International Senior Census Planning Advisor for the 2029 Cambodia Population Census

The Position:

UNFPA seeks an international expert to provide high-level technical support to the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) and UNFPA Cambodia towards the planning for the 2029 Population Census (PHC) and to ensure alignment with the UN Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 4 (2030 Round). The consultant will assess the feasibility of conducting a modern census, identify critical capacity and investment needs, review current data sources to optimize the role of the census in the national data ecosystem, and develop options for the Government to consider.  Once the Government has approved one option, the consultant will then support the development of a comprehensive, costed implementation roadmap. This work is designed to provide the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) with a technically sound foundation for national budget allocation and partner engagement towards the 2029 National Population and Housing Census. 

Cambodia’s 2029 PHC will define the data foundation for a decade of development, underpinning the Pentagonal Strategy Phase I, Vision 2030 and 2050, and the Cambodia Sustainable Development Goals and in line with the Cambodia Digital Government Policy 2022-2035. The RGC currently relies on 2019 population data that no longer reflects the reality due to urbanization, internal migration, and shifts in age structure. 

As Cambodia prepares for its census of the 2030 Round, there is a strategic need to transition from outdated paper-based methods (PAPI) toward modern digital technologies, including Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In addition, new technologies can create efficiencies, in the long run, significantly reducing the human and financial resources needed to undertake this exercise. Therefore, options are needed for the RGC to consider modernizing their Census data collection, with a focus on early and credible planning as instrumental for national budget application and resource mobilization.

The National Institute of Statistics (NIS) is the primary institution leading the operationalization of the PHC. The census is governed by a national census committee and supported by technical and sub-national committees. 

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 will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, 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:

In close consultation with the NIS and UNFPA Cambodia, the consultant will perform the following core tasks: 

• Review Legal and Governance Frameworks: Examine the Cambodian legal and policy environment and committee arrangements for the census to ensure smooth operational governance. 
• Assess Capacity and Readiness:  Using existing capacity assessments, undertake a rapid review of the current skills of NIS staff and the existing ICT infrastructure to determine exactly what human resources capacity, and technical and equipment investments are required to implement a modern census. 
• Review Administrative Data Systems: Look at existing records like Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), the Commune Database (CDB), and health/education data to review potential data sources that can support or simplify the census. 
• Evaluate Technology and Efficiency Options: Assess how modern innovations—such as Machine Learning, AI, digital data collection, and registers—can create efficiencies including cost savings and reduce data-cleaning time. 
• Develop an Options Paper and presentation:  Provide the RGC with options for operationalizing the 2029 PHC focusing on the overall costs and readiness, as well as the need to modernize data collection. Develop both a presentation as well as an options paper for the RGC to consider.
• Plan Budgets and Roadmap: Once an option has been chosen by the RGC, develop an overall framework, plan including an itemized budget across all census phases including capacity building and infrastructure setup (pre-enumeration, field operations, data processing, and dissemination) to support budget allocations from the MEF. 
• Manage Risks: Design a realistic risk analysis and mitigation plan for every step of the census implementation. 

Methodology

The consultant will use a clear, practical methodology to complete the assessment: 

• Desk Review: Analyze UN Revision 4 standards, past census evaluations, and regional lessons learned regarding modern data technologies. 
• Stakeholder Meetings: Conduct interviews and workshops with the NIS, Ministry of Planning, MEF, registry managers, and development partners. 
• Feasibility and Cost Modeling: Create comparative scenarios showing the costs, timelines, and personnel required for different technology setups. 

Detailed Deliverables and Requirements

Deliverable 1: Inception Plan

• Requirements: A short report outlining the consultant's proposed methodology, concrete activities, stakeholder meeting list, and timelines. This plan will serve as the guide for the rest of the consultancy. 

Deliverable 2: Options Report and presentation: Modern Census Feasibility Assessment 

• Requirements: A comprehensive analysis report of the current population census method, and the provision of recommended options - development of a report and  a short presentation that details:
  • The strengths and gaps of Cambodia's current approach and method of undertaking the population census including the legal and infrastructure environment. 
  • Current NIS staff capacities and specific required investments for GIS and digital technologies. 
  • Potential synergies with administrative systems (CRVS, CDB, etc.). 
  • Feasibility, cost savings, and downsides of adopting innovations like CAPI, CAWI, or AI tools. 
  • Based on the analysis, the provision of practical recommended options for Cambodia's 2029 census framework. 

Deliverable 3: Implementation Roadmap and Census Technical Assistance Plan 

• Requirements: A step-by-step roadmap from initial design to final data dissemination with clear itemized costs. 
• An operational plan identifying what specific international expertise (e.g., CAPI programmers, GIS mapping specialists) will be needed over the census cycle to fill NIS capacity gaps. The plan must include clear scopes of work, timelines, and expected outputs for these additional expert roles. 

Deliverable 4: Brief Investment Case

• Requirements: A high-level strategic brief (maximum of 2-3 pages) tailored for the government and partners. It must clearly explain the census budget needs, value proposition, and how the digital equipment can be reused for other national surveys to maximize the return on investment. 

You would be responsible for:

The contract is for an estimated 50 working days spread between September and December 2026. The work will follow a phased approach: 

• Phase 1: Readiness Assessment (7 working days): Desk review, systems audits, and stakeholder consultations.
• Phase 2: Feasibility & Cost Planning (30 working days): Operational modeling, cost assessments, and drafting the feasibility report and technical assistance plan and roadmap.
• Phase 3: Finalization & Mobilization (13 working days): Delivery of the final investment case, pitch tools, and final reporting approvals.

Note: UNFPA does not pay a daily rate - the days are estimated only. UNFPA pays per deliverable.

Please refer to the attached ToR and Annex for details.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education: 

At least a Master’s Degree in Demography, Statistics, or related fields. 

Experience: 

• Minimum of 10 years of experience designing, managing and advising on population censuses, with explicit experience in developing countries and the Asia-Pacific region. 
• Knowledge of and experience with modern census technologies and approaches/methodologies;
• Ability to work independently in a cross-cultural environment, and demonstrated capacity to build strong relationships with local counterparts and donor agencies.
• Strong understanding of the UN Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses. 
• Proven experience in knowledge transfer, delivering on-the-job training to national teams, and coordinating across cross-cultural environments. 

Languages: 

Full professional proficiency in written and spoken English. 

Please refer to the attached ToR for details.

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,

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus 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.

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.