Programme Analyst Consultancy

This position is located in the Data and Analytics Branch (DAB) of the Programme Division, HQ. The Programme Analyst provides technical support to meet UNFPA’s data needs in population dynamics, projections, and estimates for humanitarian preparedness and response, as well as population estimates relevant to UNFPA programming. The incumbent works within an integrated, coordinated, and systems-strengthening approach under the supervision of the Programme Specialist on CRVS and COD-PS, and the overall direction of the Chief, Data and Analytics Branch.

About the role

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise in producing Common Operational Datasets on Population Statistics (COD-PS), related population data products, analyses, documentation, and data dissemination tools to strengthen humanitarian preparedness and response programming. The role involves working with diverse health and population data sources, including household surveys (DHS and MICS), registry data, and population censuses. The incumbent will produce up-to-date estimates of demographic trends, projections, and SRHR outcomes in both humanitarian and development settings, utilizing statistical approaches such as regression analysis, hierarchical linear modeling, survival analysis, Bayesian estimations, and small area estimation.

The primary roles include:

• Technical support
• Capacity development
• Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination
• Technical representation

Responsibilities

Technical Support

• Support the generation and refinement of Common Operational Data Sets on Population Statistics within UNFPA programme countries.
• Provide analytic and technical support to UNFPA’s leadership and engagement with the Inter-agency working group on interoperability of baseline population data, displacement data, and refugee data (IAWG-interop).
• Contribute to data quality assurance processes and estimation methodology to align subnational population projections with available refugee and internal displacement data in selected humanitarian settings.
• Develop technical standards, data protocols, methods, and tools for the routine integration and harmonization of baseline COD-PS data with internal displacement and refugee data.
• Update and disseminate technical guidance briefs and tools to support COD-PS production, management, dissemination, and use by UN Humanitarian Country Team field staff.
• Provide technical support to improve the precision and timeliness of vulnerable subpopulations of concern (e.g., pregnant women, youth/adolescents) in humanitarian situations, including enhancements to UNFPA’s Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) calculator and engagement in Multi-sectoral Initial Rapid Assessments (MIRA).
• Collaborate with UNFPA website focal points to maintain data components for related topics.
• Respond to data-related requests and questions from internal and external partners.

Capacity Development

• Support the provision of humanitarian data expertise across UNFPA.
• Assist UNFPA Country Offices in engaging Information Management Working Groups of UN Humanitarian Country Teams.
• Contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of population data analysis, capacity development workshops, webinars, and related activities at HQ, regional, and country levels for both humanitarian and development programming.
• Provide data analytic support to UNFPA Country Offices and Regional Offices in the area of COD-PS and MISP-calculator estimations.

Evidence and Knowledge Development and Dissemination

• Generate analysis of data from household surveys (DHS and MICS) and population censuses to identify those at heightened risk of poor SRHR outcomes in priority humanitarian countries.
• Contribute to UNFPA’s collaborations with OCHA, IOM, and UNHCR on ensuring alignment and interoperability of baseline subnational population projections and refugee/displacement data in various humanitarian settings.
• Contribute to the generation of Common Operational Datasets on Population Statistics in key UNFPA programme countries.
• Support the development of innovative data dissemination tools, including Population Data Dashboards, to facilitate the use of COD-PS and MISP-Calculator Tools.
• Develop approaches for estimating the number of pregnant women in humanitarian settings based on diverse types of source data, and generate algorithms for such estimates within the Population Data Platform.
• Contribute to the technical alignment of UNFPA subnational population estimates and projections in support of disaster preparedness, operational humanitarian response, demographic resilience reviews, peacebuilding support, and inter-censal/post-censal analytic processes.
• Contribute to UNFPA’s inputs and recommendations to the IASC Task Force on the use of artificial intelligence in humanitarian contexts.
• Perform other analytic tasks as needed in the Programme Division.

Technical Representation

• Participate in UN Inter-Agency Working Groups on humanitarian data, including those overseen by UNFPA, OCHA, UNHCR, WHO, and IOM (e.g., Global Information Management Working Group, Humanitarian Data Collaborative).
• Substantively contribute to technical support efforts for UNFPA’s mobilization of additional resources in the data area.
• Participate in interdivisional and partnership mechanisms such as the inter-divisional working group on humanitarian action and the humanitarian data working group at UNFPA.
• Participate in the development, maintenance, and dissemination of M&E tools, such as Dashboards.
• Contribute to routine technical and programmatic reporting on UNFPA’s work on population data and estimation in humanitarian settings.
• Carry out any other duties as required by the Programme Specialist, COD-PS and CRVS, and the Branch Chief.

Requirements

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, Sociology, Economics, Data Science, Population Studies, or another closely related quantitative social science discipline, with a minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in population data analysis, demographic analysis, statistics, data management, or applied quantitative research in an international organization, humanitarian agency, academic institution, or development organization.
• OR First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in one of the above-mentioned fields, with a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the same areas.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience in data collection, analysis, visualization, dissemination, database management, and research within an academic or development institution in an international setting.
• Strong knowledge of statistical methodologies and competencies in statistical packages such as R, Python, or STATA.
• Experience in constructing subnational population projections in low- and middle-income countries.
• Familiarity and/or experience working with refugee and internal displacement data from international humanitarian settings is an asset.
• Mastery of demographic methods and statistical techniques for data quality assessment, processing, and analysis using various health and population sources (DHS, MICS, and population census).
• Ability to provide advice and guidance on the analysis, interpretation, and application of data from incomplete and deficient population/demographic data.
• Experience and ability to meet tight deadlines to support humanitarian response and disaster preparedness.
• Familiarity and experience with markup languages such as Markdown, RMarkdown, and dashboard development tools like R Shiny is an asset.
• Familiarity and experience with version control systems (e.g., Git, GitHub, GitLab, Subversion) and data dissemination standards (e.g., Humanitarian Exchange Language (HXL), Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX)).
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent report writing and compelling oral presentation skills.
• Familiarity with the UN system is desirable.

Schedule

88 working days (1 September 2026 to 31 December 2026), full-time.

Expected Deliverables

• Updated Common Operational Datasets on Population Statistics (COD-PS) for assigned countries.
• Technical analyses and population estimates completed and documented.
• Population Data Portal dashboards and visualization products updated.
• Technical guidance notes and documentation prepared.
• Final consultancy report summarizing activities undertaken, outputs delivered, and recommendations submitted by the end of the assignment.

Supervisory Arrangements

The consultant reports to the Programme Specialist, CRVS & COD-PS, Data and Analytics Branch, Programme Division, and under the general direction of the Chief, Data and Analytics Branch.