Quantitative Researcher on Governance and Public Administration

Result of ServiceThe Individual Contractor will deliver timely and high-quality statistical support to the project, contributing to the release of reports and technical outputs. Work must meet ESCWA standards in terms of accuracy, clarity, and relevance. The Individual Contractor will support the statistical and quantitative analytical work related to the implementation and dissemination of the Public Administration Index. This includes assisting in data processing and validation, as well as providing support for the preparation and drafting of relevant knowledge products. Work LocationUN-House-ESCWA Expected duration3 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) supports economic and social development in its 22 Arab member states. Cluster 6 on Governance and Conflict Prevention serves as a regional platform for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and consensus-building to strengthen governance institutions and promote inclusive, equitable, transparent, and accountable public administration systems across the Arab region. In this context, ESCWA has developed the Public Administration Index (PAI)—a composite index designed to assess the performance of public administration across eight thematic pillars. The PAI provides a structured evaluation of public governance and institutional effectiveness. It serves as a diagnostic and benchmarking tool to support reform, enhance transparency and accountability, and guide policy decisions in Member States. Building on the development of the index, ESCWA will produce country profiles, analytical reports, and policy briefs on governance and public administration. These outputs will support national efforts to advance public sector reform and contribute to regional dialogue on emerging governance trends and priorities. Under the direct supervision of the chief of section and the overall guidance of the Cluster Lead, the Individual Contractor will perform the following tasks: i. Data Processing and Indicator Management Support the validation and cleaning of datasets used in the Public Administration Index. Assist in updating and maintaining indicator databases for PAI analysis. The contractor will be working under the guidance and direct supervision of the chief of section and project manager, who will provide all the necessary assistance and clarification for the timely preparation of the deliverables. Ensure consistency and accuracy of the data across countries and timeframes. ii. Research and Statistical Analysis Support quantitative analysis of PAI data to extract trends, patterns, and comparative insights. Apply advanced quantitative techniques, analyze large datasets, identify trends and correlations, and apply quantitative research methodologies (regression analysis, panel data analysis, predictive modeling) to issues related to governance and public administration. Contribute to the interpretation of statistical findings to inform policy recommendations. Assist in visualizing data through graphs, charts, and dashboards. iii. Knowledge Product Development Assist in producing data and the quantitative aspect for policy briefs and regional reports related to the PAI. iv. Coordination and Support Coordinate with team members to ensure coherence and accuracy of the outputs. Perform any additional tasks related to the project as requested by the supervisor. Qualifications/special skillsA first-level university degree in statistics, economics, public policy, business analytics, or a related field is required. An advanced degree is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of one 1 year of relevant experience in data analysis, statistics, or governance-related quantitative research is required. Experience with indices or governance monitoring tools is desirable. Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau) and statistical packages (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS) is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas. 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.