Result of Service
Turkmenistan is committed to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Since the adoption of the SDGs, the country has been engaged in systematic work toward the nationalization of the Goals. The National Program of Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2022-2052 and the Program of the President of Turkmenistan for Socio-Economic Development of the Country for 2022-2028 are aligned with the Agenda 2030 to achieve sustainable development through consistent implementation of the SDGs in the country. The work to adapt and integrate the SDGs into relevant national strategic programs and plans in Turkmenistan began in 2016 with the official adoption of the 2030 Agenda by the government of Turkmenistan following a series of national consultations. The nationalization process included the identification of SDGs applicable to Turkmenistan, their integration into national development plans and the creation of a monitoring system. As a result, 17 SDG goals were officially adopted, 148 targets (of which 121 remained unchanged, and 27 were adjusted in accordance with national priorities) and 187 indicators (out of 241 global indicators). Subsequently, the number of indicators was revised and currently 131 SDG targets and 175 indicators have been identified in the country, which will be implemented until 2030. An effective monitoring and reporting system is vital for the achievement of the SDGs. High-quality statistical data, access to such data, and its planning and analysis based on comprehensive and disaggregated indicators are fundamental for measuring progress, monitoring trends, and identifying barriers to SDG achievement. Currently, a National SDG Platform has been established within the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics, where SDG indicators are published. However, the majority of indicators published in the National SDG Database do not align with the data in the Global Databases. To measure sustainable development progress, the Roadmap for Strengthening SDG Reporting in Turkmenistan for 2025–2027 was adopted. The Roadmap incorporated concrete steps for the national ministries to improve data availability on 40 nationalized SDG indicators. Since its adoption, the Roadmap has enabled reporting on 14 (?) indicators, while 26 (?) indicators remain undeveloped. In this regard, the objective of this assignment is to ensure consistency and remove discrepancies between national and global methodologies for calculating the indicators currently published in the National SDG Database, identify indicators lacking the required disaggregation, ascertain the reasons for the non-fulfillment of activities under the Roadmap, and continue work on adjusting targets for specific SDG indicators on the eve of the third Voluntary National Review of the implementation of the SDGs in the country. To ensure coherence between official SDG reporting and the UNCT’s anticipatory planning work, the consultancy will also include a targeted support component for the Water Scenarios & Nexus Foresight Consultant. This support will help ensure that the integrated water-driven scenarios and their implications for key SDG transitions are grounded in verified national datasets, and are complemented by an updated evidence note on SDG financing gaps (2026–2030) for the transitions “Jobs and Social Protection”, “Food security and water management”, and “Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution”. This linkage strengthens credibility, comparability and usability of scenario outputs for policy dialogue, programming and financing narratives. Therefore, the RCO intends to hire a national expert to support relevant ministries and entities of Turkmenistan to (i) improve the quality of national reporting to custodian UN agencies according to the agreed methodology (ii) support targets setting for relevant SDGs indicators, and (iii) support further implementation of the Roadmap on SDGs.
Work Location
RCO Turkmenistan
Expected duration
April-November 2026
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the RCO Team Leader and direct guidance of the Data Management Specialist and Economist, the National Consultant will carry out the following specific activities: Under the overall supervision of the RCO Team Leader and direct guidance of the Data Management Specialist and Economist, the National Consultant will carry out the following specific activities: Phase 1 - SDG Data quality assurance and metadata alignment • Review SDG data in the National SDGs Platform to verify its completeness, consistency, integrity, timeliness, accuracy, validity and compliance with the global databases; • Identify the reasons for discrepancies (differences in methodologies, use of estimated data instead of official ones, different reporting periods, etc.). • Describe the reasons for the identified deviations and propose adjustments to the methodology or sources, and compilation of a results matrix. • Group SDG indicators into groups, dividing ministries by key SDG areas, to improve the effectiveness of discussions, planning, and implementation of activities. • Organize group meetings with the relevant ministries and agencies of Turkmenistan involved in data collection and processing, with the participation of custodian UN agencies, to determine the reasons for data discrepancies. • Conduct an analysis of the current state of disaggregation of national data on SDG indicators. • Identify a list of indicators for which expanded disaggregation is required, but missing in the National SDGs Platform. • Update metadata for each indicator published at the National SDGs Platform. • Develop recommendations on the necessary types of disaggregation for nationalized indicators. • Prepare methodological proposals for generating disaggregation specifying data sources (administrative, surveys, registers, etc.) and adjustments in the statistical reporting forms (as required); • Draft an Action Plan with step-by-step instructions for each indicator requiring expanded disaggregation, in the form of an Appendix to the Roadmap. • Facilitate expert discussions and workshops with Custodian Agencies responsible for SDG indicators. • Prepare recommendations for addressing reporting gaps. Phase 2 – Scenario data and SDG financing gaps support (for Water Scenarios & Nexus Foresight Consultant) • In coordination with UN RCO and the Water Scenarios & Nexus Foresight Consultant, support collection, consolidation and quality-checking of priority datasets needed to develop integrated water and implicative multi-sector scenarios (2026–2050), ensuring consistency with the National SDG Platform and custodian agency requirements (where applicable). • Prepare and share clean datasets, sources list, metadata/definitions for the Water Scenarios & Nexus Foresight Consultant and a concise note on financing with implications for scenario quantification for three SDG transitions. • Revise/update the SDG financing gaps estimates for 2026–2030 for the following SDG transitions: (i) “Jobs and Social Protection”; (ii) “Food security and water management”; and (iii) “Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution”, using the latest joint SDG gaps/financing analysis and documenting assumptions and any methodological adjustments. • Develop practical suggestions/outline for an SDG financing strategy, drawing on the revised SDG financing gaps analysis and national planning/budget processes. Phase 3 - Roadmap acceleration and target setting support • Taking into account the meetings and training sessions held with international organizations in 2025 to support the implementation of the Roadmap, identify the reasons for the delay in implementation of the Roadmap activities for 26 pending indicators. • Facilitate the technical level meetings with the relevant ministries and agencies responsible for pending indicators to identify indicators requiring further technical assistance from international organizations and, if necessary, facilitate technical meetings with international organizations. • Advise on the composition of sub-groups, dividing ministries by key SDG areas, to enhance effectiveness in discussing, planning and implementing of activities; • Provide support, as necessary, to national organizations in the timely implementation of planned activities, including data collection and reporting on individual SDG indicators. • Work with international organizations, including UN agencies and IFIs, to adjust targets for individual SDG indicators. • Based on the analysis of national indicators with the data presented in the global database, identify the causes of discrepancies and recommend further actions to revise individual targets. • Support national entities in timely and quality implementation of the planned activities, including target setting, data collection and reporting on selected SDG indicators.
Qualifications/special skills
-A first-level university degree (Bachelor Degree) in Social, Political Sciences, International Development, Development Economics, Sociology of Development, Development Communications, Public Administration, Public Policy, Statistics, Project Management, or a closely related discipline is required. -Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent degree) in the Political Sciences, International Development, Development Economics, Sociology of Development, Development Communications, Public Administration, Public Policy, Statistics is desirable. -At least 10 years of experience in planning, statistics, rule of law, economics, budgeting and/or other relevant fields is required. -Knowledge of the key development priorities of the National Statistical System of the country is desirable. -Excellent knowledge of the Global Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, targets and indicators is required. -Strong organization skills with a critical eye for detail is required. -Ability to work under tight deadlines and juggle multiple tasks at the same time is required.
Languages
-Fluency in Russian and Turkmen is required. -Knowledge of English is desirable.
Additional Information
Not available.
No Fee
THE 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.
