[Hiring] Data Expert Consultant @AGORA

Role Description

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) is the region’s premier political and economic policy organisation and serves as the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum. Guided by the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Forum (2005) and the decisions of Forum Leaders, PIFS supports Forum Members to strengthen regional cooperation and integration and advance shared priorities for economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.

PIFS leads regional coordination for the implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The Strategy calls for a long-term regional commitment to act as one “Blue Continent” as the means to achieve development aspirations. Its implementation requires a credible and sustainable evidence base that connects regional priorities, collective actions and initiatives to clear data, learning and accountability, that enables Leaders, officials and partners to understand progress, identify gaps and make informed decisions.

The consultancy is supported under the PIFS–UNICEF Pacific Memorandum of Understanding. It combines two linked priorities:

• Strengthening PIFS and regional data and evidence systems to support the implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
• Strengthening regional data on the situation of children and women in the Pacific SDG monitoring, and related data work with SPC and the Pacific Data Hub where UNICEF is a partner.

The assignment will be delivered in close collaboration with the 2050 MEL Adviser, the Adviser Data Analytics and Insights, and key regional partners including:

• The Pacific Community (SPC)
• The Pacific Data Hub
• UNICEF Pacific
• National Statistical Offices
• CROP agencies
• United Nations agencies
• Other development partners

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Statistics, Data Science, Demography, Economics, Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Health, Social Sciences or a related field.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in data analysis, statistics, economics, development studies, business management, and information management or monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL).
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of another Pacific language is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience mapping, accessing and triangulating data from multiple regional or international data sources, including SDG monitoring systems, household survey data, and regional data platforms such as the Pacific Data Hub.
• Demonstrated experience designing or contributing to data governance frameworks, evidence architectures, or data partnership arrangements in a regional or international development context.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating or supporting quantitative household surveys, preferably MICS or a comparable national survey.
• Strong understanding of survey data used to monitor the situation of children and women, including Sustainable Development Goal indicators and regional or national reporting processes.
• Experience working with, or in, Pacific Island countries and regional organisations (e.g. SPC, PIFS, CROP agencies, UN agencies) is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and data visualisation tools such as Excel, R, Python, SPSS, Power BI or Tableau; familiarity with SQL is an advantage.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, accessible products for both technical and senior policy audiences.

Benefits

• UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does.
• UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence.
• UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.