the end of 2025.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

• (empty)

• Allowed Unions from Job Profile

  Allowed Unions from Job Profile

  (empty)