Data Analyst

The Position:

Under the overall guidance of the Representative, and with direct supervision from the National Programme Officer for PD, the Data Analyst supports the contribution of the Philippines Country Office to the UNFPA Global Outcome on “everyone, everywhere, is counted, and accounted for, in the pursuit of sustainable development”. Population trends and dynamics play a powerful role in development, and must therefore be factored into planning and policy decisions, especially as it relates to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

The COVID-19 pandemic is straining public health systems, triggering unprecedented measures by governments around the world, including movement restrictions and shelter-in-place orders. Evidence from prior outbreaks shows that this crisis could exact a massive toll on women and girls. UNFPA is supporting efforts to learn more about the virus and its impact to better serve the most vulnerable. However, due to the limitations brought about by the nature and response to the pandemic, data is more difficult to obtain and generate. Given this, there is an urgent criticality in bolstering the human resources capacity of the Country Office in learning and adapting to the pandemic and the new normal guided by facts and solid information. This post will be able to assist the Country Office to devise "innovations and creative solutions" that is increasingly required in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated measures in the new normal.

The Data Analyst shall support the generation and analysis of demographic information across the country. She/He shall work with a multi-thematic team in conducting evidence-based analysis to be used by UNFPA in policy and programmatic discussions at the national, regional and local levels. The Data Analyst establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government and non-government data agencies, academe, civil society and development partners, including multilateral and bilateral donor agencies.

The Data Analyst shall be based in the UNFPA Philippines Country Office in Metro Manila.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  In 2019 UNFPA marked its 50th anniversary.  Since the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, UNFPA has been assisting countries in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action to put sexual and reproductive health and rights and population dynamism as the foundation of sustainable development. UNFPA globally is promoting commitments to achieving three transformational goals by 2030 - ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and other harmful practices against women and girls including child marriage.

In the Philippines, UNFPA is implementing its 8th Country Programme 2019-2023, in the same cycle as the UN-wide Partnership Framework for Sustainable Development (PFSD) with the Philippine Government.  UNFPA’s 8th CP is tightly aligned with the mid- and long-term development goals of the Philippines, as detailed in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 towards the achievement of Ambisyon Natin 2040 and the global Agenda 2030 including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The COVID-19 response is among UNFPA’s current priorities, in addition to addressing the triple nexus of humanitarian-development- peacebuilding in the Philippines, including through the prevention and response to gender-based violence.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.  UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Population dynamics is the cumulative result of individual choices and opportunities – and UNFPA has learned that real progress results when these choices and opportunities are enlarged rather than restricted. This is especially true when dealing with the protection of the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all people, a sensitive area, and one with enormous implications for population dynamics. UNFPA supports countries by studying local population dynamics to support their efforts to formulate people-centered development strategies, goals and targets.

The Philippines is currently besieged by high rates of adolescent pregnancy, GBV, HIV infections and Mental Health issues. These concerning high rates are interplayed with various social, cultural and economic determinants, along with the trends on migration, urbanization, ageing and the youth bulge. In addition, the Philippines ranks 3rd globally among countries with the highest disaster risks, further complicated by the peace and security issues in the island of Mindanao. Another reality that the country is facing is the Covid-19 pandemic, the post-Covid-19 scenarios and the so-called “new normal”.  In all of these, the Data Analyst position is critical in the generation and analysis of population data for the Country Office to learn more about the epidemiology of Covid-19 and its impact to better serve the most vulnerable women, young people and the elderly.

The Data Analyst shall assist the Philippines Country office in supporting relevant data generation and analysis, recommendations on policies and programmes based on existing evidence, and monitoring and evaluating population and dynamics initiatives using the UNFPA Results-Based Management approaches. 

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Generate innovative ideas and solutions based on evidence to promote and achieve the Population and Development Objectives of the UNFPA Philippines 8th Country Programme Document (CPD).
2. Support the strengthening of government capacities on the study of population dynamics.
3. Repositioning the CO's Population and Development strategic approaches to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic, the post-Covid-19 scenarios, and the “new normal”. Lead the analyses of COVID-19 impact on women's and girls' sexual and reproductive health, especially Maternal Health, Family Planning, Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence.
4. Contribute to planning, execution and monitoring of innovative and creative solutions to UNFPA humanitarian and development initiatives, including those funded by Innovation Fund.
5. Manage UNFPA's 15-year Cohort Study and other similar studies and researches.
6. Manage the development and implementation of Annual Work Plans of the Population and Development Unit.
7. Contribute to the regular review of the UNFPA 8^th CP Action Plan 2019 to 2023.
8. Develop new and strengthen existing partnerships with government and non-government data agencies, academe, civil society and development partners, including multilateral and bilateral donor agencies.
9. Contribute in resource mobilization by proposing Population and Development initiatives for funding, by reviewing and providing inputs on proposals to donors, and by assisting in networking initiatives with potential donors.
10. Work with UN Colleagues and government counterparts in joint UN initiatives on data and on Population and Development.
11. Promote Population and Development issues and initiatives through UNFPA's communication platforms.

Qualifications and Experience

Education: 

Advanced degree in health, population, demography and/or other related social science discipline - statistics, mathematics or a related subject involving economics or data science. Other degrees are also acceptable if they include training in statistics or informatics as part of the course.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Up to two years professional experience in data generation and analysis.  Expertise in collection and analysis of timely, accurate, complete and age-, sex- and regionally-disaggregated data and evidence.
• Background and previous work experience on sexual and reproductive health and rights is an advantage.
• Prior experiences with working with key government partners, such us the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Health, Philippines Statistical Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, on data collection and analysis are desirable.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with and providing technical assistance to national and local government units and other non-government counterparts.

Languages:

Fluency in oral and written English essential.

Required Competencies