International Individual Consultancy - Support the development of a Quality Assurance Framework for the National Statistical System (NSS) of Belize, UNFPA SROC Belize

 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 Office 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 Outputs

A draft Quality Assurance Framework for Official Statistics that has been reviewed by key stakeholders in Belize’s National Statistical System that reflects a comprehensive review of international standards and best practices, as well as an analysis of the institutional structures and statistical processes that comprise the NSS of Belize.

Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications required for the Team Leader:

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.   

Note:

• There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. 
• UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
• UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life.  We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.