Project Officer (Data Integration and Dissemination)

Organizational Context

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), established in 1999, is UNESCO's statistical agency serving 193 Member States. It focuses on producing cross-nationally comparable data to support global, regional, and national development agendas in education, science, culture, and communication. UIS is the custodian agency for several Sustainable Development Goals indicators, providing technical support to Member States for high-quality data generation through standards, data production, and outreach. Its vision is to ground policies and decision-making in robust statistical information.

Job Purpose

Under the Director of UIS and supervision of the Chief of the Education Section, the Project Officer will be instrumental in developing, implementing, and maintaining data integration and dissemination processes. This role is crucial for producing high-quality, timely, and comparable education data, contributing to the global education indicator database. The position requires a focus on technical implementation, data processing, validation, metadata management, dissemination, and supporting standards and interoperability initiatives. The work supports SDG 4 monitoring and reporting, and leverages advanced analytics, including AI, to address the growing diversity of data sources and enhance data integration capabilities.

Responsibilities

The Project Officer will support the design and implementation of frameworks for integrating multi-source data, including administrative, survey, and assessment data. Responsibilities include operationalizing interoperability standards like SDMX and APIs, harmonizing datasets for comparability, and developing scalable data architectures. The role involves integrating survey and administrative data to improve coverage of participation and learning indicators, and supporting data dissemination for equity analyses. Additionally, the officer will contribute to metadata system development, data quality assurance, and data governance. They will utilize statistical software (R, Python, Stata, SQL) for data processing and apply AI/ML techniques under guidance. The role also entails contributing to SDG 4 indicator production, supporting Member States in reporting, preparing technical notes, and developing training materials for capacity building. Collaboration with international partners and participation in technical meetings are also key aspects.

Work Experience

A minimum of four years of progressive professional experience in official statistics, data systems, or related fields is necessary, with at least two years at the international level. Demonstrated experience in data integration, interoperability, managing and analyzing large datasets using statistical software, and metadata/data quality processes is essential.

Skills

Required skills include strong technical proficiency in statistical frameworks, standards, and tools, along with experience in data production and quality assurance. Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities are crucial. Proficiency in R or Python, Stata, and data warehousing solutions is necessary, as is knowledge of international statistical standards like SDMX. Familiarity with cloud-based platforms and APIs is also required. The ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment and strong communication and drafting skills are important.

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