Job: International Economic Survey Sampling Specialist

Location: Yangon, Myanmar
Deadline: Thursday, 14 November 2013

Terms of Reference

International Technical Consultant (GDE)I. Position Information

Job Title : International Economic Survey Sampling Specialist

Duration of contract : 2 weeks (Approximately started first week January 2014)

Duty station : Yangon, Myanmar with travels to Nay Pyi Taw

Supervisor : Senior Economic Advisor, UNDP, Myanmar

Closing date: 14 November , 2013

II. Background

The rapid changes in the political, social and economic sphere that Myanmar isundertaking need the support of a complete set of national statistics that will help therational policy making with an empirical base.Myanmar is moving from a centrally planned economy to a more market oriented, withincreasing complexity in the mode of production and distribution of goods and services,moving from a traditional agricultural based economy, with a strong government side, toa more open one. From production for self-consumption to a commodity based process.The statistics have to move at a faster pace, in order to record these changes.The Integrated Household Living Conditions Assessment (IHLCA) is one ofDevelopment Effectiveness component of Pillar III under the new UNDP program.IHLCA activity previously called IHLCA unit, has conducted two rounds of nationalLSMS type survey in 2003-2004 and 2009-2010 to obtain the national level indicatorsfor monitoring MDG goals in collaboration with the Ministry of National Planning andEconomic Development(MNPED) . IHLCA has also supported MNPED for calculatingPurchasing Power Parity (PPP) for Myanmar in ICP program of ESCAP regionimplemented by ADB.Myanmar GDP calculation still uses the 1968 production method although most countriesin the ESCAP region have been using the 1993/2008System of National Accounts (SNA)in calculating national GDP. In calculating GDP for Myanmar in 1993/2008 SNA format,Supply and Use Tables (SUT) are needed at the initial stage. The SUT describes in detailsthe supply and use of goods and services and most importantly the use of goods andservices and other production factors in every economic activity in the economy as wellas the use of goods and services for final consumption, investment and exports. Myanmarwill need to implement a programme of economic censuses and surveys before it canconstruct a supply and use table that will serve the foundation for the national accountsstatistics. Previous consultations at international level recommended IHLCA surveys(covering all non-farm activities) for the formal sector and Unincorporated Enterpriseswith at least some Market production (HUEMs) for the Informal sector as the highestpriorities at present to construct SUT.1Myanmar keenly felt the need to change the systemof GDP calculation from SNA 1968 production method to SNA 1993/2008 method whichhas been used by most countries especially in the ESCAP region. The statistical systembased on administrative reports used in a centrally planned economy, would not beVu Quang Viet , Review of the Statistical system of Myanmar and recommendations, Report to Unitednations Development Program, Yangon, The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, 2011 October22/Oct/2013(Rev.)adequate when the economy is liberalized and open to private businesses because a largesegment of the economy is outside the scope of administrative reporting system.

III. Purpose

The main purpose of this assignment is

(1 ) To assess what has already been done viz. the development of survey frames andthe survey tools for the economic surveys and advise the national team on the additionalactivities needed for the economic sample survey;

(2) To determine the sample sizes of economic survey especially for incorporatedestablishment and IHLCA sample households with non-agricultural activities, theimplementation of selection procedures and sampling formula;

(3) To give some practical advice how to reduce the non-sampling error in the comingeconomic surveys

IV. Deliverables

(1 ) Produce a report with recommendations on sample size, sampling frame, sampleselection, questionnaires with manuals and non-sampling errors control methods afterworking together with the national survey team to finalize the survey field instrumentsand liaising with the international SNA expert,

V. Recruitment Qualification

(1) Education: Master degree (Ph D preferred) in survey sampling methods preferablyin the field of economic statistics;

(2) Experience :

• Minimum 15 years relevant professional experience in the area of surveysampling methodology and conducting economic survey field
• Sound knowledge and proven experience in conducting economic surveysas a team leader
• Relevant experience with government departments and agencies
• Relevant experience in countries with a large agricultural base andinformal sectors, both in urban and rural areas.
• Previous work experience in Myanmar or other south Eastern Asiancountries preferred
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English
• Proven record of academic and economic statistics publications22/Oct/2013(Rev.)

More Info and Application