National consultant to improve the system of statistical metadata for the National Bureau of Statistics

Background
Through its activities, the Project aims to support the National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS) in performing its basic role of coordination of the whole statistical system, ensuring standards to statistical production, and provide relevant, accurate, timely, comparable, coherent, and complete statistical data to be used by different groups of data users. Adequate presentation of statistical information in an easy-to-use and user-friendly manner would imply a higher openness and transparency of data produced by NBS. Therefore, a more detailed and clearer documentation (metadata) on statistical products developed by (NBS) should be made available to users.
Scope of work
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova, through its Joint Project on Strengthening the National Statistical System, is seeking to hire one national consultant who will provide the necessary support in development of metadata for certain statistical domains, methodologies and MDGs indicators ( under NBS’s responsibility) available. Thus, the consultant will make statistical concepts and terms, resulted from the national context, available and understandable to data users and aligned to statistical international standards and best practices. The improvement of statistical metadata, expansion of their coverage for the benefit of data users is the overall objective of the present assignment.

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
• Undertake a pre-analysis of the results of previous activities undertaken by NBS in the concerned area, as well as other international standards and best practices on statistical metadata available;
• Develop documentation of metadata for at least 8 statistical areas/domains and at least 26 core statistical MDGs indicators;
• Organize and conduct a mini survey of the data users’ opinion on the availability, relevance, complexness, timeliness, opportuneness and/or other criteria related to the disseminated statistical metadata;
• Elaborate proposals and recommendations on further management of statistical metadata system taking into account the needs and requirements of the public and facilitating further practical use of statistical metadata by data users.

Main qualifications:
• Advanced degree in statistics, economics and/or other sciences relevant for the assignment;
• At least 5 years of proven experience in the social and/or economic fields;
• Previous experience of project implementation in concerned statistical domains (stipulated in the detailed ToR);
• Proven records of working/collaborating with the Government in assisting/supporting drafting policy papers or analytical reports using official statistics;
• Knowledge of the peculiarities of statistical areas/domains under consideration (statistical processes and practices, methodologies used, etc.);
• Familiarity with European/international standards and best practices in the concerned fields;
• Strong analytical and writing skills;
• Excellent communications skills in oral and written Romanian and Russian; Good knowledge of English will be an asset.

Interested persons should submit their applications, consisting of:
• a duly completed Personal History Form (P11), specifying experience and competence request in the ToR;
• Technical Proposal (Short vision on achievement of tasks and methodology for carrying over the assignment, summary work plan – maximum 2 pages);
with the mark: “National Consultant on statistical metadata/UN Joint Project on Statistics” by the 26th of July 2010, 10:00 (local time) to the following address: UNDP Office, 131, 31 August 1989 Street, MD-2012, Chisinau, Moldova, alternatively by email to vacancies-moldova@undp.org. Detailed Terms of Reference, including evaluation procedure and criteria, and Personal History Form are available on http://www.undp.md/employment (JOBS). Only those short listed will be contacted and requested to provide the financial offer. Failure of candidates to submit a duly completed P11 form, as well as false representations on this form, shall constitute sufficient grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of the application. All information provided in the P11 form will be treated as strictly confidential.