Information Management Specialist

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.

In November 2021, the Office of the Resident Coordinator (RCO) in the Philippines established a reinforced presence with a UN Area Coordination Office in Mindanao and BARMM headed by a UN Area Coordinator. The purpose of the UN Area Coordination is to address the increased fragmentation of development and peacebuilding assistance, catalyze and oversee the UN’s focused approach to supporting sustainable development and the peace process in BARMM and Mindanao. The Area Coordination Office in Cotabato City was set up under the authority of the UN Resident Coordinator in Manila to facilitate coordination and convergence of programming in Mindanao, promote transparency and strengthen the implementation of the Management and Accountability Framework (MAF) of the UN Development System reforms. The office will strengthen internal UN coordination, increase transparency, support the coordination between the UN, BARMM, LGU, development partners, civil society organizations and the private sector.

The Area Coordination Office offers expertise and up-to-date analysis to representatives of development partners. The Area Coordination Office is establishing itself It is presenting itself as a knowledge center and meeting point for development actors involved in supporting the peace and development processes in BARMM, and a one-stop-shop for information about the UN’s work in BARMM. The Area Coordination Office team supports the oversight of UN Joint Programmes and other investments under implementation in the region and supports monitoring and reporting to development partners as well as communication of UN’s development results to a wider public.
The fragility of the transition process and the present peacebuilding challenges provides additional justification for such enhanced engagement and investment by the UN in the BARMM. Like many other resource partners in the Philippines, UN’s investments in BARMM are substantial and constitute the larger part of its contribution to the country (65% of UN funding is invested in Mindanao). The UN Area Coordination Office plays a crucial role in maximising the international community’s support to the peace process in full alignment with the priorities of the BARMM authorities and other stakeholders. The Area Coordination Office is also part of the operationalization of the UN reform on the ground in BARMM, through a strengthening of a coherent, complementary, coordinated, and transparent UN development system.

Under the leadership of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and direct supervision of UN Area Coordinator in Mindanao, and in close collaboration with the RCO Officer for Data Management and Results Monitoring/ Reporting, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Develop and implement an information management system to support an enhanced development coordination in BARMM and Mindanao: Map existing in-formation management systems already existing in-country to develop an understanding of information resources available and systems that already exist as a platform for developing information products, services and tools for planning, reporting, and ac-countability.
• Develop information tools and products to support the information needs and support the establishment of Joint Analysis in implementation of the Triple Nexus in BARMM and Mindanao: Develop tools and mechanisms for collection, analysis and reporting. The IMO will also support the establishment of a joint analysis across the humanitarian, development and peace spectrum in close collaboration with information management officers from OCHA, the peace pillar, UN agencies, development partners, CSOs and the other relevant partners.
• Support in strengthening the BARMM’s information management capacity through knowledge and technology transfer: The IMS will support BARMM in developing relevant tools and capacities necessary for an effective aid coordination. S/he will work with the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM).
• Support to overall Monitoring and Reporting as requested by supervisor.

Additional background information

The Area Coordination provides coordination services in the following key areas of focus: a. Coordinated and Coherent UN approach in the BARMM:
o The office strengthens coordination and supports a coherent approach for UN engagement in the Bangsamoro, fully encompassing the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding nexus; supports and strengthens the regional implementation of the SEPF across the three outcome Pillars of the SEPF – People, Prosperity and Planet, and Peace. o The Office supports the development and coordination of joint programmes and technical assistance in the region and oversees UN Joint Programmes and other investments and supports monitoring and contribute to reporting to development partners. b. Coordinated UN and Development Partners’ Support to BARMM-Led Planning Processes: o The Office coordinates UN’s technical and operational support to the development of the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) 2023 – 2028. o Ensures coordinated Development Partners’ support to the 2nd BDP 2023 – 2028 through regular engagement and information-sharing with bilateral development partners, IFIs and regional organizations. c. Support for Development Partners’ coordinated engagement in BARMM: o The Office supports Development Partners’ coordinated engagement in sup-port to the BARMM transition process and offers secretariat services for unified Development Partner coordination platforms in BARMM. o The Office builds partnerships with and brief development partners (whether represented in Cotabato or visiting) and provides up-to-date analysis and in-formation about UN’s work in the region, manages partnership relationships in the region; and contributes to resource mobilization for UN joint interventions in coordination with the RCO in Manila d. Interface and Liaison with BARMM/BTA authorities: o The Office provides a single-entry point for structured dialogue with BARMM/BTA authorities and functions as a first point of contact for exploration of new collaboration and initiatives between the BTA and the UN with the Office being able to facilitate introductions to UN on the ground as well as make linkages to UN in Manila. o The Office serves as a facilitator for collaboration among the international community and with a wide range of local government and non-governmental partners. o The Office also establishes linkages to Local Government Units (LGUs), representatives of the central government, relevant CSOs and other stakeholders. e. Engagement with CSOs, INGOs and Private Sector: o The Office facilitates all-of-the UN’s dialogue with CSOs, INGOs (beyond implementing partner-type relation), and Private Sector in support to the transition in BARMM and facilitation of dialogue with Development Partners. f. Information Management, Knowledge Repository/Registry: o The Office supports joint analysis for evidence-based strategic decision-making in support to the BARMM transition. o The Office supports analysis and subsequent policy advice in support of strategic programming to address the priorities of the Bangsamoro Development Plan. o The Office supports reporting and the release/communication progress of UN’s and Development Partners’ work in the BARMM and will increasingly generate knowledge products (reports, dashboards, situation analyses, maps, needs analyses, etc.). o The Office is establishing a registry/repository of assessments with a link to the database and make them accessible to UN, Development Partners and the Government/BARMM. The Office offers knowledge, analysis, and information about the engagement of the international community in BARMM, especially the engagement of UN and its alignment with the needs, priorities, and policies of the regional authorities. g. Policy advice and release of policy briefs of key subject matters: o The Office supports policy advice in relevant subject matters to support the delivery of UN programs in BARMM (e.g., Triple Nexus, Post-Conflict Recovery, Stabilization, Transition and Reconstruction, Sustaining Peace, Conflict Sensitivity, Human Rights-Based Approach, etc.). o The Office supports the development of policy briefs and think pieces to enhance greater understanding of key policies of UN support to peace process-es. h. Communication and Outreach o The Office communicates UN’s work and results in the region as part of relationship building with the public and showcasing the role of the UN in ensuring stability and peace dividends in the region.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Managing Performance ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

running and managing, monitoring and reporting, information management systems in humanitarian and development settings.

Skills and experience in:
• Qualifications and / or industry certification and /or demonstrable experience in the following applications: Microsoft Office (advanced user certification of MS Access, MS Excel and MS Word desirable) and Lotus Notes are desirable. • Qualifications and/or industry certification and/or demonstrable experience in project management are desirable. • Knowledge and experience of database development and management is desirable. • Knowledge of GIS and Content Management Systems is desirable. • Must be conversant with information management software, such as ArcGIS, Advanced Excel, Python, PowerBI and other relevant tools.

Accommodation: You can book a room in any of the country’s hotels ranging from 5-star hotels to boutique hotels, and serviced apartments. For the budget-conscious, there are hostels, Bed and Breakfasts, and inns that have basic amenities like WI-FI, air-conditioning, and hot water.

The Resident Coordinator Office is conveniently located in the UN House in the Ortigas Central Business District in Mandaluyong. Ortigas Center is home to many shopping malls, multi-national offices, condominiums and sky scrapers, nightlife bars, restaurants, and other building complexes. These include Asian Development Bank, San Miguel Corporation, and Jollibee Foods Corporation.

Food: Filipinos are known for their love of food- and the restaurant options are plentiful and diverse- from Korean BBQ, Japanese, and even Indian or Middle Eastern cuisine.

On Climate: November to February are the coolest months and a good time to visit the Philippines. Meanwhile, March to May are the summer months and are classified as hot and dry. June to October are rainy, while the months between July and September are the most susceptible to typhoons.

The average temperature in the Philippines is 86°F / 30°C; average humidity is 77%. Some parts of the country such as Cebu and its neighboring provinces in the Visayas are warm and comfortable throughout all seasons and can be visited throughout the year.

On Religion: The Philippines is predominantly Roman Catholic. Other religious congregations present in the country are Protestants, Muslims and Buddhists.

Transportation: Most parts of the country are accessible through air, land, or sea travel. Commercial carriers have scheduled flights to major destinations and island resorts, while bus terminal have daily rides to the provinces and other cities as early as 6am until 12 midnight.

You can go around the city through Grab Car, jeepneys, metered taxis, buses, raid transit systems like Metro Rail Transit (MRT)., Almost all drivers speak and understand English. As flag down rates may change, don’t forget to ask your hotel what the standard change is. Be sure the meter is turned on before you go.

Arrival: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila is the main airport to the Philippines. Divided into four terminals. It caters to domestic and international flights from the world’s major, airlines. It’s equipped with tourist help desk, hotel and car rental services, duty-free souvenir shops, and handicap assistance.

Money Information: The currency in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP) and the Centavo. 100 centavos = PHP 1. Coin denominations are as follows: 25 centavos, 1, 5, and 10. Bill denominations are as follows: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.

Recommended official money changer shops can be located at the airport, malls and banks. Exchanging money anywhere else is illegal and the laws are strictly enforced.

Majority of the retail stores in the country, restaurants, hotels and resorts accept major credit cards including American Express, Visas and MasterCard. Traveler’s checks, preferably American Express, are accepted at hotels and large department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted.