Consultant for the development of an SDG statistics roadmap for Kyrgyzstan

Result of ServiceThe ultimate result of this service is a comprehensive SDG statistics roadmap in Russian and English for Kyrgyzstan aimed at a strengthened national statistical system that is enabled to produce high-quality, timely, and disaggregated SDG data. The roadmap will identify data gaps, establish clear data governance frameworks, and foster stakeholder collaboration to ensure effective assessments of progress towards the SDGs. This roadmap will also enable regular, accurate SDG reporting aligned with national and global standards. The work will contribute to Outcome 1 of the project entitled: Strengthening the capacity of selected countries in Asia-Pacific to enhance the evidence base for implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Work LocationHome-based Expected duration15 May - 31 Aug 25 Duties and Responsibilities1. Background The assessment of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires high-quality, harmonized, and internationally comparable data. As part of the preparations for 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) of Kyrgyzstan, the National Statistical Committee (NSC) of the country is working to ensure a synchronized flow of SDG-related data between national and global databases, close data gaps, and systematically generate metadata for SDG indicators while strengthening interdepartmental coordination. In this context, NSC has requested the support of ESCAP in developing an SDG statistics roadmap. The roadmap is a strategic framework aimed at strengthening the national statistical system with a view to producing high-quality, timely, and disaggregated data for assessing progress towards the SDGs. The roadmap should be nationally owned, ensure that indicator compilation methods are harmonized with global methods, identify capacity building needs, and address the need for effective partnerships with various stakeholders. 2. Objectives • Establish a national framework for SDG data collection and reporting • Enhance data availability, reliability, and accessibility • Strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of national data producers • Promote data partnerships among stakeholders in the country and international organizations 3. Scope of Work Under the guidance of the Head of the Statistical Data Management Unit of the Statistics Division, the consultant will: • Assess existing statistical capacity and identify key gaps in producing SDG indicators • Develop a data action plan with short, medium, and long-term goals • Provide guidance on data governance and quality standards • Engage stakeholders in consultation processes. Key components of the SDG statistics roadmap 1. Strategic vision and governance • Align the roadmap with national development plans and global SDG targets • Establish a clear governance structure, led by NSC, while ensuring coordination with sectoral ministries and agencies • Secure political commitment and legal frameworks being in place to facilitate data sharing, accessibility, and statistical independence • Define roles and responsibilities for metadata management to ensure uniform data definitions, classifications, and methodologies across agencies 2. Stakeholder engagement and partnerships • Foster collaboration between government agencies, civil society, private sector, academia, and international organizations • Engage international statistical organizations (e.g., United Nations, World Bank, regional bodies) to ensure compliance with global SDG data reporting standards • Ensure metadata transparency by making methodological notes available to all stakeholders 3. Data collection, management, and metadata standardization • Map existing data sources to identify gaps in SDG indicators at national and subnational levels • Strengthen data integration from diverse sources, including censuses, surveys, administrative records and geospatial data • Develop metadata repositories for each SDG indicator, defining: - Indicator definition and rationale - Computation methods and data sources - Frequency of updates and reporting cycles - Data disaggregation requirements (gender, age, region, etc.) • Ensure alignment with international metadata frameworks, such as the SDG metadata repository of the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs 4. Capacity building and resource mobilization • Strengthen the technical capacity of the national statistical system through training programmes on data collection, analysis, and metadata management • Invest in modern statistical infrastructure, including data management systems, digital tools, and automated reporting platforms • Develop strategies for domestic and international resource mobilization to support SDG data production and dissemination • Create standardized guidelines on metadata documentation for use across different sectors and agencies 5. Monitoring, reporting, and dissemination • Establish regular SDG progress reporting mechanisms, ensuring timely and reliable updates on indicators (national SDG reporting platform and national SDG tracker) • Implement data validation and quality checks using metadata benchmarks to prevent inconsistencies • Facilitate the use of machine-readable metadata formats (e.g., SDMX - Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange) for seamless reporting 6. Timeline • Phase 1 (May – July 2025): Baseline assessment • Phase 2 (June – July 2025): Stakeholder engagement and draft roadmap • Phase 3 (August 2025): Draft roadmap presentation and approval Qualifications/special skillsA bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, economics, computer science, or a related field is required. A master’s degree is an advantage. A minimum of five years working on official statistics, SDG monitoring, stakeholder engagement and/or policy analysis. LanguagesFluency in Russian and English is required . Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.