EOI21-127 - SDD - Statistics Advisor (Individual Consulting Services)

Statistical Innovation and Capacity Building in the Pacific Islands Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

Grant No. D5 44; Project ID No. PI69122

Assignment Title: Statistics Advisor

Reference No.: FJ-SPC-134378-CS-QCBS

Background:

The Pacific Community has received financing in the amount of USD 4.5 million equivalent from the World Bank toward the cost of the Statistical Innovation and Capacity Building in the Pacific Islands Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include those of a Statistics Advisor for an initial period of 22-months with an option to extend for a further 22-months.  The Consultant will initially be home-based, with moving to New Caledonia to be subject to negotiation.  The Consultant will be expected to work for 22 days per month for 11 months per year and, as much as possible while home-based, follow the general working hours of the Pacific Community.  The expected start date is August 2021.  As this is a long-term assignment, a detailed Terms of Reference is provided, including background to the project and the expected outputs over the duration of the project.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://www.spc.int/procurement.

The Pacific Community now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process.

The criteria for selecting the Consultant are:

• A PhD (or Master’s Degree, plus an additional 3 years of experience) in Statistics, Survey Methodology, or other related discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Technical and quantitative skills of an applied econometrician with experience in the following areas being highly desirable:
  • Demonstrated technical and quantitative skills as a statistics advisor / survey methodologist – including proven track record in data cleaning and processing (essential in Stata) of household and individual level data.
  • Candidates should have experience performing analysis in four or more of the following topics: sample design, weight calculation – including probability and non-probability designs, statistical inference, statistical modeling, non-response adjustment, imputation of missing values, questionnaire design, question drafting for sensitive topics, fieldwork management, CATI / CAWI surveying, hard-to-reach populations, mixed mode design, longitudinal survey design, census design, anonymization/disclosure risk, and alternative and non-traditional data sources.
  • Excellent quantitative and analytical background with a record of high quality analytical work in the areas outline above.  Publications in peer reviewed journals are desirable.
  • Experience in providing client-facing technical assistance, including conducting workshops and training in survey statistics, survey design, field methods, and data cleaning. Experience in drafting best practice notes or other reference material is desirable.
• Experience as a practitioner in developing and/or transition countries is desirable. Experience specific to the Pacific region is highly desirable. Superb interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams, and to listen and integrate ideas from varied sources, governments, NGOs, and donors, while being diplomatic and sensitive to cultural, political, and gender issues.
• Ability to work with staff from all levels and to mentor, coach, and motivate more junior staff.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with French language skills also being desirable.

The Required Competencies for selecting the Consultant are:

• General economic knowledge and analytical skills: demonstrated track record of working with economic and survey data and analytical tools and models to conduct applied micro-economic analyses and produce user-friendly written outputs; understands underlying economic and statistical concepts. 
• Knowledge and experience in development arena: understands policy issues and policy-making process; distills recommendations/lessons to stakeholders.
• Policy dialogue skills: identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.
• Integrative skill: working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector.
• Written and verbal communication: delivers information effectively in support of team or workgroup.
• Lead and Innovate: develops innovative solutions with others.

The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers , dated July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

The selected candidate will initially be home-based, however with a view to eventually relocate to be based in Noumea, New Caledonia.  Although in a consultant role, the selected candidate will be expected to be fully integrated into the Statistics for Development Division (SDD) team of SPC to contribute to team meetings and activities and to collaborate with SDD staff on activities that are common to the Project.

The assignment will be for an initial period of 22 months with the possibility of a further two year (22 month) extension, depending on performance and willingness to relocate to New Caledonia. The expected start date is August 2021.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours [0730 to 1600 hours, Noumea, New Caledonia (GMT+11)].

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 20 July 2021.

The Pacific Community

Michael Sharp – Economic Statistics and Microdata Specialist

PO Box D5, 98848 Noumea, New Caledonia

+687 262000

 michaels@spc.int; cc; sandrag@spc.int       

https://www.spc.int/