National Consultant: Senior Data Analyst (BuyFromWomen Platform)

Background
Introduction:
Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations www.un.org , UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) www.unwomen,org works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
Placing women���������s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates the efforts of the United Nations System to ensure that commitments on gender equality translate into action. To accomplish this mandate, UN Women partners with government, the private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations in furtherance of gender equality.
UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) is based in Pretoria, South Africa and serves five countries (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and The Kingdom of Eswatini).
UN Women South Africa iementing a flagship programme on Stimulating Equal Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs through Affirmative Procurement, Investment and Supply Chain Policies. The programme seeks to improve women���������s access to public and private procurement of goods and services in general, linking women through the value chain.
One of the key outputs of the programme has been to establish an online platform called BuyFromWomen (BFW) https://bfwplatform.brains-on.com The platform since its development has managed to onboard 3993 WOE from the Energy, Transport, Agriculture and other sectors. In Phase two the focus will be on enhancing the platform in terms of usage, access by WOE and other procuring entities. The target is to reach x5000 by Qt4 2022 with more inclusion of WOE living with disabilities. The platform also has a Learning Management System (LMS) that women can access e-learning modules to sustain their business as well as to network for potential procurement opportunities.
Justification:
COVID-19 has exposed flaws and inequities specifically amongst vulnerable groups such as women, people living with disabilities and youth. From past experience and emerging data, it is possible to project that the impacts of the COVID19 global recession will result in a prolonged dip in women���������s businesses, incomes and labor force participation, with compounded impacts for women already.
In order to put in place targeted interventions that fully support Women Owned Enterprises (WOE) to sustain their businesses During and Post COVID-19 it is proposed that existing data collected on WOE is urgently analysed to inform support required and how government and private sector can utilize the platform to procure from WOE.
Duties and Responsibilities
Objectives of the assignment:
The main objective of the assignment is to conduct a detailed comprehensive analysis of the existing UN Women database of women owned businesses and enterprises already captured on the BuyFromWomen platform and those emanating from ongoing capacity buildikshops.
The analysis of the existing data will include type of business sectors; size; business turnover; business registration, type of business-related training required, location of business, WOE living with disabilities and other key information to guide project interventions for Women Owned Businesses.
Scope of work:
The Data Analyst Consultant working in collaboration with the WE Team and hosting company will be responsible for the management of data for women owned enterprises and input into the online BuyFromWomen Platform to support the programme delivery. The specific key focus area of this consultancy will be to categorize women owned enterprises into the UN Women database contributing to clear Typology and capacity assessment.
The following key tasks to assist the Women Empowerment Team and its partners implement timely interventions and access data in user-friendly format, will be undertaken: Analyse current UN Women registers of Women Owned Enterprises and identify data gaps on existing database and develop action points for improvement from all UN Women SAMCO Women Empowerment projects; Perform analysis on existing data to develop a Typology of Women Owned Enterprises and Businesses; Conduct a rapid capacity assessment of women owned enterprises in the UN Women data base to identify immediate, medium- and long-term capacity support needs.
Key Deliverables:
Activities/ Tasks
Time Frame
Deliverables
Technical guidance to Women Empowerment Team
Ongoing
To expand on existing BFW data base
Regularly liaise with the BFW hosting company to ensure platform is functioning optimally
Weekly
Functional BFW platform
Design Monitoring and Evaluation tracking tools, which will be linked to the BuyFromWomenPlatform https://www.buyfromwomen.org
Qtr 1
Monitoring and Evaluation tools developed
Ensure the current WOE on database has a section for women living with disabilities
Qtr 1
A sector on BFW capturing WOE with disabilities is incorporated
Ensure overall quality assurance of the platform and identify glitches and areas of improvement
Weekly
Smooth functionality of BFW
Explore how the platform can be replicated in other SAMCO countries other than South Africa (Eswatini; Namibia; Lesotho and Botswana)
Qtr 2
Potential to replicate BFW is replicated in other SAMCO countries is assessed
Continually Engage with hosting company on functionality of the platform and ensure consistency of data being uploaded
Weekly
Data enrichment and consistency
Produce comprehensive data analysis reports of BFW and Learning Managing System (LMS) activity and flag areas of concern
Monthly
Updated data analysis engagement reports and dashboards
Monitor increase on number of WOE being onboarded onto platform to reach target of x5000 by Qtr4 2022 from current 3993
Qtr 4
BFW platform has x5000 WOE
Conceptualize creative ways of increasing number of WOE being onboarded and consistently follow through the proposed strategy to achieve intended results
Qtr 1
Onboarding strategy developed for both BFW and LMS
Engage with onboarded WOE to ensure challenges they encounter with platform are identified and rectified
Weekly
Report on BFW and LMS accessibility produced monthly
Attend Capacity Building Workshops organized by Presidential task team
As may be required
Capture data of WOE participants
Compare number of WOE on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and analyze data for alignment with the BFW
Ongoing
Produce Dashboard on number WOE on CSD and BFW for alignment and encouraging WOE to register on both
Produce concept note on how handover of BFW platform to government can be undertaken to ensure its continuity as a tool for all government supply chains
Qtr 2
Handover Plan of BFW/LMS to government produced
Technical support to the National Task Team on the development of Typology and analysis of WOE
Weekly
Typology and analysis of WOE developed
Any other duties related to data analysis from
SAMCO programs
As may be requested by SAMCO program teams
Analyzed Data
Produce Consolidated Final Report
Qtr 4
Final Report on BFW/LMS showcasing lessons learned
Competencies
Core Values:
Respect for Diversity; Integrity; Professionalism.
Core Competencies:
Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues; Accountability; Creative Problem Solving; Effective Communication and good Interpersonal skills; Inclusive Collaboration; Stakeholder Engagement; Leading by Example;
Functional Competencies:
Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills; Good knowledge of Results Based Management; Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations; Strong analytical skills; Good knowledge of technical area; Ability to identify and analyse trends, opportunities and threats.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Degree in Statistics, mathematics or a related subject involving Maths, such as Economics or Data Science. Other degrees are also acceptable if they include formal training in statistics as part of the course, for instance Sociology or Informatics; A high level of mathematical ability; Programming languages, such as SQL, Oracle and Python; The ability to analyse, model and interpret data accurately; Problem-solving skills; A methodical and logical approach; The ability to plan work and meet specified deadlines; Accuracy and attention to detail.
Work Experience:
A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in data analysis from a gender equality perspective; Knowledge about gender equality and the empowerment of women; Strong research and writing with strong analytical skills.
Language requirements:
Fluency in English and a local language is required; Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.