Data Processing and Template Automation Consultant

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Duty Station: Montreal

Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]

Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 22/12/2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background 

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) works to ensure the collection, quality, and consistency of global education data, particularly for monitoring SDG 4 - Quality Education. To support countries in submitting standardized, accurate, and comparable data, the UIS uses Multi-Year Dynamic Templates (MYDT) that incorporate automatic validation checks, indicator calculations, and metadata requirements.

These dynamic templates are essential tools for improving data completeness, ensuring methodological consistency across countries, and facilitating systematic reporting to the global SDG 4 monitoring framework. The UIS continuously improves these tools by refining formulas, updating calculations, integrating additional years of data, and ensuring alignment with international statistical standards.

To strengthen this work, the UIS requires technical expertise in supporting country submissions, performing data validation and processing, updating the templates, improving code scripts used for automation, and preparing review reports for global data validation processes.

Objectives

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UIS and the direct supervision of the Senior Project Officer (Administrative Data), the consultant will support UIS activities related to country submissions, template updates, data processing automation, and quality assurance.

Key tasks

Activity 1 – Support in Country Submission of Multi-Year Dynamic Templates (MYDT) for Survey Year 2025 data refresh and Survey Year 2026.
The consultant will support a maximum of 67 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific in submitting validated MYDT:

1. Ensure completeness and quality of country submissions 
   o    Review MYDT submissions for accuracy and completeness and align with the latest ISCED mapping
   o    Run and complete the quality control checklist for each country
2. Provide country support as needed
   o    Participate in virtual meetings with UIS staff (i.e., Regional Field Network (RFN) staff, Montreal-based team) to explain template functions, validation rules, and indicator calculations.
   o    Support countries struggling with template completion or technical issues.

Activity 2 – Documentation, Validation, and Processing of Data
The Consultant will develop, update, and run code scripts that automate data transfer, validation, and consolidation:

1. Automation and data transfer
   o    Write, update, and run scripts to transfer raw data across template versions.
   o    Write/modify scripts to consolidate templates into master databases.
2. Data validation and consistency
   o    Run data cleaning and consistency checks including age and age cohort based on UIS validation rules.
   o    Verify indicator calculations comply with UIS methodologies.
3. Pre-filling MYDT
   o    Pre-fill dynamic templates using previously mined or UIS-validated data.
4. Documentation and application development
   o    Produce clear documentation, guidelines, and code annotations and clarifications /additional notes specific to member states, if any.
   o    Convert scripts into ready-to-run executables whenever possible.

Activity 3 – Updating and Implementing Changes to MYDT

1. Update template structure and formulas

o    Add new years of data entry.
o    Update formulas, validation checks, and indicator functions.

     2. MYDT revision and testing

o    Support UIS in pre-filling templates after revisions.
o    Perform functional testing to ensure templates run smoothly.

     3. Multilingual versions

o    Produce translated versions of updated dynamic templates in French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

Activity 4 – Producing Review Reports on Country Submissions

1. Generate validation reports

o    Produce country review reports based on dynamic template submissions.

o    Structure reports according to the standardized UIS reporting format.

Activity 5 – Preparation of harmonized questionnaires for Survey Year 2027

1. Template generation and testing

o    Support UIS in pre-filling templates after revisions.

o    Perform functional testing to ensure templates run smoothly.

Deliverables

Deliverables

Expected Deliverables (Total Duration: 80 Days)

Activity 1 – Support in Country Submission of MYDT

Deliverables:

• Validated templates submitted by countries, including completed QC checklists.
• Generated Country Indicator Reviews where relevant.
• Consolidated database created from country templates.
• Consolidated database from mined templates.
• Questionnaire versions pre-filled with data submitted through the templates.

Timeline: February/March 2025 (15 days) & June/August 2025 (15 days)

Activity 2 – Documentation, Validation, and Processing of Data

Deliverables:

• Scripts to populate templates using previous template versions and UIS-validated data.
• Scripts for generating Country Indicator Review data from template inputs.
• Scripts for translation.
• Scripts for transferring data from templates to questionnaires.
• Scripts for consolidation to create databases including indicator values from templates.

Timeline: March/August 2025 (20 days)

Activity 3 – Updating MYDT

Deliverables:

• Updated dynamic templates, including formulas, new years, and revisions.
• Tested and pre-filled template versions.
• Translated versions (FR/SP/RU/AR/PO).

Timeline: January/February 2025 (10 days)

Activity 4 – Review Reports

Deliverables:

• Reviewed reports based on dynamic template submissions, following UIS standard format.

Timeline: July/August 2025 (10 days)

Activity 5 – Harmonized Questionnaires for Survey Year 2027

Deliverables:

• Tested and pre-filled questionnaire versions for Survey Year 2027.
• Translated versions (FR/SP/RU/AR/PO).

Timeline: March/August 2025 (10 days)

Final Deliverables Package

Deliverables:

• All scripts, templates, QC logs, documentation, and translated files.
• Completion report summarizing activities carried out and issues encountered.
• Consolidated database created from country templates.
• Consolidated database from mined templates.
• An organized shared folder containing all templates used to generate the consolidated databases.
• Questionnaire versions pre-filled with data submitted through the templates.

Timeline: September 2025 (3 days)

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 Education

• Advanced university degree in statistics, mathematics, computer science, education, economics, or a related field.

Experience

• At least 3-5 years of experience in data processing, validation, or template-automation scripting.
• Demonstrated experience in data validation, quality control, or survey/statistical workflows.

Skills

• Strong programming skills in Python, R, or similar languages, and experience with processing Excel-based systems.rol, or survey/statistical workflows
  
  

Language

• Excellent written and spoken English.
   

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• Experience with UIS dynamic templates, SDG 4 indicators, or UNESCO data workflows.
• Experience with databases, EMIS systems, or automated data pipelines.

Skills

• Ability to convert scripts into user-friendly applications.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should complete the on-line application, download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information:  

1. A cover letter describing interest, qualifications, availability, and proposed consultancy fee.
2. An up-to-date CV.
3. A brief description of suitability for the assignment and, if applicable, proposed methodology.
4. A financial proposal indicating the all-inclusive fixed contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs.

Only the proposals that include all the four aforementioned elements will be considered. Failure to provide any of those will result in an incomplete application which will not be considered.

UNESCO places significant importance on achieving the objectives outlined in the Terms of Reference. Consequently, the evaluation of proposals will prioritize the technical components. From the proposals that meet the criteria specified in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO will select the one that provides the best value for money for the Organization.

References

• UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). 2012. International Standard Classification of Education: ISCED 2011. Montreal: UIS. Link.
• UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). 2014. ISCED Fields of Education and Training 2013 (ISCED-F 2013). Montreal: UIS. Link.
• OECD, Eurostat, and UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). 2015. ISCED 2011 Operational Manual: Guidelines for Classifying National Education Programmes and Related Qualifications. Paris: OECD Publishing. Link.
• UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). 2015. International Standard Classification of Education: Fields of Education and Training 2013 (ISCED-F 2013) – Detailed Field Descriptions. Montreal: UIS. Link.
• ISCED Review Panel Recommendations report (2024). Link.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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