Statistical Data Management Consultant

Job Description

The African Development Bank (ADB) is one of the lead source of socio-economic data on Africa. The Statistics Department is mainly responsible for managing and analyzing these data which are published in the flagship publications of the Bank such as the Bank Annual Report, the African Economic Outlook, and the statistical publications and briefs. The data are also published online on the African Data Open Platform (ODP). The department also provides technical assistance to regional member countries and regional organisations to improve their data dissemination systems with the installation of ODP and other data management tools and train staff on the management of these systems and tools. The country ODPs are linked with the Bank ODP and constitute an efficient network to facilitate data exchange and sharing based on international standards such as SDMX.

To achieve these objectives the department also works in coordination with operations departments, the research department, regional AfDB Country Offices as well as other regional and international partners and national authorities. Collecting, validating, analyzing and managing the data, as well as providing technical assistance to regional member countries requires a lot of work and resources. This leads to a significant increase in work overload for staff of the statistics department. To remedy this situation, an international consultant will be hired to provide technical support to the statistical department, to ensure the timeliness and highest standards of data quality and timely support to regional member countries on data dissemination issues.

Objectives of the Assignement
The consultant will focus on the following assignments:

(i) African Economic Outlook 2018 - The main tasks of the consultant under this assignment will be:

• review assumptions and ensure that the datasets and macroeconomic projections are validated and consistent.
• review the projections with the country economists
• Consolidate and analyse the macroeconomic projections at the regional level and for sub-regional and economic groupings
• undertake statistical mission to countries where there are significant data discrepancies and issues that necessitates reviewing the data with national authorities.

(ii) Bank Statistical Publications 2018 The main task of the consultant will be:

• review the data updates, quality and standards are met for dissemination in the statistical publications,
• provide technical support for the ASYB Data validation workshop, organized jointly with the UNECA and AUC with the participation of national statistical offices,
• check overall consistency of the datasets and liaise with the printers for timely delivery of the publication.

(iii) Africa Information Highway Initiative The main tasks of the consultant under this assignment will be:

• Promote the use of Africa Information Highway (AIH) platform at the highest level in RMCs.
• ensure that the Bank statistical systems and databases are fully operational and the Africa ODP is regularly updated,
• review how the ODP can be customized for disseminating data and monitoring progress towards the SDGs,
• Participate in the strategic planning activities of the AIH including assisting in developing workshop plans and agenda
• provide technical assistance and undertake missions to RMCs to train and/or support the implementation and management of their statistical data portals
• collaborate with the IMF and participate in joint training of staff in regional member countries on using the ODP for data submission.

Required Skills
The consultants will work to generate the following deliverables:

I. Professional competence and at least 10 years’ experience, preferably in a regional/international institution, working on socioeconomic data on Africa; including a thorough knowledge of macroeconomic modeling and use of the AEO Model to run macroeconomic projections for African countries; good database management skills to manage and operate the Open Data Platform for data dissemination;

a. Proven ability in oral and written communication

b. Ability to work independently under tight deadlines

Duration
The consultants will work from November 2017 to May 2018. The consultant will be hired on a temporary basis for a period of six months from 6 November 2017. The total remuneration will be consistent with the Bank’s approved rates for international consultants.

Applications to be submitted to: For Attention of Ms. Nzi Delphine
Statistics Department (ECST)
Avenue Joseph Anoma
01 B.P. 1387
Abidjan 01
Cote d’ivoire
Phone: (+225) 20 26 54 26
E-mail: m.mzid@afdb.org
Any questions and requests for clarifications may be sent to: n.letsara@afdb.org

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