Data Governance Specialist

Agency: UNDP | Reference: UNDP-PHL-00909-2 | Type: Call for individual consultants Description of the Assignment:Public procurement in the Philippines accounts for about 13-20 percent of the national GDP (World Bank, 2023), underscoring the critical importance of managing these public funds effectively to deliver genuine improvements in the lives of Filipinos. However, inefficiencies and corruption— estimated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to result in the loss of up to 20 percent of procurement budgets—continue to undermine its potential impact (OECD, 2016). The ratification of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) seeks to modernize the system and strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public spending. The Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), through Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), and collaborations with civil society and international partners, has advanced open data initiatives and citizen engagement in procurement processes. Along with this vision, persistent challenges in data quality, governance, and stakeholder participation remain, emphasizing the need for sustained reforms to achieve a more transparent and effective procurement ecosystem.Building on this context, strengthening data governance has become a critical priority for improving procurement oversight and enabling data-driven decision-making. Despite ongoing efforts to digitize procurement processes, PS-DBM continues to face challenges related to data standardization, data quality, interoperability, and clarity of data ownership. These issues hinder the government’s ability to monitor procurement performance, detect irregularities, and generate actionable insights that support transparency and accountability.The NGPA’s reforms further highlight the need for a solid data governance environment—one that ensures procurement data is accurate, complete, secure, and responsibly managed. Establishing clear policies, standards, roles, and accountability mechanisms is essential to ensuring data integrity and compliance with national regulations, including the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and DICT guidelines.To address these gaps and strengthen the foundations in enhancing the integrity, consistency, and usability of procurement data, a Data Governance Specialist will be on-boarded to lead the formulation and operationalization of a comprehensive Data Governance Plan for PS-DBM. This plan will establish clear policies, standards, and accountability mechanisms for managing data assets across the organization. The Data Governance Specialist will also mentor PS-DBM staff to assume key data stewardship and governance roles, ensuring that institutional capacity is built for sustainable data management. Through structured learning sessions and hands-on guidance, PSDBM will be equipped to maintain an effective data governance framework that supports data-driven decision-making, transparency, and long-term digital transformation.Objectives1.Strengthen PS-DBMs overall capacity to manage procurement data responsibly andeffectivelyEstablish the foundational systems, structures, and practices needed for PS-DBM to governits procurement data consistently, securely, and in compliance with national standards andemerging NGPA requirements.2.Provide an evidence-based understanding of PS-DBMs current data governance environmentGenerate a holistic view of the agency’s existing data assets, management practices, andgovernance challenges to guide strategic planning and reform.3.Develop a practical and institutionally appropriate Data Governance Plan for PS-DBMProduce a comprehensive plan that outlines policies, standards, governance structures, andmechanisms needed to institutionalize good data management and stewardship across theorganization.4.Build institutional ownership and readiness for long-term data governanceimplementation.Support PS-DBM leadership and teams in understanding their roles, strengtheningstewardship functions, and preparing the organization to implement and sustain governancereforms.5.Enable PS-DBM to adopt and sustain data governance through targeted capacitybuilding and technical guidanceProvide structured learning, advisory support, and mentorship to ensure that the DataGovernance Plan is not only developed but also supported by the skills, tools, and processesneeded for successful implementation.***Please see Terms of Reference attached to this negotiationPeriod of assignment/services(if applicable):  135 working daysRequirements:EducationAt least with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, InformationTechnology, Data Science, Statistics, Economics, BusinessAdministration, or a related field. Relevant certifications (DAMA CDMP,ISO data governance, data management, cybersecurity, privacy, etc.)ExperienceAt least 8 years of experience in Data Governance, Data Management, ora related field. Proven experience in developing and implementing DataGovernance frameworks and policies. CONTACT: • Email: procurement.ph@undp.org