Statistics and Monitoring Specialist (NO-3), WCARO Dakar Senegal #134021

This NOC Statistics and Monitoring Specialist position is in the Strategic Programme Planning, Monitoring, Data and Research section of the UNICEF Western and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO). It is responsible for all aspects related to Regional Office (RO) data and analytics work and provides support in this area to all 24 Country Offices in WCA region.

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For every child, the right to Hope

Organizational Context

This NOC Statistics and Monitoring Specialist position is in the Strategic Programme Planning, Monitoring, Data and Research section of the UNICEF Western and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO). It is responsible for all aspects related to Regional Office (RO) data and analytics work and provides support in this area to all 24 Country Offices in WCA region.

The NOC Statistics and Monitoring Specialist reports to the P4 Statistics and Monitoring Manager and also works in collaboration with the P4 Information Management Specialist (IM/HPM). The Regional Chief of Programme Planning (P5) heads the Section.

Guided by UNICEF 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, the Africa Strategy and its data offer, and the WCA Regional Data Strategy, the incumbent will work with the RO sections and all 24 Country Offices to align the regional work to the Global Office of Evidence, Strategy and Effectiveness’s
(GOESE) 6 priority areas, deliver state-of-the-art data and analytics support to the RO and the COs and respond to their evolving needs. This will include support the RO and CO efforts in strengthening national statistical systems and national capacity for child-related data production, analytics and use.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the Job:

Under the direct supervision of the P4 Statistics and Monitoring Manager the incumbent will:

A / Provide technical data and analytics support to the RO and the COs to respond to their evolving needs for evidence and analysis

1. In line with GOESE’s 6 priority areas of work, including Area 6 that is specific to Africa and keeping the WCA region’s unique context in mind, develop the RO data and analytics workplan and provide support to CO colleagues to ensure alignment.
2. Work with RO sections and the Regional Director’s Office to produce the analytical products needed for supporting representation, advocacy, partnership and communication work.

1. Support GOESE with administrative coordination of ‘child centric surveys/MICS surveys’ as well as the roll-out of ‘minimum data package’ and ‘child life course index’ in the WCA region.

1. In collaboration with GOESE and COEs, provide technical support for the production of high-quality and relevant analysis on children, including thematic analysis (e.g., child marriage, education, health, etc.) using MICS, DHS or administrative data as well as innovative methodologies (predictive analytics, AI tools, etc.) to foster early warning and adaptive planning.
2. Regularly produce and update country and regional profiles and other data visualization products, using UNICEF data warehouse and other resources, working with GOESE, COE and emergency colleagues.

B / Support national statistical capacity strengthening for child-related data production, analysis, and use in monitoring the situation of children (child rights, SDGs, etc.).

1. Work with and provide technical support (agenda setting, priority setting, technical inputs, etc.) to the Africa Expert Group on child-related statistics and other regional bodies (UNECA, ECCAS, ECOWAS, etc.)
2. Foster coordination and collaboration across RO sections, and amongst COs for data production, analysis and use in support to continental, regional and national agendas (AU 2063, SDGs, CRC/ACRWC, national developments plans, etc.)
3. Contribute to leverage continental and regional partnerships (UNECA, Statistical schools, etc.) to advance data and analytics, including advocacy for sustainable investments in data for children.
4. Working with GOESE, support regional capacity building on data governance for children by ensuring principles of Responsible Data for Children, Ethical Guidelines and Protection Policy and Data Quality Framework are applied in UNICEF-supported partner’s data work at the regional and country levels
5. Working with GOESE, support National Statistical Office’s and social sector Ministry’s capacity building through the delivery of tailored training packages (N-moda, small area estimates, etc.)
6. Working with GOESE, provide administrative coordination for the roll-out of child-centric surveys (e.g. MICS), minimum data package, and child’s life course index in the region
7. Working with GOESE and T4D, foster integration of innovation, including advanced technologies (e.g. AI, LLM, NLP, etc.) into regular data production and analytics for RO and CO work.
8. Foster knowledge sharing on data and analytics across countries and regions.

Impact of Results:

The ability of the Operations Officer to effectively support the operations functions for the efficient delivery of related services, directly impact on program performance, resource mobilization and delivery of results for children. This in turn contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility of UNICEF as an effective and responsible manager of funds and resources entrusted to the organization and to furthering UNICEF’s image as a competent organization for delivering cost effective and sustainable program results in regular and emergency settings.

The ability of the Operations Officer to support assessment, mitigation, monitoring, review and reporting on the most significant risks that could potentially harm the organization, is a critical element of UNICEF’s risk and internal control performance management framework. Risk management skills are necessary to safeguard UNICEF’s reputation, resources, continuity of operations and reputation to fulfill our primary mission to save and protect children, globally.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
• Produce regional and cross-country data analyses – including data analysis using MICS, DHS or administrative data for thematic analysis (e.g., child marriage, education, health) – combining traditional data sources with new and emerging data sources (big data, citizen data, georeferenced data, etc.) while leveraging advanced analytics and AI (including LLM and NLPs) across sectors in to support the regional office program, advocacy, and communication agenda.

- Working with the IM colleague, support the production and dissemination of analytical products, including data visualization, dashboards and country profiles, ensuring accessibility to key data and analytics to all sections.

• Contribute to regional and national capacity building through the production and delivery of tailored trainings to National Statistical Offices

• Use and/or adapt guidelines and protocols based on UNICEF’s Responsible Data for Children principles, Ethical Guidelines, and Data Protection Policy for WCA region.

• Coordinate administratively child-centric survey work (e.g. MICS) in WCA region in close collaboration with GOESE and other partners (e.g. DHS, World Bank, UNWOMEN, UNFPA, etc.) and ensure adequate in-country support to agencies implementing MICS and other surveys relevant to UNICEF.

• Working with T4D/ICTD, support uptake of innovation (AI, LLM, NLP, etc.) into regular RO and CO data production and analytics processes, and contribute to building related capacity at RO and CO level.

• Organise regional workshops and other training activities on data measurement, data processing, analytics, reporting and use to drive results for children. Contribute to other global and continental workshops as relevant.

Impact of Results

(a) Describe the type of decisions regularly made and the impact of those decisions.

Decisions are made on regional priorities for data and analytics work and their effective capacity to support the regional office representation, advocacy and communication work. Assess RO and CO needs for data and analytics support (analysis of data gaps, frequency of such surveys, etc.). These decisions, being on a regional scale, have substantive resource implications both in staff time and finance and, furthermore affect future funding by interested donors.

(b) Describe the type of recommendations regularly made and why these are important.

Recommendations on the type of innovation and capacity-building initiatives needed to keep the region in line with GOESE 6 priority areas of work.

Recommendations on types of information, data and analysis that RO and COs need to effectively engage with continental, regional and national partners on UNICEF support to national-level SDG and child rights monitoring and national plan monitoring, an support national partners to collect, process and analyze data at household, local, sub-national and national levels.

Recommendations on modification of data needs, level of engagement with partners, with implications on resource allocation and ongoing or future partnerships

(c) Describe the most damaging error(s) that could be made in the work and the consequences they would have.

Inappropriate priority setting and allocation of resources affecting the data and analytics support to the RO representation, advocacy and communication agenda.

Insufficient compliance at RO and CO level with principles and standards (ethics, data protection, weak survey methodologies or wrong interpretation of data, etc.) negatively affecting use of UNICEF resources and the credibility of UNICEF in the region.

Ineffective inter-action with GOESE and RO colleagues would negatively affect the implementation, acceptability and use of deliverables of survey results.

Ineffective internal (UNICEF) capacity building and training activities would affect the effort to increase data and analytics capacity in RO and COs and result in lower quality work.

Ineffective national capacity building, training activities and networking would affect partners' commitment and application of UNICEF promoted initiative (child-centric surveys, minimum data package, life course index, etc.) and the roll out of GOESE 6 priority areas in WCA region.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• Master’s degree, or equivalent, in statistics, data sciences or a related technical field, with significant measurement and analysis component.

Work Experience:

• At least five years of experience in the measurement of child indicators, use of household surveys and other data collection methods.

• Excellent understanding of the use and limitations of various data collection methods, including large-scale household surveys, censuses, and administrative data systems is required

• Knowledge of data life cycle – from collection, analysis to visualization - with experience in data science, statistical modeling, regression, classification and/or machine learning is required

• Solid command of statistical programming and coding with demonstrated experience with STATA, SPSS, CSPro, R, or Python for data analysis and interpretation is required

• Experience in designing data visualizations and dashboards is required is a strong asset

• Experience in several developing countries is a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in French and English are required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.