GIS Specialist (Geospatial Database Development)

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response Medical & Health IT & Telecom

Overview

Support the WHO Europe Geospatial Hub in advancing geospatial intelligence capabilities.

You have:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in GIS, geospatial data management, or spatial database development, preferably in public health, emergency response, or development contexts.
• Proven experience in designing, cleaning, and managing geospatial datasets, including administrative boundaries, health infrastructure, population data, and hazard mapping.
• Proven experience in working with open-source GIS tools (e.g., QGIS), spatial databases (e.g., PostgreSQL/PostGIS), and spatial file formats (e.g., shapefiles, GeoJSON, raster).
• Proven experience in supporting or contributing to the development of geospatial data platforms or regional geodatabases.
• Proven experience in creating spatial visualisations, maps, and dashboards to support decision-making in multi-sectoral contexts.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate in multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary teams, including remote coordination across countries.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required; knowledge of other WHO official languages is an asset.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with attention to detail and ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with metadata standards, spatial data infrastructure (SDI), and GIS governance frameworks is desirable.
• Experience working with government or UN agencies, particularly in cross-border or multi-country data coordination, is an asset.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The WHO European Centre for Preparedness for Humanitarian and Health Emergencies (PHHE) supports Member States across the WHO European Region in strengthening their capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Within this mandate, the WHO European Geospatial Coordination Hub, hosted by PHHE; drives the integration of geospatial tools, data, and intelligence to inform evidence-based decision-making in emergency and public health contexts.

The Hub works to enhance the availability, quality, and interoperability of spatial data across the Region. It plays a key role in supporting country offices, technical teams, and response partners by providing timely geospatial analysis and developing shared regional datasets for health facilities, population exposure, hazard mapping, and vulnerability assessments.

The UN Volunteer will support the WHO Europe Geospatial Hub in advancing geospatial intelligence capabilities by contributing to the design, population, and maintenance of a regional geodatabase. This role will focus on spatial data mapping, harmonisation, quality assurance, and the development of common standards and tools. It will also contribute to knowledge-sharing efforts and capacity-building initiatives across the Region in alignment with WHO’s strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Under the overall guidance of the Team Lead – GIS and Digital Solutions, the GIS UN Volunteer will: • Design, develop, and maintain a regional geodatabase to strengthen geospatial activities across the WHO European Region. With application ranging from routine public health analysis to emergency preparedness and response. • Map, collate, clean, and harmonise geospatial datasets from WHO country offices, ministries of health, and partners, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with international standards. • Develop metadata schemas, data dictionaries, and quality assurance protocols for health-related spatial layers including administrative boundaries, health facilities, population data, and hazard risk profiles. • Assist in the development and implementation of geospatial data governance frameworks, including SOPs for data validation, access control, and version management. • Assist in the integration of geospatial data into digital platforms and decision-support systems for health emergencies and humanitarian response. • Perform any other GIS-related tasks as required by PHHE or the WHO European Geospatial Coordination Hub.

Results/Expected Outputs • A regional geodatabase structure designed, populated, and maintained with harmonised datasets (e.g., administrative boundaries, health facilities, population layers, hazards), supporting WHO/PHHE and other users with reliable geospatial data for evidence-based decission-making in public health. • Standardised metadata templates, data dictionaries, and geospatial documentation (e.g., SOPs, update protocols, visualisation templates) developed and shared with Member States and partners. • Technical support provided to WHO country offices and regional partners in data collection, validation, and visualisation, contributing to cross-border risk mapping, spatial analysis, and improved decision-making for public health emergencies.

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, 5th of December). ● 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 (for instance at https://vra.unv.org). ● 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.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Professionalism

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in GIS, geospatial data management, or spatial database development, preferably in public health, emergency response, or development contexts. • Proven experience in: o Designing, cleaning, and managing geospatial datasets, including administrative boundaries, health infrastructure, population data, and hazard mapping. o Working with open-source GIS tools (e.g., QGIS), spatial databases (e.g., PostgreSQL/PostGIS), and spatial file formats (e.g., shapefiles, GeoJSON, raster). o Supporting or contributing to the development of geospatial data platforms or regional geodatabases. o Creating spatial visualisations, maps, and dashboards to support decision-making in multi-sectoral contexts. • Experience working with government or UN agencies, particularly in cross-border or multi-country data coordination, is an asset. • Excellent organisational and time management skills, with attention to detail and ability to work under tight deadlines. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate in multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary teams, including remote coordination across countries. • Familiarity with metadata standards, spatial data infrastructure (SDI), and GIS governance frameworks is desirable. • Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required; knowledge of other WHO official languages is an asset. • Experience in international, humanitarian, or public health settings is a strong advantage.

This is a volunteer assignment, not an employment. By sharing your time, energy, and talents, you can support communities in need and become part of something greater than yourself — a global movement for peace, development and humanitarian aid. Volunteering strengthens trust, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens, and it can promote a sense of belonging and purpose.

The UN Volunteer will be based in Istanbul and responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

Summary of National UN Volunteer (National Specialist) Entitlements: Paid in Local Currency • Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) is USD 1,614 (Paid in Turkish Lira) • Private insurance: Health, dental, life and dismemberment coverage by CIGNA As per the UN’s diplomatic mission status, it is not included in the National Security Institution’s (SGK) system, but can only be initiated on a private basis by UN Volunteers. • Entry allowance (one-time payment): USD 400 (Paid in Turkish Lira) • Exit allowance: USD 134 per month and upon the satisfactory completion of assignment (Paid in Turkish Lira) • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Free access to different learning platforms and UN & UNV network

Notes: 1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as a salary, compensation or reward in exchange for the volunteer work. The full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator.

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment, and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service. The allowances are in no way to be understood as salary, compensation, or reward in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos).

2) It's important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment.

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Potential interview questions

Added 9 months ago - Updated 9 months ago - Source: unv.org