Individual Consultant to conduct a Mapping Study for the Identification of Alternative Data Sources for SDG Monitoring

Background

Maldives consists of 1,190 small islands clustered in 26 ring-like atolls and spreads across 90,000 square kilometers. The total population is approximately 402,071, including over 63,637 migrant workers. Tourism is the main driver of the economy while other sectors such as fishing has declined sharply.  The country is a development ‘success story’, having achieved five of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) before 2015 and graduated from being a Least Developed Country (LDC) in 2011.

The core challenges to development are structural barriers to economic growth and diversification, environmental vulnerability, inequalities in accessing services for the socially excluded population and governance consolidation. These challenges largely relate to SDG 2, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 and 16. The economic vulnerability of the Maldives is characterised by a narrow growth base that is dominated by tourism and the external dependency of the economy particularly for fuel and food. The lack of land space and population concentration undermines the feasibility for economic activity and investments in alternative sectors except for tourism and that beyond the capital Male’.

Addressing disparities in development outcomes should also be a priority given the prevalence of spatial inequalities and that around gender and age. This largely relates to SDG 5, 8, 10 and 16. The spatial disparity between the capital, Malé, and other atolls contributes greatly to the human development gap, mostly in the form of income and education choices. This is exacerbated by gender disparity: women living in the atolls are disproportionately affected when it comes to lower development outcomes.  Disadvantages based on age is also a concern. 27 percent of young people (15-19 year olds) are not in employment, education and training. Considering that nearly half of the population is under the age of 25, the lack of opportunities and resulting discouragement have the potential to lead to socio-political instability.

Addressing data gaps for SDG monitoring:

The NBS (National Bureau of Statistics) has carried out an internal assessment on data availability for all the approved indicators. This data assessment shows that for 56 indicators, no mechanism currently exists for data generation. For another 51 indicators, additional effort will be required to make the data available. Data gaps are particularly evident in the environment and agriculture sector.

Disaggregated data by sex, nationality, geographic location and wealth quintile is not available for most of the indicators. The UNESCAP is currently supporting the NBS update their National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS). FAO also has expressed interest to support the Government of Maldives in establishing methodologies for collecting agriculture related indicators. However, further work needs to be done to address the data gaps, as well as extend their monitoring and statistical capacity.

In this regard, some of the recommendations from the UN study mapping the roadmap to SDG progress revealed that action needed to surround supporting MEE (Ministry of Environment and Energy) and NBS in data methodologies and data collection, offering technical support to SDG based reporting, particularly assessing integration and synergies, and providing technical support to build institutional capacities for monitoring SDGs including technical guidance to the SDG unit at MEE, NBS as well as parliamentary committees on incorporating SDG monitoring in the participatory legislative agenda.

About the Study:

The study is part of the UNDP Maldives Country Office and UNFPA Maldives Country Office joint project for the UNDG Asia-Pacific 2030 Agenda Implementation Fund, focusing on the alternative sources of a data for SDGs monitoring. The main objective of the project is to identify innovative means to bridge data gaps that were recognised during the initial assessment by NBS (National Bureau of Statistics), and to create an accommodating environment for alternative means of data collection and monitoring.

Lack of efficient data was a problem identified during the MDG process, and currently with a more extensive list of goals and indicators the challenge would be even bigger. As data collection and monitoring are pivotal parts of SDG monitoring, this project will be very significant for the monitoring of SDG progress, by assisting with better understanding of the accomplishments in relation to the targets.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work -A mapping for the identification of alternative data sources.

The NBS has carried out an internal assessment on data availability for all the approved indicators. This data assessment shows that for 56 indicators, no mechanism currently exists for data generation. For another 51 indicators, additional effort will be required to make the data available. Data gaps are particularly evident in the environment and agriculture sector. With UNDP technical support, the project aims to conduct a study that identifies alternative sources through which this data could be collected and fed into the NBS system for monitoring. Such alternative sources will include, data that is not produced with lack of clarity as to where and/or how to get it. Forms of data could be from but not limited to private sector corporations, civil society, and individual crowdfunded data. Additionally the study will pay attention to data that is at the disposal of everyone (some streams of big data, like google searches or social media) but that are not utilised often, and suggest possible course of action for harnessing these forms of data.

The mapping study will have 2 main objectives:

• To identify based on findings, viable alternative sources of data for the indicator gaps for NBS to utilise in monitoring of SDG progress
• To identify a viable source of data that could be piloted as a pilot activity within the project

In order to achieve the assessment objectives, the Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks;

• Review of the legal, regulatory and institutional framework relating to data accessibility and monitoring in Maldives
• Review relevant government policy documents and projects, and strategies related to data
• Map existing systems which could provide alternative sources of data for SDGs monitoring in the Maldives  such as data from telecom, banks, utilities, social protection services, pension systems, satellite imagery etc
• Assess to identify which of the 169 SDG targets could use alternative sources
• Propose alternative sources of data specific indicators related to the SDG targets based on the assessment
• Identify and analyse bottlenecks to utilising the identified data sources.
• In the report propose minimum of 2 pilot projects that UN & the government of Maldives could undertake using alternative sources of data to measure progress related to SDGs
• In conducting the research the contractor is expected to bring in bring in international perspective of:

• what until now is the thinking and practice in using alternative data for SDGs and beyond? Including at UN? What are the main achievements?
• What are the main constraints and limitations?
• What might be feasible in the context of Maldives in short- and long-term?

• The research should include recommendation on ethical usage of alternative data

Expected Outputs and Deliverables;

The consultant will work closely with the Programme Management and Policy (PMP) team from UNDP and will be responsible for the following deliverables;

• Development of an inception report including detailed methodology ensuring it meets the desired rigor and quality standards
• Draft Mapping  Study for the Identification of Alternative Data Sources for SDG Monitoring
• Validation workshop with key stakeholders
• Finalization of report on Mapping Study for Identification of Alternative Data Sources for SDG Monitoring

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will develop the detailed methodology and have it validated by a team at UNDP at the onset of the assignment. The consultant will be accountable to the ARR Programme Management and Policy, for each deliverable as stipulated in the Terms of Reference. Fortnightly meetings will be held with the ARR and Partnership, Development and Policy Officer from the Programme Management and Policy Unit at UNDP. A briefing and debriefing meeting will be organized with UNDP at the beginning and end of assignment.

Duration of the Work

The proposed assessment is expected to start in Mid-November 2017 and will approximately take 35 working days. The consultant should come up with a clear timeline taking into consideration the estimated time durations for each deliverable as stipulated above.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to conduct research and analysis and strong synthesis skills
• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result for the stakeholders and responds positively to critical feedback; consensus-oriented
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Regional and National Knowledge is highly desirable
• Ability to write reports particularly for International Funded project
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Postgraduate degree in developmental studies, data analysis, or related field

Experience

• At least 3 years of experience working in the area of International Development, Data Analysis or Data Innovations, basic knowledge on Sustainable Development Goals and the Millennium Development Goals is required
• Professional experience in designing and conducting research studies
• Excellent report writing skills

Language

• Fluent in written and spoken English 

Application Documents

• The application must include a letter of interest to undertake this task, the CV, Personal History Form (P11), and a financial proposal (indicating the daily fee (in MVR) for the assignment).
• The applicant must also submit the reference letters from past supervisors/clients. To download P11, kindly please visit the link: http://www.mv.undp.org/content/maldives/en/home/operations/jobs
• Please combine all the documents into one single file, as the system will allow for only one document to be uploaded.
• We will only accept online applications