Background Pakistan has become the epicentre of climate change, ranking among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to natural disasters, including floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF), droughts, and others. These climate-induced disasters in Pakistan have caused fatalities, loss of livelihood and livestock, and damaged and destroyed public and private infrastructure across the country, often with significant humanitarian consequences that require adequate emergency response preparedness.
Most recently, in 2022 major floods affected around 33 million people and left 20.6 million in need of lifesaving assistance, half of whom were children. In total, 7.9 million people were displaced, while at least 664,000 individuals were placed into relief camps and informal sites. OCHA has been scaling up its operations in Pakistan focusing on its key functions of coordination, information management, resource mobilization and advocacy.
OCHA has been scaling up its operations and produces several information products and services including data collection and coordination, infographics, dashboard and other products which inform the humanitarian community in their response to the humanitarian situation in the country. To respond to the organization, need, OCHA is seeking an Information Management Officer to assist in the production and delivery of Information Management products and services. She/He will be part of the Information Management Unit and reporting to the Head of the Information Management Unit. The National Information Management Officer (NOA) works in close collaboration with the OCHA coordination staff and other UN agencies staff to ensure consistent service delivery.
Under the supervision of the Head of the Information Management Unit, the National Information Management Officer (NOA) will be expected to support the implementation and maintenance of OCHA’s global Information Management Strategy and the following functions:
Summary of Key Functions
- General IM and IM coordination and communication activities
- Data analysis & data management functions
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and mapping skills
- Graphic design and visualization skills
- Content and web management skills
Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall guidance of the Head of the Information Management Information unit, the incumbent is expected to play a critical supportive role in ensuring the primary objectives of OCHA Pakistan are met. This can be done by contributing to the following functions:
Directly involving Information Management (IM) and IM coordination activities of OCHA Pakistan by using various and effective communication channels. Main responsibilities under this function are:
- Support with data coordination, especially as it relates to sectors (e.g. Who does What Where and When (5W) data, and assessment data).
- Develop strong links with other IM staff in the humanitarian community to promote coordination and information-sharing between organizations.
- Participate in coordination meetings to identify information needs and provide technical support.
- Maintain contact and distribution lists.
- Liaison with counterparts in standardizing, updating and developing robust information management systems through analyzing most appropriate common operational datasets and fundamental operational data sets required for various themes.
- Establish and maintain an information management network that facilitates collection of information that builds good humanitarian situation awareness in Pakistan.
- Support the collection of field information to monitor and improve ongoing response, coordination activities, and information products.
- Facilitate Information Management and Mapping related trainings for humanitarian community, local authorities and OCHA staff based on needs and requirements.
- Incorporate common standards such as P-codes and other standards into datasets and products and insure that common operational coding standards are disseminated and used across cluster/sectors/taskforces for data collection and reporting.
Implementation of data management and data analysis activities to improve situational awareness and support evidence-based planning and operations for OCHA Pakistan. Main responsibilities under this function are:
- Design, develop and manage databases, spreadsheets, and other data sources.
- Process and analyze data to support operational analysis and decision-making.
- Support the design, development, management, and improvement of data management systems including database and spreadsheets, along with a related process for data collection, cleaning, and verification.
- Collects, compiles, analyses, and reports various primary and secondary data from multiple sources and organizes the essential record keeping and archival.
Developing maps and other spatial products for OCHA Pakistan (including online maps) by using geographical information systems (GIS) and other tools to analyze and present spatial data. Main responsibilities under this function are:
- Assist with the maintenance of spatial baseline and operational datasets in accordance with relevant standards and guidance.
- Provide GIS support to the office in general and assist in the development of appropriate maps and infographic products to support humanitarian decision-making and reflect humanitarian response.
Develop advanced products and documents for OCHA Pakistan that take complex data presenting in a format that's easy to understand and tailored for a specific audience. Main responsibilities under this function are:
- Support in designing and producing agency standard information products through systematic collection and analysis of humanitarian information related to the country and region.
- Support the advocacy, communication and reporting functions of OCHA Pakistan through the collection, processing, storage and retrieval of documents, including images, of emergencies and vulnerability, as well as relief operations, developing high quality and advanced IM products.
Organizing the corporate web tools (including ReliefWeb Response, Humanitarian Data Exchange) response to make the information, data and products of OCHA Pakistan easy to find and use. When needed, create dashboards and other Business Intelligence (BI) tools to present data in ready-to-use forms. The main responsibilities under this function are:
- Initiating innovative activities like online GIS, web-based database systems for supporting Humanitarian actors on various information management themes.
- Support in developing thematic dashboards according to needs of the response and other units/field offices
- Contribute to the maintenance of the content at ReliefWeb Response – Pakistan page and ensure all the materials are up-to-date and relevant to the flood response.
The key results have an impact on the overall coordination of humanitarian and emergency assistance. The root causes of the humanitarian/emergencies are appreciated, ensuring that strong and effective responses are mounted. This facilitates operational agencies in succeeding in their core objectives, building strong partnerships with relevant parties, and the achievement of OCHA’s objectives.
Competencies Core Competencies: - Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)
- UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Results-Based Programme Development and Management - Contributes into results through primary research and analysis:
- Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
- Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
Building Strategic Partnerships - Maintaining a network of contacts:
- Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
- Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches - Enhancing processes or products:
- Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
- Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
Resource Mobilization - Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategy:
- Collects, researches and analyzes information on resource mobilization and utilization, drafts reports and documents and maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors and donor-funded projects
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing - Basic research and analysis:
- Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
- Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
Global Leadership and Advocacy for OCHA’s Goals - Preparing information for global advocacy:
- Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for OCHA’s goals for a variety of audiences
- Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of OCHA’s priorities and to support advocacy efforts
Required Skills and Experience Education:
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in information management, information systems, web management, data management, geographic information systems and mapping, data visualization, or other related areas, is required.
- Bachelor’s degree in information management, information systems, data science, statistics, GIS, or related field with two (2) years of relevant experience is required.
Experience:
- Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in information management, information systems, web management, data management, geographic information systems and mapping, data visualization, or other related areas, are not required to have professional work experience.
- Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in information management, information systems, web management, data management, geographic information systems and mapping, data visualization, or other related areas, are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience with UN, development sector organizations or related institutions.
- Experience managing information in disaster response or complex emergencies is desirable
- Relevant experience within the UN system or an international organization is desirable
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and experience in handling web-based management systems is required.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Microsoft Excel
- Knowledge of current GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS) is desirable
- Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator is desirable
- Knowledge of database development is desirable
- Knowledge of Power BI is desirable
Language:
- Fluency in English language is required.
- Fluency in Urdu language is required.
Disclaimer Applicant information about UNOCHA rosters
Note: UNOCHA 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 UNOCHA at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNOCHA has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNOCHA is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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