Survey / Quantitative Specialist – Zambia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Survey / Quantitative Specialist for a private sector consultancy assignment financed by UNIDO in Zambia.

Aninver Development Partners is preparing a proposal for an upcoming UNIDO consultancy assignment focused on baseline assessment and skills development needs analysis within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in Zambia. We are seeking an expert Survey / Quantitative Specialist to join our core team for this important private-sector development initiative.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in designing robust quantitative methodologies, establishing sampling frameworks for hard-to-enumerate populations, and ensuring rigorous data collection and analysis to support evidence-based policymaking and project targeting in the country's critical mineral value chains.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Consolidate existing information and construct a credible operational sampling framework for the target population.
• Propose and implement a robust probability-based sampling and selection methodology adapted to the operational realities of the sector.
• Establish baseline values and evidence for target setting regarding net income indicators.
• Ensure high standards of data quality, data protection, and reproducibility across all quantitative outputs.

Scope of work

• Consolidate available secondary data, records, and information relevant to identifying and characterizing the target population.
• Identify material gaps in existing information and undertake limited, targeted validation where necessary.
• Develop a sampling methodology designed to minimize selection bias and provide adequate representation across target provinces, commodities, and key demographic groups.
• Design comprehensive baseline and quantitative assessment instruments, including measures for net income and competency metrics.
• Implement the approved sampling and selection methodology in the field.
• Establish reliable baseline indicator values with necessary disaggregation by sex and youth-led status.
• Establish foundational data structures and anonymized identifiers to allow the project to link future activity exposure to outcomes.
• Manage non-response and access issues while adhering strictly to do-no-harm data protection principles.

Your role as Survey / Quantitative Specialist

• Lead the design and execution of the quantitative survey methodology and operational sampling framework.
• Specialise in sampling-frame construction for hard-to-enumerate populations and probability sampling design.
• Design longitudinal or panel linkage data structures to enable future impact tracking.
• Oversee the development and pre-testing of quantitative survey instruments and data collection tools.
• Supervise quantitative data collection processes, ensuring rigorous quality control and data cleaning protocols.
• Analyze survey datasets, disaggregating results by target groups, commodities, and provinces.
• Contribute high-quality quantitative findings, reports, and analytical codebooks to key project deliverables.

Requirements

• Education: Not stated
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant survey or applied statistics experience
• Languages: English

Desirable

• Prior professional experience in Zambia or the broader Southern African region.
• Familiarity with the artisanal and small-scale mining sector or private-sector development projects.
• Experience working with UN agencies or international donors.

An experienced quantitative statistician and survey expert with a strong background in sampling hard-to-enumerate populations, probability design, and panel data structures, eager to support impactful private-sector development initiatives in Zambia.

Assignment details

• Location: Zambia
• Financed by: UNIDO
• Sector: Private sector
• Estimated duration: 4 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNIDO-financed project in Zambia.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.