Background

Under implementation from 2024 to 2027, the KOICA-funded project “Enabling Belize’s Statistical System” (EBSS) has the objective of expanding the capabilities of Belize’s national data and statistical system, facilitating evidence-based development planning and the effective monitoring of national programmes towards sustainable development.

As a participating UN Organization (PUNO) in EBSS, UNFPA is supporting the implementation of Output 1.1: the revision of Belize’s statistical infrastructure and Output 1.3: the establishment of a system for the development of human resources of the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). Most recently, UNFPA has supported SIB in implementing the Tool for Assessing Statistical Capacity (TASC), providing a diagnostic of the completeness and effectiveness of the current structure of the NSS.

A crucial next step under Output 1.1 is improving the NSS through the development of a Quality Assurance Framework for Official Statistics (QAF). The sustained improvement of Belize’s NSS requires a set of technical and management practices that can assure the quality of statistical products and processes that are coordinated by SIB, with the cooperation of other public institutions and regulatory bodies.

QAFs for Official Statistics have been successfully designed, implemented, and evaluated across a number of other countries, with a wealth of best practices and guidelines documented in instruments such as the United Nations National Quality Assurance Framework, the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Good Statistical Practice, the European Statistics Code of Practice, and the IMF Data Quality Assessment Framework. Each of these instruments recognizes that to work effectively, a QAF for Official Statistics must be designed and adapted specifically to the environment in which the NSS operates, while consistently applying the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (FPOS) and other internationally recognized best practices.

For this purpose, EBSS calls for an expert consultant to review applicable best practices in QAFs for Official Statistics, conduct consultations with entities in the Belize National Statistical System, to develop a QAF that effectively adapts best practices to the national context, and to validate the QAF through workshops with relevant stakeholders.
 

Purpose of Consultancy

The objective of the consultancy is to support the development of a Quality Assurance Framework for Official Statistics, to be implemented under the leadership of the Statistical Institute of Belize across Belize’s National Statistical System.
 

Scope of work/Main tasks and responsibilities, et al

The consultant will work under the guidance of the UNFPA Liaison Officer in Belize, with technical advice from Population and Development focal points in UNFPA-LACRO and UNFPA-SROC, to undertake the following key activities:

1. Produce a desk review of international standards and best practices for Quality Assurance Frameworks for Official Statistics, of the current structure and processes that comprise Belize’s NSS, and of recent quality assessments (such as the 2016 and 2024 TASCs) that characterize these structures and processes.
2. Conduct stakeholder consultations with SIB and other actors within Belize’s NSS to validate the results of the desk review and to adapt internationally recognized standards and best practices for QAFs to Belize’s national context.
3. Produce a draft QAF for Official Statistics that reflects standards, best practices, and lessons learned from recent quality assessments, to be implemented under the leadership of SIB across Belize’s NSS.
4. Facilitate a consultation and validation workshop with SIB and key stakeholders in the NSS to review and revise the draft QAF for endorsement and implementation.

Expected Output(s)

1. A Capacity Development Strategy
2. A costed implementation plan for the Capacity Development Strategy
3. Weekly progress updates and final consultancy reports

Qualifications:

The required profile of the consultant is as follows: 

1. Advanced degree in statistics, economics, or a related field.
2. At least 10 years of experience in statistical capacity assessments and institutional capacity building with National Statistical Systems and National Statistical Offices. Direct participation in prior QAF formulation processes and dialogues across other National Statistical Systems is a plus.
3. Strong facilitation and communication skills.
4. Strong data analysis and report writing skills.
5. Ability to plan, organize, implement, and report on work.
6. Ability to work independently, under pressure, and with tight deadlines.
7. Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations.
8. Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
9. Experience in the development of information products such as infographics and PowerPoint presentations.

REQUIREMENTS: 

To apply, kindly complete a profile in the UNFPA Consultants Roster at https://www.unfpa.org/unfpa-consultant-roster and submit the generated Job ID # along with application letter and CV to: