Food Security & Poverty Indicators 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 the effective implementation of the 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, CSB is seeking to recruit a Food Security & Poverty Indicators Specialist to support the Assistant Undersecretary for Statistical Affairs in assessing of availability of data for SGDs indicators, identify data gaps, and support calculation of national SDGs indicators. The Specialist will also provide on-job training to relevant national staff at CSB in this area.

The consultancy will be an immediate contribution to ICDI/KNDP project output- Enhanced institutional and human capacities of the CSB for evidence–based plans and policies on sustainable development, while contributing to the implementation KNDP objectives on the modernization of the CSB.

Objective

The main purpose of the assignment is to support the Central Statistics Bureau by providing an overview of national and provincial data availability and data gaps regarding indicators for reporting against the Global SDGs 169 targets and 232 indicators particularly in food security and poverty indicators. 

Summary of Key Functions

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Undersecretary for Statistical Affairs and in close coordination with the GSSCPD International Cooperation Department and UNDP project team, the Sustainable Development Indicators Specialist will assume the following tasks:

• Conduct a full review and assessment of available and disaggregated data to monitor the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and corresponding targets and indictors in relation to Goal 1; End poverty in all its forms everywhere and Goal 2; End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
• Provide technical support in analyzing the indicators under Goal 1; End poverty in all its forms everywhere and Goal 2; End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture as well as identifying the data gaps between those goals.
• Based on the Household Income & Expenditure survey data and the data available at the CSB and at other data providers, indicate and calculate, the following:

– The national poverty line (percentage of the population living below the national poverty line according to age and gender).

– The Multidimensional poverty (percentage of men, women and children of all ages who suffer poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions).

– Defining a concept of social protection that is compatible with the State of Kuwait (the percentage of the population that is covered by minimum limits / systems of social protection).

– Malnutrition rate.

– The spread of moderate/severe food insecurity among the population.

– Stunt growth rate.

–  Malnutrition spread rate.

• Prepare a summary matrix of all 17 SDGs goals and targets, assess data availability and data needs whether it is readily available, available with efforts or not available for calculating relevant indicators in relation to Goal 1; End poverty in all its forms everywhere and Goal 2; End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Also any indicators related to poverty or food security for the remaining 17 goals.
• Identify gaps and needs based on the analysis of the SDGs matrix in relation to Goal 1; End poverty in all its forms everywhere and Goal 2; End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, and any indicators related to poverty or food security for the remaining 17 goals.
• Provide technical support and accommodate CSB requests for Food Security & Poverty in terms of reports or research.
• Conduct working sessions on a National Level: Provide on the job training to ensure capacity building for the relevant teams at CSB and other counterparts to implement their role in relation to SDGs indicators.
• Provide at least two (2) training workshop each month for CSB employees to ensure capacity building for the relevant teams at CSB and other counterparts to implement their role in relation to SDGs indicators as well as food security and poverty indicators.
• Provide at least one (1) training online workshop each month for data providers if needed.

DELIVERABLES

The duration and timeline of the deliverables are indicated in the below table:

Institutional Arrangement

• The Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Assistant Undersecretary for Statistical Affairs at CSB.  The Specialist will also report to GSSCPD and UNDP project team based at the International Cooperation Department at the GSSCPD by submitting regular reports on progress and impact of the assignment. 
• 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. 

Duration of Work

The duration of this assignment is expected to be 3 months. The starting date is expected within April 2021.

Duty Station

The consultant will be based in Kuwait at CSB headquarters 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 gender and programming.
• Understands more advanced aspects of social development as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• 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 master’s degree in economics, statistics or food security statistics, PhD is an advantage.

II. Years of experience:

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in SDGs targets and indicators;
• 10 years’ experience in developing and construction of indicators;
• Experience working in Statistical institutes. 
• Previous experience in the Millennium Development Goals or Sustainable Development Goals;
• Experience in using statistical computer programs (STATA, SPSS, E-Views, etc..,) and MS. Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).

III. Language Requirements:

Fluency in oral and written English is a must, Arabic is desirable.