Environmental Statistics Specialist

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government agencies by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties.

Under the framework of the Institutional Capacity Development for Implementation of the Kuwait National Development Plan (ICDI/KNDP) project, UNDP and GSSCPD attempt to support the Central Statistics Bureau (CSB) to create an enabling environment for KNDP results. The aim is to enhance institutional and human capacities of the CSB for evidence-based plans and policies on sustainable development.

Within this context, UNDP on behalf of the General Secretariat for the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, the CSB is seeking to recruit an Environmental Statistics Specialist to provide technical advisory services to the office of the Assistant Undersecretary of Statistical Works Sector at the Central Statistical Bureau of the State of Kuwait. The specialist will be simultaneously working with various departments and units within the Central Statistical Bureau. The Environmental Statistics Specialist will also focus on capacity building and transfer of knowledge to different units at the Central Statistical Bureau for guiding the restructuring process.

Objective

The main objective of this consultancy is to assess the status and quality of environmental statistics and the needs for their development at the national level to be consistent with the scope of the United Nations Statistical Commission’s Environment Statistics Development Framework.

Summary of key functions:

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Undersecretary of Statistical Works at the CSB, and in close coordination with the GSSCPD International Cooperation Department and UNDP project team, the Environmental Statistics Specialist will assume the following tasks:

1. Assist in the implementation of the United Nations Statistical Commission’s Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES-2013), which identifies environmental and other data within its scope, which contributes to structuring and aggregating data into statistical series and indicators.

2. Develop a national framework that includes frameworks and mechanisms for auditing and controlling the quality of statistical environmental statistics and environmental-economic accounting, at the levels of collection, processing and dissemination of statistics.

3. Adopting a comprehensive program to raise human capacities in the field of environmental statistics and environmental-economic accounting.

4. Conducting technical workshops specialized in environmental statistics and indicators for the employees of the Central Administration of Statistics with the participation of the relevant authorities.

5. Assist in the construction of modern databases that monitor environmental statistics and indicators and environmental-economic accounting and meet current and future data requirements.

6. Assist in building automated systems for monitoring environmental data and indicators and link with the relevant authorities.

1. Institutional Arrangement

• The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Assistant Undersecretary of Statistical Works. He/she needs to coordinate closely with the GSSCPD International Cooperation Department and UNDP project team.
• All payments subject to approval based on submitted certified and approved interim, draft and final reports (with relevant attachments) by GSSCPD / CSB and UNDP. These interim and final reports will serve as justification of payment.
• The Consultant will be provided with access to printing machine and internet connection.

1. Duration of the Work

The duration of this assignment is expected to be 6 months. The starting date is expected within April 2021.

1. Duty Station

The consultant will be based in Kuwait at CSB office for the duration of the assignment.

1.  Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

1. EVALUATION

1. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates leadership, team building and coordinating skills
• Demonstrates commitment to human development principles and values.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Provides helpful feedback and advice;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Functional Competencies

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies innovative approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
• Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Proven analytical and writing skills, including in the area of programming.
• Ability to prepare succinct analytical publications and reports.  ?
• Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for social planning.
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of public policy development and international organisations and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
• Excellent written communication and analytical skills.

Client Orientation:

• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of national and local institutions, government, and non-government.
• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct, and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.
• Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

I. Academic Qualifications:

• Minimum requirement is a Master’s degree in Statistics, Environment or other related fields. PhD is preferable.

II. Years of experience:

• 10 years of proven practical experience in Statistics.
• Strong Knowledge of environmental statistics, indicators and environmental-economic accounting.
• Knowledge of the Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics FDES-2013 issued by the United Nations Statistical Commission.
• Knowledge of ESSAT.
• Strong experience in the methodologies used in the field of statistical work.
• Experience in applying the fundamentals of quality.
• Knowledge of the economic, social and statistical situation in Kuwait is an advantage.
• Experience in statistical institutes is an advantage.

III. Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English & Arabic is a must.