The Position

Reporting to the Director of the Programme Division, the Chief of the Data and Analytics Branch (DAB) serves as UNFPA’s Chief Statistician and principal authority on population, health, gender, and development data.

The Branch leads UNFPA’s work across the full data value chain—data generation, analysis, dissemination, and use—ensuring that high-quality, disaggregated, and timely data underpin policy, advocacy, programming, and results. This includes strengthening foundational population data systems (censuses, CRVS, surveys) while advancing their transformation through innovation, digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and geospatial analytics.

The Chief provides strategic vision, technical leadership, and managerial oversight for the Branch, ensuring UNFPA’s positioning as a global leader in population data, demographic intelligence, and data innovation, aligned with the ICPD Programme of Action, the SDGs, and the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029.

How you can make a difference

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose

The Chief is responsible for driving UNFPA’s global data and analytics  agenda, ensuring delivery of authoritative, policy-relevant, and forward-looking population intelligence. This includes:

• Leading UNFPA’s Data Strategy and governance frameworks
• Overseeing end-to-end transformation of data systems (collection, analysis, dissemination, and use)
• Advancing innovation in data collection (digital censuses, CRVS modernization), AI-enabled analytics, and data dissemination platforms
• Leading evidence generation and flagship knowledge products, including substantive contributions to the State of the World Population Report
• Leading strategy for strengthening national statistical systems and data ecosystems
• Mobilizing strategic partnerships and financial resources to scale data and innovation investments

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Direction and Technical Leadership

Provide overall vision, strategic direction, and leadership for UNFPA’s data and  analytic agenda across the data value chain.
Serve as the principal adviser to senior management on population data, statistics and geospatial analysis and intelligence.
Lead the implementation of UNFPA’s corporate Data Strategy, ensuring alignment with the UN Secretary-General’s Data Strategy and the Strategic Plan (2026–2029)..
Position UNFPA as a global leader in modern population data systems, combining foundational data with innovative digital, AI, and geospatial approaches.
Oversee the development of standards, methodologies, and global tools that integrate traditional statistical systems with innovative approaches to data collection, analysis, dissemination and use.
Ensure robust data governance, protection, and ethical use, including responsible application of AI across the data lifecycle.

2. Evidence Generation and Thought Leadership

Lead UNFPA’s global evidence generation agenda, ensuring high-quality, policy-relevant outputs across the organization.
Oversee flagship publications, including substantive contribution to the State of the World Population Report, ensuring analytical rigor and global policy impact.
Guide the development of analytical series, technical papers, and policy briefs, integrating advanced analytics, AI, and geospatial insights.
Promote innovative approaches to data visualization, storytelling, and dissemination, including interactive platforms, dashboards, and geospatial tools.
Ensure that UNFPA’s evidence products inform policy dialogue, advocacy, and programme design at global, regional, and country levels.

3. Data Systems, Quality Assurance, Innovation, and Use

Lead UNFPA’s support to foundational population data systems, including censuses, CRVS, surveys, and administrative data systems, ensuring their modernization through digital transformation and innovation.
Promote innovation in data collection, including digital and hybrid censuses, real-time CRVS systems, integration of administrative data, and application of geospatial technologies.
Advance the use of AI and machine learning for data processing, estimation, modelling, and predictive analytics, while safeguarding statistical integrity and transparency.
Oversee the development and scaling of the Population Data Platform (PDP+) as a global public good integrating multi-source data, geospatial layers, and advanced analytics.
Ensure the quality, interoperability, accessibility, and use of data, including disaggregation and visualization, for SDG monitoring and “Leave No One Behind” targeting.
Drive innovation in data dissemination and use, including open data platforms, dashboards, and decision-support tools for policymakers.

4. Global Partnerships and System Leadership

Lead strategic engagement with UN agencies, international financial institutions, academia, private sector, and innovation partners to advance UNFPA’s data and analytics agenda.
Build partnerships to leverage cutting-edge technologies and innovation ecosystems, including AI and geospatial platforms.
Represent UNFPA at high-level global and intergovernmental fora, including the UN Statistical Commission, World Data Forum, and data and AI governance platforms.
Strengthen UNFPA’s role in global statistical leadership and data governance, including SDG monitoring and emerging standards on AI and data systems.
Drive collaboration through inter-agency mechanisms, ensuring coherent and aligned approaches to demographic data and innovation.

5. Statistical Capacity Strengthening

Provide strategic leadership for strengthening national statistical systems and data ecosystems, with a focus on sustainability and country ownership.
Support countries in adopting modern, digital, and integrated approaches to censuses, CRVS, surveys, and population registers.
Promote capacity development in data science, AI applications, geospatial analysis, and advanced analytics.
Foster south–south and triangular cooperation, including knowledge exchange on data innovation and emerging technologies.
Strengthen internal UNFPA capacity in data literacy, analytics, and responsible use of data and AI.

6. Resource Mobilization and Strategic Financing

Lead resource mobilization for UNFPA’s data and analytics agenda, positioning data as core development infrastructure.
Develop and implement financing strategies to scale investments in data systems, analytics, AI, and geospatial capabilities.
Engage donors, development banks, and partners to mobilize resources for transformational data systems.
Oversee the development of high-quality proposals and investment cases, including for large-scale data and digital programmes.
Strengthen and position funding mechanisms such as the Population Data Thematic Fund, aligning them with emerging priorities in data and innovation.

7. Leadership and Management

Lead and manage the Data and Analytics Branch, providing strategic direction, performance oversight, and management of human and financial resources.
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and excellence.
Ensure effective collaboration across Programme Division, HQ units, regional offices, and country offices.
Champion continuous improvement and transformation, ensuring UNFPA remains at the forefront of data and analytics in development.

8. Other Duties

Perform additional tasks as required by the Division Director or Senior Management. 

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Advanced university degree in Statistics, Data Science, Demography, Economics, or related field.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in public administration and international development, including at least 8 years at the international level in data, statistics, population, or related fields.
• Recognized technical authority and thought leader in population data, statistics, data systems, or demographic analysis, with up-to-date knowledge of state-of-the-art methodologies and innovations, including AI and geospatial analytics.
• Demonstrated expertise across multiple sectoral data systems, including sexual and reproductive health, gender, humanitarian, migration, and development data systems.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and inspire high-performing, multidisciplinary teams of experts, delivering measurable and sustained results.
• Strong track record in resource mobilization, programme leadership, and management of complex, large-scale initiatives.
• Extensive experience in global partnerships, inter-agency coordination, and high-level international representation.
• Established and active professional networks within academic, research, and development communities.
• Excellent communication skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
• Strong commitment to development work and to the mandate and values of the United Nations, including human rights, gender equality, and the ICPD Programme of Action.
• Experience in working in low and middle income countries is highly desirable.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

Required Competencies

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact, 
• Developing people/coaching and mentoring,
• Performance management,
• Fostering innovation and empowerment

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy / advancing a policy-oriented agenda,
• Results based programme development and management,
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners / building strategic alliances and partnerships,
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches,
• Job knowledge / technical expertise

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing Strategic Focus and Direction
• Engaging Internal/External Partners and Stakeholders
• Leading, Developing, and Empowering People
• Making Decisions and Exercising Judgment

Compensation and Benefits

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary, health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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: https://www.unfpa.org/diversity-equity-inclusion

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.