Education's Information Management Officer

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.

Humanitarian action is of fundamental importance to UNICEF and encompasses interventions aimed at saving lives, alleviating suffering, maintaining human dignity, and protecting the rights of affected populations wherever there are humanitarian needs, as well as interventions addressing underlying risks and causes of vulnerability to disasters, fragility and conflict. This UNV assignments contribute to UNICEF unique coordination role as Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) for Education. The cluster approach ensures clear leadership, predictability and accountability in international responses to humanitarian emergencies. It aims to make the international humanitarian community better organised and more accountable and professional, so that it can be a better partner for the affected people, host governments, local authorities, local civil society and resourcing partners.

The Information Management Officer (UNV) is a core member of the Cluster coordination team. The role aims to provide UNICEF and other operational agencies solutions to streamline, standardize and automate data collection and reporting, provide access to real-time and high-quality data, support programme monitoring and inform programme evidence-based decision making.

This position offers an opportunity to gain unique experience and skills in a large francophone country office, where UNICEF is a key humanitarian player and to contribute to humanitarian coordination of a wide range of partners, in a fast-paced environment.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Cluster Coordinator, the UN Volunteer, Education Information Management Specialist is responsible for managing and coordinating the information management (IM) function to enable the effective functioning of the Cluster, and the achievement of the core cluster functions, throughout the Humanitarian Programme Cycle in order to facilitate a timely and effective Cluster response.

The postholder's main tasks and responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Coordination and representation • As a member of the coordination team, contribute to the effective roll out and monitoring of the core cluster functions (as outlined by the IASC Reference Module) and to the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HNO, HRP and CCPM), • Represent the Cluster IM function at all levels and coordinate with others within the function to ensure effective communication, reporting and engagement, • Supervise an IM staff member if appropriate, • Actively engage with other IMs through relevant IMWGs, including participating in and representing the Cluster in the inter-cluster information management working group (IMWG), • Promote harmonized and coordinated approaches to IM across partners, AoRs/ Clusters/ Sectors/ Working Groups and OCHA.

IM function management • Create and implement an IM strategy and data collection and analysis plan that take into account the information needs of stakeholders and that are compliant with standards and protocols for ethical data and information management, • Implement or support regular secondary data reviews and primary data collection including designing questionnaires using appropriate tools, • Conduct data processing including organizing, cleaning, triangulating, evaluating and validating the data, • Analyse data to meet identified information needs of Cluster members and other stakeholders, • Create accurate, quality and timely information products that are in line with agreed style guides, • Disseminate data and information products through appropriate channels, • Maintain and ensure the accessibility of a common and shared secure storage system, • Gather feedback on IM products and use to make improvements.

Needs assessment and analysis • Working collaboratively with other members of the Cluster, contribute to the planning and implementation of education needs assessment and analysis, including joint assessments and analysis, at national and sub-national level, • Work with Cluster participants to identify information gaps, agree and implement ways to bridge those gaps by providing technical support to partners. This includes the collection of information on response modalities and cross-cutting issues such as economic needs, markets, price monitoring, disability, protection and gender issues to support a comprehensive understanding of issues affecting education and to ensure the use of all programme delivery modalities (in-kind, cash, voucher and services) as appropriate and feasible, • Analyse needs assessment data to provide required information for the HNO including estimating People in Need (PIN), • Compare and align joint needs analysis findings with other AoRs/ Clusters/ Sectors/ Working Groups and participate in developing reports.

Strategic response planning • Design and implement partner presence mapping, • Contribute to the strategic planning, response prioritization and development of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) or other response plans as relevant, including the formulation of objectives, indicators and targets, prioritizing response modalities and activities, identifying and quantifying inputs and the curation of data.

Resource mobilization • Monitor and analyse the Cluster’s financial situation and support financial tracking on the Financial Tracking Service (FTS), • Support and advocate with Cluster partners for financial reporting on the Financial Tracking Service (FTS), • Support evidence-based advocacy and resource mobilization by providing accurate, relevant and timely data, information and information products.

Implementation and monitoring • Develop, implement and maintain a Cluster monitoring plan and associated databases, including a response monitoring (3/4/5Ws) database, • Ensure the Cluster monitoring plan, and 3/4/5Ws include programme delivery modalities (in-kind, cash, voucher and services), • Support Cluster members to contribute timely and quality periodic monitoring reports on Cluster and OCHA platforms, • Support monitoring in the areas of information flows, dissemination, processing, analysis and dissemination, • Conduct quantitative and qualitative gap and coverage analysis to identify gaps, overlaps and coverage of the Cluster humanitarian response, • Monitor adherence to relevant sector quality standards, regulations and codes.

Operational peer review and evaluation • Lead the annual Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring (CCPM) exercise and annual review, • Contribute to sectoral and broader humanitarian evaluations.

Accountability to affected people • Be accountable to affected populations by maintaining an effective feedback mechanism and handling complaints appropriately, by ensuring data about the most vulnerable is systematically collected and analysed, • Ensure the inclusion of cross cutting issues (age, child protection, disability, gender, gender-based violence (GBV) mitigation and response and HIV & AIDS) in Cluster data collection, analysis and dissemination, • Adhere to child safeguarding and PSEA policies including procedures for challenging and reporting incidents and ensure other members of the IM team comply.

Strengthen national and local capacity • Take steps to strengthen local and national leadership and capacity by encouraging participation of local and national actors in the IM activities of the Cluster and providing support to partners to overcome technical and operational challenges in participating in IM activities, • Design and implement an IM capacity assessment and capacity development plan for Cluster partners.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values. UNICEF Values are Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability

• Care: We are mindful of each other’s well-being, professional growth, and development. We recognize that our staff are often working in stressful environments where insecurity and risk are a daily fact of life. • Respect: We treat each other with the same level of thoughtfulness we want for ourselves, and we promote diversity, inclusion and a sense of belonging for all. • Integrity: We act ethically, with honesty and transparency, setting the highest standards for ourselves as we work together and with partners, donors and the global community. • Trust: We depend on and believe in each other to act in line with the core values and mission of UNICEF and in the best interests of children • Accountability: We hold ourselves and each other responsible for our behaviours; this means being answerable for our actions.

UNICEF’s competencies establish common standards of behaviour to guide the way we work and are based on our core values. They are: • Builds and maintains partnerships: Build a network of external stakeholders and alliances with government counterparts, civil society, the media and the private sector, in order to promote and advance the work of the organization • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness: Self-aware of own strengths, limitations, working style and deeply held convictions and biases. Displays ethical awareness through behaviours that are consistent and compliant with the standards of conduct for international civil servants, UNICEF’s values and relevant UNICEF policies and procedures. • Drive to achieve results for impact: Commits to action and assumes responsibility and ownership for own performance and the associated outcomes. • Innovates and embraces change: Is open to and proposes new approaches and ideas. Adapts and responds positively to change. • Manages ambiguity and complexity: Demonstrate resilience and composure, get things done despite challenges and maintain performance levels in pressured, adverse and uncertain environments. • Thinks and acts strategically: Understands the big picture and is able to identify potential opportunities for action and challenges that exist. Forms sound evidence-based judgements in the delivery of UNICEF’s results. • Works collaboratively with others: Establish and maintain mutually supportive working relationships, demonstrating sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds, respecting differences and ensuring that all can contribute and succeed. • Nurtures, leads and manages people: This competency area is an additional competency for managers and leaders with people management responsibilities.

Information management, data management, geographical information systems, assessments, situation analysis and/or PM&E with the UN and/or NGO is required.

Bangui "la coquette" (the Pretty), Central African Republic’s capital city, is a small and very green city, renowned for its welcoming people, always ready to smile and be helpful, in spite of the difficult circumstances many are in. Tucked between the wide and quiet Oubangui river and green tropical-like hills, its wide streets, where traffic jams are unheard of, are boarded with old large trees and small houses. The international community is close-knit: whether you enjoy morning walks and runs, African live music, a drink at the riverbank, tennis, swimming, you will always find people to join, if you wish to.

The area in Bangui where international staff reside offers all types of accommodation depending on personal preferences: detached houses with garden, shared accommodation, modern apartments, often fully furnished. Maintenance service and house staff are also readily available. Water and electricity shortages are not uncommon, and available accommodations provide for alternatives.

The current security level for all duty station across the country is (4). Sporadic and unpredictable violence is not uncommon throughout the country with armed groups and criminals continuing to present the main threats. As this situation has been going on for years, UNICEF is very well equipped to prepare and mitigate security risks and ensure safety and security of all its staff. In Bangui, international staff reside inside a green and cleared security area, large enough so they do not feel restrained, and are provided with private security guards.

Bangui is non-family duty station; hence dependent are not allowed. However, spouses/partners can find many opportunities to work in Bangui, which is home to the second largest UN mission in the World (MINUSCA), and to many UN and international non-governmental organizations.

CAR is a unique country and Cluster coordination is an extremely rewarding humanitarian work. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as stamina and commitment. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in a volatile fast-paced environment are essential.