Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
Development data – data and statistics that improve our knowledge of development in all its forms – is at the heart of the work of the World Bank Group, in operations, in advisory work, and in research. The mission of the Development Data Group is to put data to work for development; by improving the quality, accessibility and use of development data, both for client countries and for staff, through technical expertise, partnership, and innovation.
The Data Production and Methods Unit (DECPM) is the home for household surveys within the Development Data Group at the World Bank. Through the work of this unit, the World Bank supports governments and national statistical agencies globally in building capacity for the production and use of high-quality household survey data to advise policy and investment decisions. DECPM develops, designs and validates innovative survey methods, uses new technologies to improve survey data quality, and develops analytical tools to facilitate the use and analysis of the data collected. Methodological standards and best practices are needed to ensure high quality of data and it is important that all data collection efforts incorporate the latest knowledge on data collection standards and technological innovation, thus continuous research is needed as data collection methods continue to evolve.
DECPM is the center for methodological standards, technical assistance, quality assurance, and global dissemination of household surveys with the World Bank. The Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) team in DECPM coordinates the review of surveys supported by the Bank to ensure that they meet the current international standards of good quality data collection. DECPM leads the Technical Review Panel which conducts a peer-review process to assess the quality of the survey design and plan (including instruments, sampling, fieldwork organization, data entry and processing plans, quality assurance and dissemination). In addition, DECPM also provides technical assistance for fieldwork activities and conduct training in survey methods and practices. Under the Household Survey Working Group, DECPM supports Global Practices (GPs) and Regions to review and provide technical assistances to household surveys to ensure improved data quality, availability, and usability. The team is also contributing to the Inter-Secretariat Working Group on Household Surveys of the United Nations Statistical Commission which promotes the development and coordination in the adoption of best practices in household surveys globally.
In 2015, the World Bank established the Center for Development Data (C4D2), a Rome-based hub for fostering methodological innovation and strengthening capacity in household surveys in low- and middle-income countries. DECPM manages the C4D2 activities. The C4D2’s mission is to facilitate the production of high-quality, timely, and relevant survey data to inform country-level policy making and investment decisions to catalyze poverty reduction, food security, and growth, and to contribute to developing data systems for monitoring the SDGs and other national and subnational development plans. Statistical capacity building is seen as a key component of the program at the Center, which is home to C4D2–Training, a partnership which aims to improve and harmonize the curricula of regional statistical training centers, facilitate the uptake of global standards and best practices in household survey design, create a network of household survey experts at the regional level, and promote harmonization across countries.
The C4D2 is also home to the Program Management Team for the 50x2030: Data Smart Agriculture initiative, which was launched in September 2018 to support 50 low and lower-middle income countries by 2030 in building strong national data systems that produce and use high-quality and timely agricultural survey data in support of achieving the SDG 2 of ending hunger. To do so, the Initiative will be undertaking substantial investments in three tracks:
1. agricultural and household survey data production; 2. methodological research and tool development; and (3) data use for policy. The LSMS team based at C4D2 is responsible for the methods and tools component of the Initiative.
DECPM is seeking to recruit a Survey Specialist, to be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the Ethiopia Country Office to support or contribute to (1) household survey implementation activities under the 50x30 initiative and the LSMS program, (2) survey methodological research efforts, (3) country office programs in data production and analysis, and (4) statistical capacity building activities.
Roles and Responsibilities
• Support household surveys in Ethiopia that DECPM team will be supporting, either under the 50X2030 initiative in collaboration with FAO and IFAD, or as part of the LSMS program. • Provide support to the in-country and regional capacity building workshops and training on best practices in household survey data collection as part of the C4D2-Training Initiative and other WB capacity building operations.• Provide support to the teams working on analysis and methodological research for the integration of new standards and learning in LSMS-type surveys. • Contribute to the ongoing activities in the team to integrate household survey data with other data sources, especially in relation to the use of household surveys, in-person or by phone, for the validation and use of citizen generated data (CGD), etc. • Collaborate with TTLs at the CMU to support operations in the area of microdata production and analysis. • Participate in any other LSMS-related activities, including cross-support to other World Bank units as part of the World Bank Household Survey Agenda. This may include reviewing survey questionnaire modules under development, analyzing data sets, and undertaking missions to LSMS or other World Bank-supported countries in the region to provide technical assistance on survey design, implementation and analysis.
Selection Criteria
The candidate should have the following experience and background for this position:
• M.Sc. in economics, statistics or quantitative social science field. Ph.D. strongly preferred. A Master’s degree can be sufficient if the candidate has extensive household survey management experience. • Minimum of 5 years of experience in the design and implementation of sophisticated, multi-topic household surveys in countries. Experience in survey implementation in developing countries and in panel data a strong plus.• Competency in all stages of the survey process – questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data management, data analysis, and project administration. • Experience designing and implementing policy and survey methodological studies.• Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve survey implementation and data quality issues. • Experience in capacity building and training, including of National Statistical Office staff and statisticians in client countries.• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a multi-cultural environment.• Strong experience in CAPI questionnaire design and programming using Survey Solutions, CsPro, SurveyCTO, or related applications.• Strong skills in either Stata and/or R are required.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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This vacancy is archived.