Job description

The Position:

The Government of Malawi, through the National Statistical Office (NSO), is preparing for the 2028 Population and Housing Census (PHC), a critical national statistical exercise that will provide the foundation for evidence-based planning, resource allocation, monitoring of Malawi 2063 and the SDGs, and strengthening access to disaggregated population data for development decision making. The census is expected to involve complex technical, operational, logistical, digital, and stakeholder coordination processes across multiple institutions and levels of government. UNFPA is supporting the Government of Malawi in strengthening census preparedness, coordination, resource mobilization, digital transformation, and institutional capacity for successful census implementation and wider dissemination and use of census data products.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Census Coordinator consultant will provide strategic, operational, and technical coordination support for implementation of the 2028 Population and Housing Census programme in Malawi.The consultant will support overall census preparedness, coordination of technical and operational workstreams, stakeholder engagement, implementation monitoring, resource mobilization, and strengthening of census management systems to ensure timely, efficient, and high-quality census delivery. The goal is to ensure the project is implemented smoothly and according to plan, achieving the goal of building the capacity of NSO to strengthen census delivery and widen access to statistics for decision making.

You would be responsible for:

  • Smooth operation of the project through day-to-day oversight and coordination.
  • Successful coordination with the NSO project coordination team for efficient and effective resource utilization.
  • Facilitation of the preparation and implementation of annual and quarterly results-based work plans.
  • Facilitating and coordinating all 2028 PHC activities, including drafting census strategies.
  • Supporting coordination of key census technical streams including cartography and pre-enumeration mapping, digital census systems, pilot census activities, field operations preparedness, data processing, dissemination planning, and post-enumeration activities.
  • Developing and maintaining close linkages with relevant government agencies, UNFPA, NGOs, civil society, international organizations, and the implementing partner.
  • Supporting the Census Steering Committee and other census groups in their oversight function and meeting facilitation.
  • Assisting the Implementing Partner (IP) in resource mobilization activities and incorporating priority action plans into budgets.
  • Supporting coordination with development partners and donors supporting census implementation, including preparation of technical updates, progress briefs, presentations, and partner engagement materials.
  • Developing operational procedures and process innovations to promote timely implementation.
  • Supporting coordination of digital census innovations, including digital field operations, GIS-enabled census activities, administrative data integration, dashboards, and strengthening access to census data products for evidence-based decision making.
  • Ensuring cross-cutting issues such as gender are considered in project planning, implementation, and reporting.
  • Participating in joint project visits to monitor and assess implementation and resolve problems.
  • Coordinating communication among all project partners.
  • Identifying problems and potential barriers to delivery of results and designing effective solutions.
  • Developing and maintaining a census implementation risk tracking and mitigation framework, including operational, financial, logistical, and stakeholder coordination risks.
  • Supporting development and tracking of census implementation milestones, operational indicators, dashboards, and progress monitoring tools to ensure timely delivery of activities.
  • Supporting planning for dissemination and use of census products, including statistical reports, thematic analyses, dashboards, data access platforms, and stakeholder engagement activities to promote wider use of census data

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

MA/MSc/Master of Social Sciences degree in a relevant discipline including demography, population studies, development studies/planning/Economics, and development communications.

Knowledge and Experience: 

  • A minimum of 2 years of project management experience, in the area of international development and/ or population and development in Malawi. Familiarity with the population and housing census process and outcomes in Malawi.
  • Knowledge of UNFPA procedures is an added advantage.
  • Experience coordinating large-scale statistical operations, census-related activities, digital data systems, or multi-stakeholder development programmes will be an added advantage.

Languages: 

  • Excellent writing and oral skills in English; knowledge of the national language is an asset. 

Competencies: 

  • Proven ability to lead and motivate a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management, and reporting.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex operational processes, manage stakeholder relationships, support evidence-based planning, and facilitate implementation across multiple institutions.
  • Strong knowledge of MW2063, MIP-1, and SDG monitoring frameworks.
  • High integrity, professional ethics, and commitment to public service values.
  • Demonstrated capability to  supervise a team towards a common goal.
  • Knowledge of practical use of computer: Candidates are expected to be proficient in current Office software applications (Ms. Excel, word, PowerPoint, etc.). 
  • Knowledge of AI-driven mapping techniques for extracting building footprints and other features from satellite imagery during pre-enumeration mapping.
  • Familiarity with CAPI software, such as CSPro, which is used for data collection and tabulation using the CSTab Tool. 

Compensation and Benefits:

The Consultant will be paid as per the UNFPA consultancy payment guideline.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.