Individual Consultant on 2025 Census Thematic Report Migration and Urbanization Report
Organizational Context
UNFPA is the lead United Nations 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 aims to accelerate the ICPD Programme of Action and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This role supports the UNFPA Country Office in Lao PDR, reporting to the Policy and Census Coordinator.
Job Purpose
The International Consultant will provide advanced technical and demographic expertise to the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) for the computation, validation, structural modelling, and narrative write-up of the official Population and Housing Census Thematic Report on Migration and Urbanization. This role is crucial for transforming the 2025 digital census data into strategic socio-demographic intelligence. The consultant will also produce a high-impact Policy Brief and geospatial analytical products, including migration flow maps, to inform evidence-based policy formulation for retaining youth and managing labor markets.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be embedded within the LSB analytical structure, working closely with a counterpart and mentoring junior experts to maximize institutional knowledge transfer. The scope of analysis will utilize the 2025 PHC questionnaires, focusing on migration dynamics, urbanization patterns, international out-migration, and characteristics of migrants versus non-migrants. Key tasks include developing syntaxes for statistical analysis, leading data validation and triangulation with administrative datasets, authoring the definitive monograph on Migration and Urbanization, and producing a concise Policy Brief with actionable recommendations. Geospatial integration for mapping internal migration corridors and urbanization sprawl is also required.
Work Experience
Minimum of 7 years of progressive international experience in advanced spatial and demographic analysis, with a proven track record of authoring national-level Census Thematic Monographs on Migration and Urbanization. Experience in modelling internal migration matrices, evaluating international out-migration using census modules, and triangulating census data with administrative datasets is essential. Advanced mastery of statistical analysis packages (SPSS and/or R) is mandatory.
Skills
Integrity, commitment to UNFPA values, cultural diversity, embracing change, teamwork, communication, self-management, knowledge sharing, continuous learning, conceptual innovation, and job knowledge/technical expertise in demography and migration analysis.