International Consultant: Census and Survey Chief Technical Advisor Consultant, Home Based

About UNFPA

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA Afghanistan is implementing its fourth Country Programme (2015-2019) with subsequent extensions up to the year 2027. The purpose of hiring a census and survey chief technical advisor is to provide specialized technical assistance to ensure the ultimate quality and integrity of the collected data. 

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Afghanistan, in technical engagement with the General Statistics and Information Authority (GSIA), is conducting a mini census and household listing in Helmand, Kandahar, Urozgan, and Zabul provinces. The project aims to generate accurate, geo-referenced population data to support the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and humanitarian programming. 

Purpose of consultancy:

Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Deputy Country Representative and direct supervision of the UNFPA Assistant  Representative, as well as in close collaboration with the PD Specialist, program units, and field teams, the Census and Survey Chief Technical Advisor fulfills the following tasks: 

Deliverables: 

1. Technical Design and Methodology Guidance (August 2026) 
   • Review the matrix and standardization recommendations for the three primary survey questionnaires, including compliance verification for the Polio Eradication Initiative under-five module (August 17, 2026)
   • Advisory Memo on data anonymization protocols, focusing on numerical identifiers for female family members to protect privacy (August 24, 2026)
   • GIS Framework Recommendations for integrating GPS-enabled tablets with existing geographic shapefiles (August 31, 2026) 
2. Field Operations and Project Phase Advisory (September 2026)
   • Pilot Census Evaluation Report with strategic recommendations to improve digital and paper-based workflows (September 4, 2026)
   • Risk Mitigation & Contingency Plan for deploying paper-based protocols in high-risk zones (September 25, 2026)
3. Data Quality Assurance and Validation (September - October 2026)
   • Statistical Sampling and Weighting Guide outlining how to eliminate selection bias for the 10% household sample (September 15, 2026)
   • Spatial Reconciliation Protocol to align fieldwork data with satellite-imagery-derived settlement databases (October 2, 2026) 
4. Analysis, Publication, and Dissemination (October 2026)
   • Data Cleaning and Validation Roadmap to ensure a definitive, geo-referenced line list of children under five (October 16, 2026)
   • Advising on data anonymization protocols and techniques for HH listing and under-five children line list data (October 31, 2026) 

Qualifications and Experience: 

• Advance degree in statistics, economics, demography, population studies.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in managing large-scale household surveys or population censuses 
• Demonstrated expertise in managing culturally sensitive data collections 
• Recorded work in a developing country, preferably within a complex emergency, post-conflict environment is an asset. 

Language requirements:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
 

The consultant is expected to provide all necessary equipment to complete the assignment (computer, software, phone, etc).

UNFPA will provide all relevant background information and documentation regarding the regional and country contexts as well as relevant documents on the related consultancy. 

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.