Data Analyst

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

The UN-Water SDG 6 Synthesis Report will provide the global status of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 aiming to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” The report will explore the interlinkages between SDG 6 and other SDG targets and indicators and, thereby, provide Member States with the ‘big picture’ on water and sanitation issues, as well as policy recommendations for the acceleration of SDG 6 in the overall Agenda 2030 context.

Produced by a UN-Water Taskforce, the Synthesis Report enables the United Nations to speak with one voice on SDG 6. The Task force is coordinated by the UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) of UNESCO and includes the following UN-Water members: CEO Water Mandate, FAO, ILO, UNECE, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, UN-Water TAU, WHO and WMO. The SDG 6 Synthesis Report will be launched in May 2018 in time to inform the discussion of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2018).

The Synthesis Report will build on the key findings of agencies’ individual monitoring efforts for the SDG targets 6.1-6.6, 6a and 6b, while incorporating key information from and providing inputs to UN reporting on targets for other SDG goals. Other monitoring data as well as scientific and academic inputs will be incorporated as appropriate. The report aims at analyzing SDG 6 and its linkages within the 2030 Agenda, exploring synergies or possible conflicts existing between and within SDG 6 targets and indicators, as well as main synergies and conflicts between SDG 6 and other SDGs of the 2030 Agenda.

Within the Task Force, UNDP has been assigned to lead the analysis of interlinkages between SDG 6 on the one hand and SDG 10 to “Reduce inequality within and among countries” and SDG 16 “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” on the other. The tasks of this consultancy is to aid this analysis by investigating the main synergies and conflicts between SDG 6 and SDGs 10 and 16.

There is a strong correlation between the improved access to water and sanitation and greater equality since one apparent inequality relates to the unequal access to services in society. This is also closely correlated to different levels of income: The higher the average income in a country, the more likely is the generally higher access to services. This can be problematized by way of investigating the relative contribution of general level of income vs the distribution of income in a society. How important is income inequality – compared to the size of the economy – as a predictor of low access to services? – Invariably affecting the poorest segments of the population. This is the overarching question to be investigated in relation to SDG 6 and 10.

What is the relation between integrated water resources management (IWRM, covered under SDG target 6.5) and access to water and sanitation (targets 6.1, 6.2) on the one hand, with effective, accountable and inclusive society as encompassed by SDG 16? The overarching question to be discussed with regard to the relation between SDG 6 and 14 is: how important is good governance (including participation and priority to vulnerable groups) for achieving IWRM and access to water and sanitation?

The interrelations and causality links between access to and integrated management of water and sanitation and inequalities and of social justice cannot be adequately captured in a data analysis alone. The data analysis of this consultancy is to be complemented and illustrated through illustrative examples to be identified to highlight causal relations and feedback loops.  The consultant will be asked to contribute ideas to complement the bibliographic search for examples and illustrative analyses of the relations between water, sanitation, IWRM, equality and social justice.

1)      The consultant is to give an appreciation of the feasibility of the overarching questions suggested for analysis (above) and the relevant data suggested to be analyzed (below) in order to establish an agreed format with possibly amended questions and improved/added/alternative sources of data before analysis proper begins.

2)      For the analysis of the relation between SDG6 & 10, the following data are initially suggested for cross-analysis:

1. Access to improved water (SDG 6.1.1)
2. Access to basic sanitation (SDG 6.2.1)
3. GDP/capita
4. GINI coefficient (and/or alternative measures of income inequality possibly suggested by consultant)

3)      For the analysis of the relation between SDG6 & 16, the following data analysis is initially suggested:

a)      IWRM score and Worldwide Governance Indicators Database (scoring on Voice and Accountability, Political Stability and Absence of Violence, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, Control of Corruption). How closely correlated is IWRM and ‘good governance’? (perfect/imperfect match? Is it possible to have IWRM without good governance?)

b)      Access to services and

1. Participation – available in GLAAS survey 2014 (if not 2016/2017)
2. Priority to vulnerable groups in a) policy and b) financing – available in GLAAS 2016/2017 survey.
3. Worldwide Governance Indicators Database. How closely correlated is access to services and ‘good governance’?

4)      The consultant is to contribute to the write-up of the relevant section of the synthesis report by:

1. Write a first draft narrative text to explain and present the data analysis and the resolution to the agreed questions.
2. Comment upon the illustrative examples and broader conclusions of the write-up on inequalities and social justice respectively.

Advanced university degree (MSc or equivalent; in the field of statistics, engineering, environmental sciences or economics. 

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in working with large scale data analysis and of statistical software packages (SPSS, Stata or R);
• Experience on managing and analyzing water or other environment related data is required.
• Experience in statistics, social and/or economic analysis, preferably related water resources, at the national, regional and/or international level;
• Familiarity with above-mentioned data sets is an asset.

• Please provide a Technical Proposal consisting of an approach and methodology for the assignment, a workplan and any comments on the Terms of Reference as an attachment to your application. 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.