United Nations is Seeking a Consultant – Capacity Development (Data for Now Initiative): Apply By 26 April 2026

The United Nations is recruiting a Consultant under its Department of Economic and Social Affairs to support the Data for Now Initiative, a global effort aimed at strengthening national statistical systems and improving data for sustainable development. The position is linked to the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and contributes to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

This consultancy is primarily home-based, with potential international travel to project countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Programme Context

The Data for Now Initiative is a collaborative effort involving key global partners such as:

• World Bank
• United Nations Development Programme
• Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
• Sustainable Development Solutions Network

The initiative focuses on enhancing countries’ ability to produce timely, high-quality, and disaggregated data for informed decision-making and policy implementation.

Contract Details

• Duty Station: New York (home-based work arrangement)
• Contract Duration: 15 May 2026 – 15 November 2026 (with possible extension)
• Application Deadline: 26 April 2026

The consultant will engage remotely with teams and stakeholders while supporting activities across multiple regions.

Key Responsibilities

The consultant will play a central role in coordinating and implementing activities under the Data for Now Initiative.

Project Planning and Coordination

• Develop a detailed workplan with defined outputs and timelines
• Coordinate implementation across participating countries
• Maintain regular communication with national statistical offices (NSOs)

Technical Support and Capacity Development

• Provide guidance and technical assistance to country teams
• Support statistical capacity building and training programmes
• Contribute to improving:
  • Data quality
  • Timeliness
  • Accessibility of development indicators

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with:
  • UN agencies
  • Government institutions
  • Civil society
  • Academic and private sector partners
• Engage with regional and global stakeholders supporting statistical development

Research and Methodological Contributions

• Support development of tools and methodologies related to:
  • Poverty and environmental data
  • Gender and inclusion metrics
  • Data integration and innovation
• Contribute to statistical advancements such as:
  • Metadata development
  • Use of non-traditional data sources
  • Small area estimation techniques

Communication and Reporting

• Produce regular progress reports and a final project report
• Develop communication materials, including:
  • Data stories
  • Web content updates
• Support outreach and visibility of initiative outcomes

Deliverables

The consultancy includes structured outputs over the contract period:

• Initial workplan (June 2026)
• Monthly progress reports (July – November 2026)
• Final report with recommendations for future implementation

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in:
  • Statistics
  • Economics
  • Development Studies
  • Public Administration or related fields
• Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree with extensive relevant experience

Experience and Skills

Professional experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in social sciences, statistics, or economics
• At least 5 years working with national statistical systems, including training and capacity building
• Experience in:
  • Project or programme management
  • Stakeholder engagement

Technical expertise:

• Strong knowledge of statistical production systems
• Experience with:
  • Non-traditional data sources
  • Data quality management
  • Metadata systems
• Familiarity with SDG monitoring frameworks is desirable

Languages

• Fluency in English (required)
• Knowledge of additional UN languages is an advantage

Additional Information

Conclusion

This consultancy offers a unique opportunity to contribute to global data systems and support countries in achieving sustainable development outcomes. By combining technical expertise, stakeholder engagement, and policy support, the role plays a critical part in strengthening data ecosystems worldwide.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel

Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization that is seeking a Consultant under its Department of Economic and Social Affairs. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.