Established in 1999, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) serves as UNESCO’s statistical agency for its 193 member states (MS) and 12 associated members. The UIS agenda is focused on the delivery of cross-national comparable data for global, regional and development agendas, covering the fields of education, science, culture, and communication and information. The UIS delivers the technical support for MS to produce transformative data based on the 3 pillars (Standards and methodologies; Data production; Brokering and outreach). The UIS’ vision, described in its 2022-2029 Medium Term strategy, is to ensure that countries’ policies and decision-making are informed by sound statistical information; that they can benchmark progress towards national and international goals and learn from the experience of others. The UIS is seeking to build a management team that will lead the successful implementation of that vision.
The UIS provides the data and technical inputs for global, regional, and funding mechanisms for education work, such as the UN Transforming Education Summit, the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM), G7, G20 and the GPE results framework. The UIS meets data needs for emerging priorities, for example through its work with UNICEF, World Bank, OECD and the GEMR on the Joint Survey of national education responses to COVID 19. Within the mandate of strengthening reporting, the UIS in partnership with the Global Education Monitoring report (GEMR) achieved consensus on the adoption of an SDG 4 benchmarking process and supports countries in setting and monitoring targets for 2025 and 2030 as co-leaders of the data and monitoring function of the GCM.
Purpose
Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), the direct supervision of the Head of Research and Innovation for Monitoring Education UIS and the administrative supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States in Beirut (UNESCO Beirut), the incumbent’s key role is focused on improving the coverage for the UIS core set of indicators through working with member states in the region on responses to the UIS data collections and strengthening their capacity to monitor SDGs including securing national commitments to SDG4 benchmarks.
Main responsibilities and tasks
Data Collection
Develop and implement a workplan to improve the quality, timeliness and completeness of data and indicators collected against the UIS Core System of Education Indicators.
Monitor the response rates and the quality of data reported by countries to the UIS and coordinate the needed actions to increase these. Obtain country validation of indicators to be reported by the UIS.
Support the development of and conduct activities for effective implementation UIS regional programmes supporting the follow up and review of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Education 2030 Agenda, advocating for alignment of monitoring frameworks and promoting data driven policy making.
Conduct activities required for the implementation of UIS programmes in the fields of education, literacy skills measurement, and assessment of learning outcomes, science, technology & innovation, culture, and communication & information statistics.
Capacity Development
In collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States,
develop regional UIS medium term plans outlining the priorities for the region to strengthen reporting and monitoring of the SDG4 Agenda by Member States;
conduct mapping of key stakeholders in the region and enhance the UIS's network of partnerships involved in data quality and collection at national and regional levels;
articulate and implement a regional resource mobilization plan to support capacity development.
Within the framework of UIS medium term strategy and agreed allocation of resources, support the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education for the Arab States to
develop policy briefs and prepare regional and national studies and reports on SDG4
contribute to building the capacity of Member States in the region to collect and disseminate education data
Contribution to UIS Core work
Contribute to UIS reporting, including the preparation of technical documents, documents for UIS and UNESCO governing bodies as well as for other internal and external stakeholder including donors and development partners.
Liaise with the Regional Bureau for Education, UNESCO national and cluster offices as well as Regional Bureau of Science and Culture (for specific projects) for the effective implementation of UIS activities in the region.
Perform any additional activities that may be required in support of the mandate of the UIS and to ensure the success of the work.
