Information Management Officer - NPSA8

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While in a crisis, life-saving relief is undeniably the most important priority. However, affected populations simultaneously start looking for ways to rebuild their lives. Support to stabilization of the situation in the first instance can reduce further setbacks for the affected population and pave the way towards an eventual recovery. This requires of all actors that they focus not only on saving lives but also on stemming further loss of livelihoods and security that are fundamental to the survival of the affected population, even during humanitarian operations. From the outset, it is also vital to support, sustain, and begin to rebuild the essential capacities, at all levels, that are necessary to manage the situation in the longer term.

As a response to the deteriorating situation of the internally displaced persons, host communities and other affected population, the United Nations Agencies in Syria rolled out the thematic sector coordination to ensure a coherent and adequate humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. UNDP takes the lead on coordinating the Early Recovery and Livelihoods (ERL); sector It facilitates coherent policy dialogue on Early Recovery and Livelihoods compiles data and information to be fed into response and resource mobilization plans, and periodic humanitarian reports, bulletins, and dashboards updates. The ERL sector working group is also responsible for developing/ updating and reporting on the ERL chapter of the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP).

The Information Management Officer (IMO) plays a vital role in collecting, analyzing, and presenting information that is important for the sector members and other stakeholders to make informed and evidence-based strategic decisions on early recovery and livelihoods emergency response and preparedness.

• Respond to ERL sector needs for information and develop relevant data bases as per the sector objectives, plans and activities. And provide IM services for the ERL Sector including data collection, collation, analysis, and information dissemination.

• Develop, maintain, and constantly update (on monthly and ad-hoc basis) the information management data bases and products to ensure all are up to date. In particular: 1. the ERL contact directory and mailing list and 2. The ERL 4Ws (Who does What Where and When) database and derivative products, such as charts and maps; tracking the ERL emergency response and the consequent mapping of early recovery and livelihoods resources, needs and gaps.

• Management of all IM-related processes involving the sector, including HPC cycle, SHF allocations, information sharing with other sectors, and other as required

• Support the estimation and identification of spatial and temporal needs, gaps, overlaps and coverage of Sector activities and projects, and analyze the data collected to identify and address gaps, bottlenecks, duplications, and cross-cutting issues to support the sector with the design, update and adjustment of the ERL cross-border response.

• Proactively gather information from other sectors and organizations/partners which may be of use to the ERL sector for informing decisions, including movement of population, shelter locations and road networks.

• Proactively liaise with ERL’s Sector members also at field level including (UNDP area managers and ERL sector associates) to collect relevant ERL information about target areas and highlight the ERL Sector operations in IM products through maps and charts.

• Maintain and update the ERL interactive dashboard; ensure sector members, partners, international and national NGOs feed relevant information on a regular basis.

• Assist in the design of ERL data collection forms, ensuring that the purpose and use of all data collected is clear, questions are simple, collectable and easily entered into database and accordingly analyzed; organize and manage the data input and initial analysis and presentation of data for ERL sector.

• Maintain an inventory of relevant common Cluster/Sector data sets, including population data disaggregated by age and sex, geographical information, and other relevant data.

• Support the ERL sector in the maintenance and management of the financial data requirements, contributions, and shortfalls according to the ERL sector plan.

• Technically assist in ERL trainings and assessments and other activities as part of the overall ERL sector preparedness and response measures.

• Support the coordination of the ERL meetings and IM relevant trainings in Damascus and at the field level as appropriate. Ensure minutes and other relevant documents are circulated in a timely fashion.

• Provide information management support to UNDP programming activities to contribute enhancing the agency’s leading role of the ERL sector’s operation

• Work closely with the UNDP IM office to establish and maintain robust internal information sharing mechanisms in support of the work of the WoS ERL sector

• Any other task requested by the supervisor.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN System
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

In addition, the incumbent needs to be willing to:

• Work as a part of a team and be flexible in terms of responding to a variety of demands from management and donors.
• Work under pressure and ability to meet deadlines.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Shares knowledge and experience.
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
• Makes valuable practice contributions.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded, and reported
• Ability to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work
• Ability to provide input to business processes, implementation of new systems
• High analytical and synthetic skills

Leadership and Self-Management:

• Focuses on result for the beneficiary and responds positively to feedback.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
•  Embraces extra responsibility.
•  Contributes to team morale and consensus.
•  Excellent communication skills: writes and speaks clearly and convincingly
•  Have good presentation skills.
• Substantive and interpersonal networking capacity.

Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of Excel and preferably MS Access or other databases.
• Ability to present information in understandable tables charts and graphs.
• Ability to maintain and manage website content for the sector
• Data storage and file management expertise.
• Assessment, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation expertise.
• Communications and technical writing using both graphic and narrative presentations.
• Information Technology and networking skills.
• Experience in web design and programming.
• Knowledge of ArcGIS or other mapping software an advantage.
• Knowledge of Visual Basic/macros a plus.
• Demonstrated and proven experience in the design and successful implementation of new processes and systems is desirable.
• Demonstrated and proven experience in the application of standards to the development and use of information management systems is desirable.
• Experience working within the UN system is desirable, preferably in an operational UN Agency or with OCHA.
• Experience in the application of information management/analysis in humanitarian response and recovery operations (complex emergencies and/or natural disasters) is desirable.

Min. Academic Education:

• A master’s degree in business administration, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Information Management, Statistics, Social Sciences, or a related area.
• Or, Bachelor degree with 2 years of working experience.

Min. years of relevant Work experience:

• 1 year of practical experience in information management and data base development or a related field; experience both at the national level and international level in large organizations with dispersed operations and/or in the public and private sector preferred (Two years’ experience if candidate holds Bachelor’s degree or equivalent).

Required Language(s) (at working level):

• Excellent command of Arabic and English is mandatory.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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