Sen Reg Inf Mgt 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.

Senior Regional Information Management Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In close coordination and consultation with Headquarters (FICSS, Bureau) the Senior Regional Information Management Officer will assist country-based Information Management Officers in the region in defining and implementing an Information Management strategy and ensure coherence among IM approaches and products in the region.
The incumbent will be supervised by the Regional Representative  while functional supervision will be exercised by Field Information and Coordination Support Section (FICSS), Geneva.
For those Offices in the region which do not have any IM capacity, s/he will assist in defining and implementing an Information Management strategy and help develop  IM capacity through training and coaching.
S/he will ensure that IM requirements in countries covered by the region will be adequately addressed, including data collection, storage, analysis, dissemination tools and procedures.
This will imply frequent missions to countries in the region, at times also for longer periods of time in cases of operations where IM capacity does not (yet) exist, or in emergencies to reinforce the country-based IM capacity.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- All Country Offices covered by the Senior Regional Information Management have a clear and comprehensive Information Management strategy and monitoring plan which are coherent at the regional level and in line with UNHCR's global IM strategy.
- All Country Offices have enhanced their leadership role in providing quality Information Management services and deliver reliable, accessible and user-friendly, relevant, predictable, appropriate and timely delivery of information.
- All Country Offices have excellent Information Management capacity and deliver IM services to their partners.
- Global data standards, and where appropriate, the establishment of country-specific common data standards are adopted by UNHCR and its partners in each of the countries covered by the post. At the regional level, data and information produced is coherent.
- UNHCR is meeting its cluster obligations in Information Management service provision at the country and regional levels where required.

Responsibility

- Prepare and maintain a regional IM strategy, in consultation with the country offices concerned. The strategy must include the internal mangement of information within UNHCR including; document mangement, flows of information and discovery of data/information within UNHCR.
- Analyze regional data, identify and address IM gaps, and facilitate information sharing between countries in the region, including through the regional web portal.
- Set standards for operational, geographical and population data to be used throughout the region, maintain and distribute standards to IM officers and others working with operational data in the region, including partners.
- Coordinate interagency information management activities at the regional level and facilitate the creation of interagency relationships and opportunities for cooperation at the country-level within the region. If appropriate, organize and convene a Refugee Information Management Working Group (RIMWG) and thematic sub-groups in areas such as geographic information management.
- Coordinate country-based information to ensure consistency and coherence across countries in the region, including assisting country-based information management staff in identifying, collecting and providing relevant data to the Regional office, to national partners, and relevant information management products including the Web Portal.
- Work closely with the Senior Regional Registration Officer to ensure consistency and inter-operability between registration data and other operational data sets, and consistency between regional registration and information management strategies, as well as on population statistical reporting.
- Identify new information and data requirements to support operations and partners in the region, and support country offices in gathering and sharing this information and data. 
- Ensure that the information on the Web Portal serves the needs of UNHCR and the interagency humanitarian community, including those of partners as well as donors.
- Maintain the regional 'chapeau' components of the regional web portal including recommending content and format of landing page.
- Provide information management training to UNHCR and partner staff as needed.
- Assist in the implementation of data systems and information products across countries within the region, including the common operational datasets and fundamental operational datasets.
- Provide emergency response information management support to country operations within the region.
- Work with regional and country based reporting and public information officers in preparation of internal and external updates.
- Analyze regional data, identify and address IM gaps and facilitate information sharing between countries within the region, including supporting the maintenance of any regional operational web portals.
- Assist in the implementation of standardized information management policies, data systems and information products across countries within the region, including the common operational datasets and fundamental operational datasets.
- 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.
- Provide Information Management 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, dissemination, processing, analysis, standard setting and dissemination.
- Leverage Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for map production and geographic data management while promoting data standards and harmonized management of geographic data/information.
- Provide Information Management services to support population data management activities including population estimation, information flows from established systems, movement tracking, standard-setting/promotion and dissemination.
- Perform other related duties as required
Authority
- Prepare and implement regional information management  strategy, to be approved by Representative and/or Regional Refugee Coordinator.
- Prepare structure and content for regional and country pages on the web portal for endorsement by FICSS and approval by the Representative or Regional Refugee Coordinator.
- Exercise functional and technical supervision of Information Management Officers based in the region.
- Chair Regional Information Management coordination for organizations involved in refugee humanitarian response.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Graduate (Equivalent of Master's) degree in information technology, demography, statistics, social sciences or any related area plus minimum 8 years of previous work experience relevant to the function including at least 5 years of combined field and/or headquarters experience in international organizations (e.g. UN agencies, INGOs, IOs, bi-lateral cooperation agencies, etc.), gradually assuming more responsibility. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Knowledge of the UN system and the international humanitarian community.
- Knowledge of protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators.
- 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.
- Demonstrated ability for leadership in the context of partnership building and consensual decision-making.
- 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.


DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Successful participation in the Operational Data Management Learning Programme is desirable.
- Experience in web design and software development and programming is an asset.
- Experience with relevant software such as ArcGIS, Mapinfo, SPSS, EpiInfo6 , SQL Server, and/or proGres.
- 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 Senior Regional 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
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust 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>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country 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). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

 

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

 

The armed conflict between the MNLA and the Malian army has caused within the country and the neighboring countries considerable displacement of persons of concern to UNHCR. Sharing detailed information on caseload in UNHCR sites and out will be instrumental, especially with donors, in terms of fundraising, at a moment where it is becoming extremely difficult to find financial resources.
The Senior Regional Information Management Officer will cover the 15 ECOWAS countries Benin, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Cote d¿Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger.
The Senior Regional Information Management Officer provides support and guidance on defining and implementing an Information Management strategy in the Region concerning refugees and IDPs.
The incumbent of the position should be able to manage a large team. Thus, sound managerial and performance management skills are essential for this function.
In addition to oversight, guidance and coaching, the Senior Regional Information Management Officer, may organize training for UNHCR and non- UNHCR recipients and information meetings, conferences to capacitate and/or implement RRWA activities. West Africa has experienced successive conflicts over the past decades, with a recent rise in terrorist activities and attacks which have a serious impact on the stability and security of the region. UNHCR continues to respond to the humanitarian crises in the Lake Chad Basin and Mali, which have also caused the displacement of a huge number of IDPs. At the same time, there are several long standing refugee situations with which the Regional Representation continues to deal, seeking long-lasting solutions search as naturalization or long term residency.  UNHCR estimates that there are around 1 million stateless persons in West Africa, and many more at risk of statelessness. Estimates easily reach 60 million individuals as people in the region are grossly undocumented.


Since September 1 2017, the Regional Representation for West Africa (RRWA) covers all the 15 ECOWAS Member States. In addition the Regional Representative is the Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Nigeria Situation.  Mixed Migration is also a new domain that the Regional Office has been dealing with since the second part of 2017.


UNHCR has more than 1000 staff in the 15 countries under the Regional Office. In Dakar alone there are more than 100 staff, made up of generalists and experts in their domains, namely, protection, programme, admin, finance, statelessness, registration, public health, environment, livelihoods, CBI and project control. While the asylum practice in the West Africa are rather generous, it is self-evident that the operational and political environments in the region present unique challenges (in terms of security, governance  and socio-economic outlooks) to the UN in general, and UNHCR in particular.  The Region houses a variety of political and UN coordination mechanisms that demand a significant amount of time to ensure that UNHCR remains relevant and exercises its partnerships relationships. Notable among these structures are United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, headed by an SRSG, the Regional UNDG, and Regional offices for WFP, UNICEF, OCHA, UNWOMEN, FAO, etc. Donors also have regional platforms in West Africa. In the Lake Chad Basin, the Boko Haram insurgency in North East Nigeria that spread into Cameroon, Chad and Niger has caused the displacement of over 2.5 million people, composed of 2.35 million IDPs, (of whom 1.9 million are inside Nigeria) and around 205,000 Nigerian refugees.  Despite important military advances in 2016, ongoing threats from Boko Haram in all affected countries as well as the absence of basic services continue to pose acute humanitarian and protection risks for those impacted by the crisis.

With regards to the Mali situation, a total of 144,206 Malian refugees are hosted in neighbouring Niger (60,154), Mauritania (50,966) and Burkina Faso (33,056); and 58,985 persons are internally displaced within Mali. As the crisis enters its sixth year since the outbreak of the conflict in northern Mali in late 2011, a resolution is not yet in sight. The security situation has deteriorated over the past two years, spreading also to Mali¿s central region. New displacement continues as well as refugee and IDP returns, and conditions remain unfavourable for a large scale repatriation of Malian refugees in security and dignity. As the incumbent is supposed to work closely with high level partners and implementing partners, as well as Governments Officials in West Africa, proven advocacy and analytical ability as well as political, diplomatic and cultural sensitivity are key competencies for this position.
The incumbent of this position is supposed to travel in the countries affected by the Mali crisis and in West Africa very often to support operations and be on the front line for any upraising refugee and IDP situation. He most be comfortable in discussing complex matters with stakeholders in both French and English and be ready to adapt to high level as well as hardship field mission.

Proficiency in graphic design is highly desirable
- Professionalism ¿ Conscientiousness and efficiency in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Persistence and creativity when faced with problems or challenges and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. Establishes priorities, plan, monitor and report on his/her own work plan, managing multiple, simultaneous and urgent requests. Exercises good judgment in the context of assignments given.
- Communication ¿Strong communication skills (spoken and written), including the ability to visualise clearly complex information, concisely and in ways appropriate for a given audience.
- Teamwork ¿ Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- Proficient in French and English.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).