Data scientist-GIS expert

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

UNOCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat and has offices at country, regional, and headquarters level. ROWCA is a regional office based in Dakar, Senegal since November 2003 and covers 24 countries: the 15 ECOWAS member states and Mauritania, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Republic of Congo, DRC, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe.

More information on UNOCHA ROWCA can be found at www.unocha.org/ROWCA.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) through its Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROWCA) promotes early warning and emergency response preparedness and works towards strengthening national capacities in the region and that of members of the international humanitarian community to respond to disasters quickly and in a coordinated fashion. ROWCA covers a region highly susceptible to natural and man-made disasters. In the past, flash floods, civil conflicts, and drought have often overwhelmed the affected Governments, paving the way for the international community to assist. Climate change, global food and energy price spikes, and national and ethnic tensions are additional risks that affect vulnerable communities.

The main goal of ROWCA’s strategy is to promote a more enabling environment for humanitarian action in West and Central Africa and a more effective coordination system through public information, partnerships, donor and media outreach. ROWCA improves levels of preparedness through early warning and contingency planning, ensuring the inclusion of all relevant key partners. ROWCA makes sure that Governments, civil society (including volunteers and/or volunteer organizations) and international actors are well prepared, so that in the face of slow- or sudden-onset emergencies, the entire humanitarian community joins efforts to assist affected populations. In slow- or sudden-onset disasters or crises, ROWCA provides specialized support to country offices and partners within its areas of expertise, including surge teams, emergency response coordination, information management, advocacy and resource mobilization.

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Head of the Information Management Unit or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Information Management Officer will:

• Participate in the collection and processing of data of humanitarian interest and their integration into the geo-spatial databases of the coverage area of the OCHA Regional Office (West and Central Africa) • Provide guidance, Support and implementation of new developments on Artificial Intelligence tools to be piloted in Humanitarian settings • Participate in the daily routines of the Geographics information system (GIS) Team and provide support to maps , databased and layer production and updates. A strong knowledge of GIS and ESRI Suite is needed . R mapping component is very much desirable. • Support the technical programing development and maintenance of an integrated Regional Humanitarian Database complementing other team members tasks • Prepare thematic maps as well as reference maps of the countries covered by the regional office. Compile and make available to partners through the interagency website the humanitarian interest maps produced by OCHA country offices as well as by other organizations. • Participate in the development and finalization of Geographic Information Systems projects defined by the office. • Work closely with the other members of the information management unit and the office for the creation and analysis of cartographic products as well as pilot project in relation to new information management tools and techniques • Design, develop and manage databases, spreadsheets and other data tools; understand, document, and ensure the quality of high-value humanitarian data for accuracy, consistency and comparability; consolidate operational information on a regular schedule to support analysis. • Organize, design and carry out the evaluation and analysis of location-specific datasets through meaningful statistical techniques. • Ensure the quality of high-value humanitarian data for accuracy, consistency and comparability. • Produce and update information products such as reports, charts and infographics by turning data into graphical products to convey messages and a storyline; develop advocacy materials including posters, presentations and other visual materials (using tools such as. R Power BI, InDesign. Illustrator) • Support on streamlining of analysis of Field collected data with state of the art tools (Data cleaning, data processing and data processing) through automatic or semiautomatic routines specially R and Python Scripts. A Strong knowledge of automatic and semiautomatic tools and scripts for data cleaning is desirable. • Encourages, mobilizes and supports co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers and local communities to play an active part in the development of emergency response tools and strategies on a voluntary basis; Initiates / participates in local volunteer groups, including assisting them in submitting stories and experiences to the World Volunteer Web site. • Discusses with the supervisor on how volunteerism for the development of emergency preparedness and response tools and mechanisms can be mainstreamed throughout the assignment and aims to integrate relevant activities into work plans. • Participate on time sensitive emergency operation support (remote support to field deployed staff) in terms of map and visual production as well as data cleaning and harmonization.

• Performs other duties as required.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; Sound security awareness. • Motivated to work in the field of Humanitarian work.

Competencies & Values Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning Ethics and Values Integrity Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Working in Teams

• Proficient Data management Skills (Advanced Excel, SQL, Power Query, Power BI, Power Automate); Excellent GIS skills (ArcGIS, AGOL, QGIS); • Basic knowledge of Graphic design tools knowledge (illustrator, InDesign). • Business Intelligence Software proficient (Power BI,) • Advanced knowledge of Coding/stats Languages skills (R, Python) • Practical knowledge of Artificial intelligence tools and developments would be an advantage • Knowledge of Web Programming Skills would be an advantage • Accuracy and professionalism in data cleaning.

The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,736. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - https://icsc.un.org/

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.