World Bank Jobs in Nigeria: Statistician

Posted on :

1 Apr, 2010

Category :

NGO Jobs in Nigeria

BACKGROUND / GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Statistics for Results Facility (SRF) is a global initiative concerned with supporting the strengthening of statistical systems and building capacity in developing countries. The SRF focuses on scaling-up levels of resources for investing in statistical capacity on the basis of an agreed National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), and on the promotion of more effective delivery of assistance, particularly through the use of program-based approaches.

The World Bank is managing a “Catalytic Fund” to support the SRF approach in several pilot countries. The Catalytic Fund is designed to stimulate support for implementing an NSDS; to promote a system-wide approach in statistics at country level; to promote improved coordination and partnership between statistics users and statistical producers; and to deliver more efficient and effective aid and technical assistance for strengthening statistical systems and results measurement.

Nigeria has been allocated a grant from the SRF Catalytic Fund to support implementation of Nigeria’s Strategy for the National Development of Statistics. Other development partners are expected to provide funding and support for implementing this strategy, and are coordinating their efforts through a national partnership group. A Statistician is now required to reinforce the World Bank Task Team in the office in Abuja in its work with the Nigerian government, and other development partners in this endeavor. The overall role of the post-holder will be to ensure the success of the SRF approach in Nigeria, by supporting the partnership effort and by providing technical advice to both development partners and national authorities on statistical development issues.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
The duty station for the post will be Abuja, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES
Specific objectives are to:
a. Help national authorities developing appropriate institutional linkages between the various parts of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) responsible for producing official statistics.

b. Utilize the national partnership group for statistics to provide a coordinated support mechanism for all development partners to provide assistance for the development of the national statistical system.

c. Facilitate the preparation or completion of the national statistical development plan through a consultative and participatory process. The plan should be agreed, prioritized, costed and implemented within the available resource envelope.

d. Where necessary, support the institutional reform and change process within the national statistical system as guided by the statistical legislation or public sector reform program. Reform may include amendment of statistical legislation and restructuring of the national statistical office, and improving the institutional linkages with the statistical offices of the states.

e. Support capacity development through facilitation or sourcing and coordination of technical assistance to implement the national statistical development plan.

TASKS
As the post-holder is hired to reinforce the Task Team, all tasks should be carried in agreement with the Task Team Leader. Specific tasks are to:

a. Provide a focal point for donor support to statistical development, including liaison between national authorities and development partners, both those represented in-country and those abroad, on issues related to the development of statistical capacity.

b. Advise national authorities and development partners on methods for supporting the development of the national statistical system.

c. Work with other development partners to establish and strengthen effective donor coordination mechanisms, including the national partnership group.

d. Advise national authorities and development partners on the process for the design and review of national statistical development plans. This includes advice to ensure that plans are clearly prioritized, fully costed, feasible, realistic, and are related to national sub-regional, and sectoral development policy processes.

e. Facilitate the process of preparing proposals and financing requirements for the implementation of national statistical development plans. Proposals should be presented for discussion and approval to the lead donor and the national partnership group.

f. Advise national authorities and development partners on the design of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for the implementation of national statistical development strategies. (ideally, these frameworks should be part of the strategy document).

g. Advise national authorities to ensure that the strategies conform to and apply the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

h. Encourage national authorities to set up appropriate mechanisms for user-producer dialogue (such as user-producer committees), to promote dialogue on the use of statistics, and close the gap between supply and demand.

i. Encourage national authorities to devise mechanisms of assessing the effectiveness of the statistical system and its products using the existing data quality assessment frameworks, including use of peer review processes.

j. Prepare periodic reports on the support to statistical development provided through development partners participating in the national partnership group, and any other agency as appropriate.

k. Provide support to the national partnership group on statistical development. This may include the preparation of background documentation, and the production of meeting minutes.

l. Liaise with the SRF Catalytic Fund Administration Unit, where necessary.

m. Facilitate and support joint periodic coordinated reviews to assess progress of implementation of the statistical plan.

n. Support the Bank’s Task Team Leader for the project and act on its behalf when needed.

Reporting arrangements:

The post-holder will work with the Task Team on a day-to-day basis, while report to the Manager, DECDG.

Selection Criteria
a. Advanced university degree in statistics or economics, or a closely related discipline.

b. A thorough understanding of the issues and challenges faced by developing countries in developing statistical capacity.

c. A good understanding and experience of official statistics, their production and their use.

d. A good understanding of the UN Principles of Official Statistics, and other international standards and guidelines for statistics.

e. A good understanding and experience of national statistical offices and other key data producers in the national statistical system.

f. Understanding of the principles of institutional and organizational reform, change management, and capacity development.

g. Understanding of the design and implementation of national statistical development plans, and associated monitoring and evaluation systems.

h. Ability to participate in and influence policy dialogue.

i. Ability to work in a complex multi-cultural environment with multiple partners and interest groups.

j. Ability to organize and effectively manage work teams.

k. Ability to work alone without regular close supervision.

l. Good written and oral communications skills in English.

m. Prior experience of working in, or with, developing countries is required.

n. At least 5 years of relevant experience.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

JOB # 100644
JOB TITLE STATISTICIAN
JOB FAMILY ECONOMIC POLICY
LOCATION ABUJA, NIGERIA
APPOINTMENT INTERNATIONAL HIRE
JOB POSTED 22-MAR-2010
CLOSING DATE 21-APR-2010
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS ENGLISH [ESSENTIAL]
APPOINTMENT TYPE

CLICK HERE TO APPLY


Anybody asking you to pay money to schedule your interview or offer you job may be a scam