Research and Project Consultant – Time for Growth Policy Resource Portal

About the Organization

The Time for Growth (T4G) Collaborative is a multi-country initiative that seeks to strengthen the use of Time Use (TU) data in macroeconomic and sectoral policymaking across sub-Saharan Africa. The Collaborative aims to align policymakers, statistical offices, researchers, and advocates to ensure that TU data are produced, analyzed, and applied in service of policy needs related to productivity, inclusive growth, health, agriculture, labor, and public finance. Hosted by Open Data Watch (ODW), the Collaborative Secretariat coordinates country engagement, fund management, and governance arrangements for participating countries and partners. Initial country engagement includes Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, with potential expansion to Ghana and other countries in the region.

A central component of the initiative is the development of the 'Time for Growth' Integrated Policy Resource Portal for Africa hosted in partnership with the Centre for African Statistics (ACS) at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Portal will serve as a knowledge and learning platform for policymakers, national statistical offices, researchers, and development partners by providing access to data resources, methodological guidance, policy tools, country experiences, training materials, and analytical products.

Job Summary

ACS seeks a Research and Project Consultant to lead the design, development, launch, and ongoing coordination of the Portal. This role will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, preferably, with some flexibility for hybrid work, depending on the selected candidate's circumstances.

The Research and Project Consultant will lead the policy research, knowledge development, and substantive coordination for the development and implementation of the 'Time for Growth' Integrated Policy Resource Portal. The Consultant will work with the ACS team and other UNECA divisions, and report to the Director of Statistics.

The Consultant will work with national partners, technical consultants, and content contributors to ensure that the Portal is delivered on schedule, responds to policy priorities, meets user needs, and supports the broader goals of strengthening data systems and evidence-based policymaking. A key responsibility will be leading policy mapping, conceptual development, and evidence synthesis to ensure that the Portal reflects policy priorities and serves as a practical resource for decision-makers.

Expected duration: 1 year full-time with possible extension.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Coordination and Implementation Support

• Develop and maintain the implementation workplan, timeline, milestones, and deliverables for the Portal, and monitor progress against agreed objectives, identifying risks and mitigation measures.
• Coordinate implementation across ACS, relevant UNECA divisions, ODW, technical consultants, and content contributors to ensure effective delivery and alignment with project objectives.
• Support the establishment and functioning of the Portal Oversight Committee, including coordination with relevant UNECA initiatives such as Sustainable Health Financing in Africa, ECAStats modernization efforts, and national accounts and care economy initiatives.
• Help plan and facilitate project meetings, technical workshops, and stakeholder consultations to support implementation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
• Prepare progress updates and contribute to midterm and final narrative and financial reporting on Portal implementation.

2. Data and Statistics

• Identify the different sources and approaches to time-use data in the selected countries.
• Identify harmonized measures for time-use statistics.
• Propose guidance to produce harmonized measures for time-use statistics.

3. Policy Research and Knowledge Development

• Conduct a mapping of macroeconomic and sectoral policies to identify where Time Use data currently inform, or strengthen, policy design, implementation, and monitoring.
• Develop the conceptual framework, methodological approach, and knowledge architecture for the Portal based on policy priorities and the needs of target users.
• Identify, synthesize, and curate policy resources, methodologies, analytical tools, country experiences, and research products to inform the Portal's content.
• Translate policy and research priorities into substantive requirements for Portal development and provide guidance to technical teams and project partners throughout implementation.
• Lead consultations, user needs assessments, and substantive reviews to ensure that the Portal is accessible, relevant, and responsive to policymakers, national statistical offices, researchers, and other users.

4. Content and Knowledge Management

• Lead the identification, collection, review, and organization of policy resources, datasets, methodologies, analytical tools, country case studies, publications, and training materials for inclusion in the Portal.
• Develop content management processes, editorial standards, and quality assurance procedures for Portal resources.
• Work with subject matter experts across UNECA, ODW, national statistical offices, and international development partners to ensure quality and consistency of Portal content.
• Prepare analytical summaries and syntheses, where appropriate, to improve the accessibility and practical use of Portal resources by policymakers.

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building

• Engage UNECA divisions, national partners, potential users and contributors, and members of the T4G Collaborative to strengthen the relevance, content, and utilization of the Portal.
• Coordinate knowledge-sharing, outreach, and communications activities related to the Portal.
• Support development of training materials and user guidance resources, and other capacity-building materials.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations to ensure the Portal meets user needs and priorities.

6. Sustainability and Institutionalization

• Support the establishment and ongoing functioning of the Portal Oversight Committee to provide strategic guidance and technical advice.
• Identify opportunities with the Oversight Committee for integration within existing UNECA knowledge, data, and learning platforms.
• Contribute to strategies for long-term institutional ownership and continued use of the Portal.

Result of Service

The Research and Project Consultant is expected to contribute to the following indicative deliverables over the consultancy period:

• Inception report, including a policy mapping methodology, mapping of existing policy applications of Time Use data, and a detailed implementation workplan.
• Terms of Reference and stakeholder engagement plan for the Portal Oversight Committee to support governance and coordination.
• Curated content inventory and knowledge taxonomy, including priority datasets, policy resources, analytical tools, country experiences, publications, and training materials for inclusion in the Portal.
• Portal development roadmap, including key milestones, implementation phases, technical requirements, and coordination arrangements with project partners.
• Portal sustainability, governance, and institutionalization strategy, including recommendations for long-term management, integration within UNECA platforms, and continued use.
• Portal launch and dissemination plan, including stakeholder engagement and knowledge-sharing activities to support uptake among target users.
• Quarterly progress updates and midterm and final narrative and financial reports documenting implementation progress, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in economics, development economics, public policy, international development, or related field is required.
• A minimum five years of progressive experience in policy research, economic analysis, programme implementation, and knowledge management is required.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake policy research, analytical mapping, and evidence synthesis to support policymaking is required.
• Experience working with international organizations, governments, or regional institutions, preferably in Africa is required.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives involving research institutions, government agencies, and development partners is required.
• Knowledge of different sources and approaches to time-use data is required.
• Knowledge of official statistics, national statistical systems, and data for development is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills in English. Knowledge of French is desirable.

The qualifications below describe the preferred profile for this consultancy. Candidates with equivalent combinations of education, professional experience, and demonstrated expertise relevant to the responsibilities of the assignment will also be considered.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Policy research, analytical mapping, and evidence synthesis.
• Coordination of multi-stakeholder initiatives involving research institutions, government agencies, and development partners.
• Knowledge of different sources and approaches to time-use data.
• Knowledge of official statistics, national statistical systems, and data for development (highly desirable).
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of French is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the Secretariat of the United Nations. For this assignment, fluency in English (written and oral) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

How to Apply

Apply through the UN careers portal: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/283207?language=en

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.