Mission and objectives
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. UNFPA’s goal is to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health, realize Reproductive rights, and reduce maternal mortality to accelerate progress on the ICPD Agenda, to improve the lives of adolescents and youth, and women, enabled by population dynamics, human rights, and gender equality. In 2018, UNFPA launched efforts to achieve three transformative results, ambitions that promise to change the world for every man, woman, adolescent and young person: - Ending unmet need for family planning - Ending preventable maternal death - Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices UNFPA recognizes that innovation is a key accelerator to achieve these results. UNFPA will harness innovation to meet tomorrow’s challenges and boost its impact, especially in addressing furthest behind populations, and leverage opportunities, social capital, funding and technology by (a) strengthening the corporate innovation architecture and capabilities, (b) scaling up innovations that have proven to be effective and impactful, (c) forming new partnerships and connecting with relevant innovation ecosystems, (d) strengthening and leveraging financing for innovation, and (e) expanding communities and culture for innovation.
Context
UNFPA is the leading UN agency in population and development, UNFPA plays a vital role in providing technical assistance, capacity building, and advocacy support for the Jordan's national census 2025. It ensures that the census incorporates gender, youth, and other key demographic dimensions, enabling the government and international organizations to design inclusive and targeted policies. The UNV assignment is part of UNFPA's broader support for Jordan's national census 2025, which is a critical tool for guiding national development, policymaking, and international support. The national census is conducted every 10 years, providing comprehensive demographic, social, and economic data that is essential for both the Jordanian government and international organizations, including donors, to make informed decisions. The 2025 census will serve as a foundational resource for understanding population trends, such as birth and death rates, migration patterns, employment, education levels, and household compositions. Importance of the Census:
1. Informed Policy Making: Accurate population data enables the government to allocate re-sources efficiently, plan for infrastructure, and design policies in areas like healthcare, education, housing, and employment.
2. Donor Support: International organizations, including donors, rely on census data to identify priority areas for their assistance, ensuring that their interventions align with national needs.
3. Population Dynamics: Understanding the size, growth, and movement of the population helps in managing national challenges, such as urbanization, migration (especially considering Jor-dan’s role as a host to a large number of refugees), and economic development.
4. Support for Marginalized Groups: The census helps identify vulnerable and marginalized groups, including women, youth, the elderly, and refugees. This data supports efforts to de-sign social protection programs and ensure equitable access to services.
5. Strategic Planning for Development Goals: The census data is used to track Jordan's progress toward national development goals and international commitments, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and inform strategies for achieving these objectives.
National UN Specialist Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to:
• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 1,101.58;
• Annual and learning leaves;
• Free Medical and life insurance;
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation analyst (census project manager), the assigned UN Volunteer plays a critical role in ensuring delivering the technical support, advocacy and communication for the national census project. the UN Volunteer Specialist will undertake the following tasks: A. Technical and methodological support:
• Provide technical expertise to the Department of Statistics (DOS) on census method-ologies, data collection techniques, and best practices for population surveys. Assist in reviewing census questionnaires that ensures inclusivity for gender, youth, and marginalized groups.
• Support the development and testing of digital data collection tools, including applications and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mapping. Support the development and implementation of protocols for data validation, cleaning, and quality assurance throughout the census data collection process.
• Support the training for census field staff and enumerators on data collection techniques, digital tools, and quality control protocols. Monitor field operations and facilitate providing troubleshooting support for technical challenges during data collection.
• Support DOS to develop and track the detailed census work plan, outlining key milestones, timelines, and deliverables. Ensure alignment with national priorities and inter-national standards for data collection.
• Oversee the implementation of census software solutions, including data entry systems, dashboards, and reporting tools.
• Provide expertise in statistical analysis and interpretation of preliminary census data, that will be used to create population projections and inform national development planning and resource allocation.
• Advise on risk management strategies to address potential challenges in census implementation, such as delays, technology failures, or security concerns. Continuously monitor progress and support in addressing emerging issues.
• Prepare technical reports and documentation, summarizing progress, insights, and recommendations for both national and international stakeholders.
• Facilitate training sessions on census programming, data analysis, and interpretation. Build capacity within DOS to ensure long-term sustainability in data management. B. Advocacy and Communication
• Participate in advocacy for the mobilization of resources for the realization of the census;
• Ensure the proper execution of awareness-raising activities for the public and other institutions;
• Support the organization of the various seminars for the dissemination of the final results of the general population and housing census;
• Ensure the publication and support of the DOS in the dissemination of the final results of the census. Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA Representative and Project manager.
Application deadline is 20 January 2025
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 - 80
Required experience
3 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
7 years
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in demography, statistics, or other related social science disciplines.
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Creativity • Empowering Others • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Knowledge Sharing • Managing Performance • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Self-Management • Technological Awareness • Vision • Working in Teams
Skills and experience
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in the field of data collection, processing, and analysis. • Expertise in Statistics or Demography is strongly recommended for understanding population data collection and analysis. Skills and experience description • Proven experience of participating in at least one census or big size survey. • Experience in training local staff on data analysis, report writing, and use of internet resources; • Experience in disseminating census data and socio-demographic analyses to a wide audience, as well as in motivating the use of data and results in development planning and policy issues; • Knowledge and experience of the preparation phases of population and housing censuses; • Solid computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.), email/internet, and familiarity with database management and office technology. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive, with the ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots communities, government authorities, and international agencies; familiarity with communications for development approaches is desirable. • Experience working with the United Nations System and demographic surveys and censuses will be an asset.
Area(s) of expertise
Social work, Community development, Development programmes
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. We work with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well supported UN Volunteers into development programming and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and reports to the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board. Read more about the added value of UNV, UN Volunteers and volunteerism.