Information Management Officer

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Information Management Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In close coordination and consultation with the Senior Regional Information Management Officer and, as applicable, relevant units at Headquarters (e.g. FICSS, Bureau) the Information Management Officer will be responsible for designing and  implementing a country-specific Information Management strategy.

S/he will be responsible for broadly supporting the production and dissemination of information on the population of concern to the Country Office, including, but not limited to Protection and Programme information.

The Information Management Officer will liaise with sectoral leads to gather information for further analysis and dissemination and identify information gaps. Where information gaps exist, the Information Management Officer may help setting up primary data collection systems and organise needs assessments, which may also involve other stakeholders.

In the case of refugee operations, the Information Management Officer will coordinate information management activities relevant to all aspects of the operation and across organizations.

For IDP operations, the Information Management Officer will coordinate information management within and provide information management services to the UNHCR-led clusters and act as IM focal point for those clusters with OCHA.
2.2 FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- The Office has a clear and comprehensive Information Management strategy which guides all IM activities in the country.
- The Office has stepped up to its leadership role in providing quality Information Management services and delivers reliable, accessible and user-friendly, relevant, predictable, appropriate and timely delivery of information. 
- The Office has an excellent Information Management capacity and deliver IM services to all partners.
- Global data standards, and where appropriate, the establishment of country-specific common data standards are adopted by UNHCR and its partners.
- Where required, UNHCR is meeting its cluster information management obligations.

Responsibility

- Draft the country/operation-specific Information Management strategy and define operational and funding requirements for the implementation of the strategy. The strategy must include the internal mangement of information within UNHCR including document mangement, flows of information and discovery of data/information within UNHCR.
- Support the promotion of data and information sharing within the humanitarian community as well as the adoption of global data standards, and where appropriate, the establishment of country-specific common data standards. To this end, maintain data and information-sharing relationships within the humanitarian community and with relevant governmental bodies.
- Identify and obtain the needed data and information elements required to produce standardized information products and design and manage respective data/information collection plans for baseline and context-specific data. 
- Support the Office in the analysis of processed data and information and perform data quality and consistency control.
- Design and implement a structured dissemination plan for all information products and services as appropriate (e.g. web portal, mailing list, information centres, etc.) including the definition of standard operating procedures for clearing information products for release.
- Organize and convene a Refugee Information Management Working Group (RIMWG) with releveant operational partners for efficient coordination of Information Mangement activities. Evaluate and organize, if needed, thematic sub-groups in areas such as geographic information management.
- Provide Information Mangement services to support Monitoring activities within Sectors in a refugee emergency and to UNHCR led Clusters in IDP related emergencies;  in areas of information flows, desimination, processing, analysis, standard setting and desimination.
- Leverage Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for map production and geographic data mangement while promoting data standards and harmonized mangement of geographic data/information.
- Provide Information Mangement services to support population data mangement activities including population estimation, information flows from established systems, movement tracking, standard-setting/promotion and  desimination.
- Provide Information Management support to needs assessments for all sectors (in refugee situations) and provide Information Management support to needs assessments within UNHCR-led clusters while participating in joint/harmonized needs assessments with other partners/clusters.  Support operational leads in making methodological decisions about how to conduct needs assessments.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Authority

- Chair a Refugee Information Management Working Group (RIMWG) (for refugee situations) and represent UNHCR-led clusters on inter-cluster Information Management Working Groups (for IDP situations).
- Assist in the recruitment and training of  data collectors and data entry personnel, if requested.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Information Technology, Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences or any related area plus minimum 6 years of previous work experience of which at least 4 years combined field and/or headquarters experience in international organizations (e.g. UN agencies, INGOs, IOs, bi-lateral cooperation agencies, etc.). Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Knowledge of the UN system and the humanitarian community.
- Knowledge of protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators.
- Proven skills to analyze statistical information.
- Advanced Excel skills (e.g. pivot tables, functions, etc.).
- Ability to formulate IM-related technical requirements and Operating Procedures.
- Ability to translate planning-specifications into technical briefs for data capture and analysis, and vice versa.
- Ability to compile and holistically analyze diverse datasets.
- Experience with handling confidential data.
- Demonstrated information management skills.
- Demonstrated understanding of different data collection methodologies.
- Understanding of relational data theory.
- Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

***For National Officer positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Proficiency in other official UN languages.
- Successful participation in the Operational Data management Learning Programme.
- Experience in web design and software development is an asset.
- Experience with relevant software such as ArcGIS, Mapinfo, SPSS, EpiInfo6 , SQL Server, and/or progress.
- Experience with HTML, PHP, ASP and/or Java is an asset.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Information Management Officer positions. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
========================================================================================================
See below for this postion's Operational Context
========================================================================================================

For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. 

¿ Proficiency in written and verbal English is essential and Spanish is desirable. (which is the official language in Colombia). 
¿ Basic knowledge on international refugee protection, internal displacement, and mixed migration issues.
¿ Knowledge of UNHCR and interagency policies, standards, programmes and humanitarian operations.
¿ Demonstrated strong information management skills, including data analysis, data visualization, and production of information / advocacy materials.
¿ Experience in developing protection monitoring tools and profiling exercises.
¿ Demonstrated experience in humanitarian graphic design, analytical processes, technical data management and numerical literacy which translate into visually powerful products based on available qualitative and quantitative data.
¿ Demonstrated coordination skills, inter-personal skills, and team management skills.
¿ Experience in individual case management, proGres V3 / V4 highly desirable.
¿ Successful participation in the Operational Data Management Learning Programme.
¿ Experience with relevant software such as: ArcGIS, Mapinfo, SPSS, EpiInfo6, HTML, PHP, ASP, Java, Ms Access, SQL, progress) is highly desirable.
¿ Experience in managing statistics.
¿ Experience in emergency context is an asset. ¿ UNHCR Colombia, which traditionally was an IDP focused operation, is shifting to a mixed operation addressing new IDP situations despite the ongoing peace process, and increasing arrival of Venezuelans and Colombian returnees.
¿ UNHCR Colombia is one of the countries piloting the Multi-Year Multi-Partner Protection and Solutions Strategy. UNHCR Colombia¿s operational vision for the next three years (2018-2020) is that with the support of UNHCR, civil society, communities and other actors, the Colombian State ensures that people of concern to UNHCR live increasingly safe and secure lives in their communities and progressively attain durable solutions, including access to rights (economic and social integration and truth, reparation, and justice), applying a community-based protection and AGD sensitive approach.
¿ After 50 years of conflict, the Government of Colombia and the FARC reached a peace agreement and prepared a pathway to an end to the conflict which has resulted in more than 7 million IDPs representing 88% of the more than 8 million victims of the conflict (Government figures). ¿ It is under this operational context that the Colombian government, donor countries and the UN are working on a post-conflict agenda. This includes an increased emphasis on finding solutions for displaced populations within and outside Colombia. One of UNHCR¿s main challenges is to work with the government and UN (development) agencies on comprehensive solutions while maintaining a focus on and providing visibility of the impact of the continuous violence generated by illegal armed groups and ongoing forced displacement in various regions of the country.
¿ Colombia is becoming a country of transit and destination for asylum-seekers, refugees, and migrants, and persons at risk of statelessness. According to Colombia¿s Migration authorities, there were over 550,000 Venezuelans remaining in Colombia at the end of 2017. It is expected that the number of new arrivals will continue, including those in need of international protection. There are also increasing number of Colombian returnees, persons at risk of statelessness and mixed families among the outflows from Venezuela.
¿ The main protection risks facing the vulnerable Venezuelans include: lack of documentation, risk of refoulement, lack of access to health and education, SGBV, trafficking, forced recruitment, labor and sexual exploitation, discrimination and xenophobia. ¿ UNHCR supports the Government¿s efforts to enhance its asylum system and respond to the humanitarian and protection needs of Venezuelans. At national level, UNHCR co-leads (together with IOM) the Inter-Agency Border Group to coordinate humanitarian actors¿ support to the situation. There is no robust registration system in place to address the increasing number of Venezuelan arrivals, ensure effective individual case management, and referral pathways to service providers.
¿ UNHCR, together with IOM, supports the nation-wide government-led registration exercise started on 6 April 2018 through technical, material, and human resources contribution.
¿ UNHCR Colombia has a Branch Office in Bogota which oversees three Sub-Offices in Cucuta, Medellin, and Pasto. Each Sub-Office oversees two field offices: SO Cucuta oversees FO Arauca and FO Riohacha; SO Medellin oversees FO Quibdo and FO Apartado; SO Pasto oversees FO Buenaventura and FO Mocoa. ¿ Colombia is a large country (1,141,748 km2); its population rises to 47,000,000 citizens.
¿ Located 2,600 meters above the sea level, Bogot is the capital of the country, with almost 8,000,000 inhabitants.
¿ National and different international banks have offices in Bogota, and ATMs can be found all around the city.
¿ Temperatures in Bogota vary from 3°C to 23 °C.
¿ Very good health facilities can be found in Bogota and in other capital cities in the country.
¿ Bogota offers a huge amount of leisure and cultural activities; interesting museums, libraries, parks, cinemas, verygood restaurants.
¿ A number of international schools are located in Bogota. ¿ The Colombian Military Forces have gained control of urban areas and main connection routes, improving general security conditions through the country and forcing illegal armed groups inland> However, armed confrontations continue in some areas, particularly in border areas.
¿ Safety and security issues continue to be a concern. Though the situation improved significantly in recent years, common crime and isolated attacks by illegal armed groups continue to affect important cities.
¿ Staff must ensure to count with functioning communication means with the UN Security and keep abreast of the security situation in the capital or any travel inland through the normal channels of communication.
¿ All official missions are to be conducted with full compliance to MOSS requirements, considering destination, transportation selected and activities carried out.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).