Individual consultant for 2025 Census Thematic Report - Fertility & Nuptiality Report, Population and Development (PD), Vientiane, Laos PDR, P4

Organizational Context

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization's Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 focuses on accelerating the ICPD Programme of Action and achieving the SDGs by 2030. This role supports UNFPA's mandate by adapting to demographic change through evidence-based policies, ensuring effective programme results and resource management.

Job Purpose

The UNFPA Country Office in Lao PDR seeks an international consultant to provide advanced demographic expertise to the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB). The consultant will support the computation, validation, structural modelling, and narrative write-up of the official 2025 Population and Housing Census Thematic Report on Fertility and Nuptiality. This includes developing a high-impact Policy Brief and interactive geospatial dissemination products. The role is crucial for transforming the census data into strategic socio-demographic intelligence, informing policy responses in population and development, women and youth empowerment, and sexual reproductive health and rights, especially as Lao PDR transitions from LDC status.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be embedded within the LSB, working closely with a counterpart and mentoring junior experts to ensure knowledge transfer. Responsibilities include guiding the validation, syntax preparation, analysis, and write-up of the Fertility and Nuptiality report, bound by the 2025 PHC questionnaire parameters. Key analytical dimensions include modelling nuptiality and marriage dynamics (marital status distributions, age at marriage, child marriage, union dissolution), fertility levels and differentials (TFR, ASFR, CEB, differentials by background variables), adolescent fertility, and integrating geospatial data for thematic maps. The consultant will execute tasks including methodological design, drafting structural outlines and dummy tables, developing statistical syntax, data validation, indirect demographic estimation, synthesizing the monograph, and producing a concise policy brief and geospatial products.

Work Experience

Minimum of 7 years of progressive international experience in advanced demographic analysis, with a proven track record of authoring national-level Census Thematic Monographs or Demographic Profile Reports. Expertise in direct and indirect demographic estimation techniques for fertility analysis is required, along with advanced statistical package mastery and experience in developing states, preferably in Southeast Asia. Ability to work independently in a cross-cultural environment and build strong relationships is essential.

Skills

Proficiency in advanced demographic analysis, statistical modelling, and data validation. Expertise in using statistical analysis packages (SPSS, R) and GIS integration. Strong analytical and strategic thinking, with excellent communication and knowledge-sharing abilities. Demonstrated commitment to UNFPA values, integrity, teamwork, and professional expertise. Ability to work independently and build relationships in a cross-cultural setting.

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