Consultancy: Information Management on Humanitarian Performance Monitoring

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Hope

UNICEF Iraq is currently in its first year of implementation of the 2020 – 2024 Country Programme of Cooperation with the Government of Iraq, which is aligned with, and integrated in the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2020 – 2024. Although between 2012 and 2020 UNICEF Iraq has received a considerable amount of funds, during the past 4 years the office has experienced a drastic decrease in funding. An overwhelming majority of funds comes from public sector donors, while only a small percentage comes from private sector donors. Furthermore, one of the current challenges faced by UNICEF in Iraq is the short term, emergency nature of most funding envelopes, leaving a remarkable gap in terms of development funding, whose aim is to invest in activities fostering sustainable services and a resilient population.

Iraq is still in the process of recovering from the calamity caused by ISIL and is now faced with the new challenge of responding to a fresh emergency caused by the global pandemic COVID -19. As a cluster Lead Agency for Education, Child Protection and WASH, UNICEF is committed to provide leadership in coordination of humanitarian action. Information Management is considered as a critical part of sector/ cluster coordination and collective strategic decision making.

The Information Management Officer will be in charge of the Humanitarian Performance Monitoring (HPM) portfolio with the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation section, under the direct supervision of the chief of section. The purpose of this post is to manage the collection, analysis and sharing of information that is important for the CO Humanitarian response, including the Internal Displaced People (IDP), the Syrian Refugees, and the COVID-19 response to make informed (evidence based) strategic decisions in the changing landscape in the “nexus” between humanitarian and development.

Goal / Objective:

The purpose of this consultant is to manage the collection, analysis and sharing of information that is important for the education cluster and cluster members.

Specific Tasks:

Data collection and management: Technical support provided to Country and field Offices on data management for Humanitarian Performance Monitoring (HPM). Support the creation of data collection tools, databases and analysis products of UNICEF’s humanitarian response for Level 3 / Level 2 Emergencies, and emergency programs (Internal Displaced People, Syrian refugees, and COVID 19).

• Provide technical support to streamline the data/information flows and to develop/improve/automate tools for data collection, analysis and visualization;
• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of humanitarian performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, with inputs of all concerned partners in the context of the multi-year and annual Response and Work Plans;
• Design and support the development of humanitarian databases for monitoring the situation and response, at Country Office and Field Office levels for L3 emergencies and other emergencies as needed;
• Support Country Office to adequately streamline well-designed monitoring systems into the partnership agreements to feed into to programme performance monitoring;
• Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key program performance and management indicators, provide professional input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports;
• Develop visual information products (dashboards, infographics, and factsheets) to support programme planning, monitoring and decision making;
• Monitor and ensure the quality of data management during the implementation phase, and the quality of the analysis and ease of understanding during the report writing phase.

Mapping and reporting: Provide technical assistance to field offices to develop and strengthen geographic information management tools to support the humanitarian decision-making and improve the visibility of UNICEF emergency responses:

• Support COs to strengthen Information Management Systems to collect key humanitarian geographical information for UNICEF-supported activities, and activities of partners, so that coverage can be accurately mapped;
• Support CO key staff to understand mapping systems, and how to systematically integrate geographical data collection / mapping systems establishment in partner agreements both with NGOs and government partners.

Technology-based innovation initiatives: Identify ongoing or potential technology-based innovation opportunities or initiatives at Country Office level; encourage use of innovative solutions at Country Office level including Mobile Data Collection and SMS-based systems and liaise with the Global Innovation Unit to coordinate timely deployments and remote support from UNICEF innovation colleagues to priority Country Office

• Provide technical guidance for rolling out and using technology-based innovations for data collection in emergency settings;
• Liaise with the Global innovation Unit for getting regular updates on ongoing technology-based projects and coordinated deployments / remote support from Innovation colleagues to support Country Office Innovation initiatives;
• Raise awareness about innovative solutions portfolio and promote innovation principles and standards.

Coordination and Networking:

• Work closely with clusters/sectors and Information Management Cluster to strengthen partnership and agree on common standards and workflow with field Office
• Act as focal point for UNICEF’s Emergency Section in technical forums and work closely with PM&E section on data analysis technics and quality assurance.

Duration of Contract

The consultancy duration is expected from 1 March 2021 to 31 August 2021.

Working Conditions

1. Location: The consultant is expected to work remotely.
2. Logistic Requirements: IT equipment (laptop, monitor screen, mouse) UNICEF wifi and intranet access, office space, mobile phone and credit

Contract Supervision

The consultancy will be supervised by the Chief of PME, the deliverables will be monitored twice a week via section meetings.

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to submit the following:

1. Excel matrix of achievements of IDP response, Refugee Response and COVID 19 response
2. Online dashboard for IDP and refugee response and COVID 19 response when required
3. Draft narrative SitRep for IDP and refugee response and COVID 19 response, in collaboration with the Report specialist and the emergency team
4. Excel matrix of achievements of IDP response, Refugee Response and COVID 19 response
5. Online dashboard for IDP and refugee response and COVID 19 response when required
6. PME team trained on the new HPM tools and guidance
7. Excel matrix of achievements of IDP response, Refugee Response and COVID 19 response
8. Online dashboard for IDP and refugee response and COVID 19 response when required
9. Humanitarian Data platform is developed
10. Excel matrix of achievements of IDP response, Refugee Response and COVID 19 response
11. Online dashboard for IDP and refugee response and COVID 19 response when required3W/4W/5W for COVID 19 response
12. Humanitarian Data platform is updated as required
13. Excel matrix of achievements of IDP response, Refugee Response and COVID 19 response
14. Online dashboard for IDP and refugee response and COVID 19 response when required3W/4W/5W for COVID 19 response
15. Draft narrative SitRep for IDP and refugee response and COVID 19 response, in collaboration with the Report specialist and the emergency team
16. Final consultancy report developed

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

The consultant is expected to meet the following requirements in terms of qualifications and experience:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in information management, geographic information systems, Social Sciences or related field.
• *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in information management, information systems, monitoring/evaluation, disaster management and preparedness or other related area.
• Experience working in information management or humanitarian performance monitoring in complex emergency settings.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Prior UNICEF / UN system / Cluster field experience is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of any another official UN language (Arabic) or a local language is an asset.

Contractual Terms and Conditions

• Candidates should submit a financial proposal for the assignment, outlining all-inclusive fees per deliverable (based on the number of days worked and daily rate charged).
• Travel expenses to the duty station and within the country, if required, will be paid in accordance with UNICEF polices/rules and regulations for individual consultancy assignment.
• Under consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21.75 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly for actual days worked.
• The consultant is not entitled to payment for overtime, weekends or public holidays, medical insurance, taxes, and any form of leave.
• The Consultant must not publish or disseminate reports, data collection tools, collected data or any other documents produced from this consultancy without the permission of and acknowledgment of UNICEF Iraq.
• The selected candidate will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above.

Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at https://www.unicef.org/careers/get-prepared

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.