Head of PARIS21 Secretariat

THE OECD – Who we are, what we do

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, whose mission is to build better policies for better lives. We promote policies that will improve the economic and social well‑being of people around the world. Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work to establish evidence‑based international standards, and finding solutions to a broad range of social, economic and environmental challenges, from the improvement of economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion. We provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best‑practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard‑setting.

Company Description

THE OECD – Who we are, what we do The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, whose mission is to build better policies for better lives. We promote policies that will improve the economic and social well‑being of people around the world. Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work to establish evidence‑based international standards, and finding solutions to a broad range of social, economic and environmental challenges, from the improvement of economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion. We provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best‑practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard‑setting.

PARTNERSHIP IN STATISTICS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY (PARIS21)

The Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21), a hosted entity within the Statistics and Data Directorate of OECD, is a global partnership that promotes the better use and production of statistics to support sustainable development. With a Secretariat of about 20 staff, PARIS21 supports low‑and lower middle‑income countries in strengthening their national statistical systems and enhancing data ecosystems to enable evidence‑based decision‑making.

THE POSITION

The Executive Head of PARIS21 will provide strategic leadership to the PARIS21 Secretariat and ensure the effective design and implementation of its Programme of Work, under the oversight of the PARIS21 Board and its Executive Committee. The incumbent will report to the Director of the Statistics and Data Directorate (SDD) and contribute to advancing the Organisation’s strategic priorities, including the OECD’s global development agenda.

The role requires strong leadership, excellent diplomatic and representational capacities, and deep expertise in development policy and statistical capacity development. The Executive head will position PARIS21 at the forefront of international thinking and practical implementation on data for development, artificial intelligence and data readiness, data use and financing, and strategic planning for statistics. The incumbent will cultivate and maintain high‑level partnerships across the global data ecosystem including with national statistical systems, international organisations, donors, and civil society. Securing funding from both traditional and emerging international development donors will be an important part of the role. He/she will also ensure the efficient management of the Secretariat, foster a collaborative and high‑performing team culture, and represent PARIS21 in international fora, high level engagements, and strategic dialogues.

The position is based in Paris and entails frequent international travel.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic direction to the Partnership to enable the achievement of its objectives.
• Ensure the effective delivery of advocacy messages and promote the culture of evidence‑based policy‑making and decision‑making.
• Engage with key stakeholders involved in statistical capacity development at the country level and in international processes.
• Drive innovation in statistical capacity development, including modernisation of national statistical systems and strengthening of country‑led data ecosystems.
• Strengthen strategic planning for statistics,including the design and implementation of National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), and support efforts to enhance national statistical capacity development, data use and impact.
• Support and facilitate the development of global, regional and national networks to achieve PARIS21 objectives and engage with emerging statistical development initiatives.

Representation, Partnerships and Advocacy

• Represent PARIS21 within the OEC