Information Systems Assistant

Result of Service The objective of this contract is to support UNEP CAR/RCU and its Sub-Programmes in the areas of information technology management and maintenance, with specific support to the CETA Sub-Programme. The Individual Contractor will provide general IT support, including technical support for workshops, webinars and meetings, particularly to the STACs and COPs. More specifically, the contractor will be responsible for ensuring meeting documents are uploaded to the website, technical resources are deployed and configured, including requisitioning of goods and services, as required. The Individual Contractor will additionally evaluate how to mitigate technical issues and offer integrated technical solutions for meetings and day-to-day requirements.

Work Location Office

Expected duration The expected duration of the contract is 6 months.

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of global consensus on environmental issues by keeping the environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

The Caribbean Regional Co-ordinating Unit (CAR/RCU) was established in 1986 in Kingston, Jamaica and is the Secretariat for the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) and the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP). The Cartagena Convention, which has been ratified by 26 of 28 UN Member States in the Wider Caribbean Region, serves as an overarching governance framework for environmental protection and sustainable development in the region. The Convention is the only legally binding agreement of its kind in the region and is supported by three Protocols on Oil Spills, Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) and Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS). The Cartagena Convention Secretariat convenes biennial Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meetings in preparation for its Intergovernmental Meeting and Conferences of Parties (COP), where Contracting Parties approve biennial work plans and budgets.

CEP has three main Sub-Programmes:

• Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution (AMEP)
• Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)
• Communication, Education, Training and Awareness (CETA)

The CETA Sub-Programme supports the overall work of the UNEP CAR/RCU and provides targeted assistance to the AMEP and SPAW Sub-Programmes on matters related to communications, education, training and awareness.

This short-term position is for an Information Systems Assistant. The successful candidate will work from the CAR/RCU office in Kingston, Jamaica or occasionally remotely from home, subject to COVID-19 protocols, in order to provide support to programme and project management activities at CAR/RCU. The Individual Contractor will work in collaboration with the CETA team to provide technical support to the Cartagena Convention Secretariat during the planning and implementation of its STACs and IGM/COP meetings in the 4th quarter of 2022 and first quarter of 2023, respectively, as well as other regional workshops and webinars organized by the Secretariat.

This contractor will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager for the AMEP and CETA Sub-Programmes.

The duties will include:

1. Troubleshooting and providing technical support to the Cartagena Convention Secretariat

• All IT issues resolved in a timely manner
• Office hardware and network run smoothly and efficiently (ie. Internet access, printer access, file server etc.)
• Security and privacy measures are in place in accordance with UN and UNEP guidelines
• Necessary updates to software and hardware installed
• Staff have access to the appropriate software for daily functions
• Staff members are trained on software use as needed

2. Uploading of articles and meeting pages on the CEP website

• Meeting pages and event pages created on the website in accordance with UNEP guidelines
• Meeting documents tracked and uploaded at least 2 weeks before meetings
• Articles uploaded as needed

3. Ensure the smooth functioning of all IT infrastructure such as servers and network connections

• Active Directory users created and deleted as needed
• Server backups scheduled and tested
• New laptops deployed on office network
• Requirements of the office analyzed and new hardware and software procured as needed (in accordance with UNEP’s procurement guidelines)

4. Monitor virtual/ in-person meetings to ensure technical issues are kept to a minimum

• Virtual meetings recorded and archived
• Successful coordination with meeting organizers to procure interpreters
• Meeting links created using appropriate VOIP platform (eg. Teams, Zoom etc.)

5. Assist in the preparation of brochures, reports, newsletters and other materials, including graphics and short videos for social media

• Technical assistance provided for the development and publication of technical reports, quarterly newsletter, meeting reports, social media, graphics, short videos and other materials.

• Recommendations provided on the best software and tools for the development of communications products. French and Spanish captions integrated into short videos, including, but not limited to the launch video on the reports for the State of the Cartagena Convention Area and State of Nearshore Marine Habitats.

6. Assist with trouble shooting of the website platforms and back-end, as requested, for the GEF IWEco project, GEF CReW+ project and the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre – Caribe (REMPEITC-Caribe)

• All trouble shooting issues resolved in a timely manner
• Website platforms and back-end are functional and challenges addressed in a timely manner.
• Technical support provided to finalize the layout, upload of documents, as well as any other necessary adjustments to the CReW+ website
• CReW+ website successfully launched
• Support provided for the maintenance of the CReW+ project website and the CReW+ Academy website
• Technical support provided for the maintenance of the GEF IWEco website and the new REMPEITC-Caribe website, as well as any staff training that may be required

7. Liaise with UNEP HQ on UNEP CEP Website Improvements and develop/implement recommendations

• Explored and implemented possibilities of tagging of documents with keywords on UNEP CEP website
• An option explored and developed to integrate a password protected area within the UNEP CEP website (examples taken from other MEAs)
• Individual country pages developed on UNEP CEP website
• Caribbean Marine Protected Area Management (CaMPAM) database migrated to UNEP CEP website

8. Provide technical support to the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee Meetings of the LBS and SPAW Protocols during the fourth quarter of 2022 (10th SPAW STAC and 6th LBS STAC)

• STAC meetings are recorded (in English, French and Spanish) and archived Interpreters procured
• Technical support provided during the meetings, including, but not limited to, displaying presentations and resolving issues with connectivity
• Meeting links created using appropriate VOIP platform (eg. Teams, Zoom etc.)
• Meeting documents uploaded to the respective event pages in a timely manner

9. Provide technical support in the preparation to the 20th Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and 17th Conference of Parties to the Cartagena Convention in the first quarter of 2023

• Requisition of goods and services
• Meeting links created using appropriate VOIP platform (eg. Teams, Zoom etc.)

• Meeting documents uploaded to the respective event page in a timely manner

  Qualifications/special skills Skills: Knowledge of and experience using Adobe Suite or tools is required.

Sound technical knowledge of information technology, security of systems and latest developments in the field is required.

Knowledge of HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, MySQL and PHP scripting would be an asset

Excellent management, organization and time management skills

Strong communication skills

Excellent observation and analytical skills

Strong problem-solving skills Academic Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree in Information and Communication Technology, or other relevant certification is required. Experience: At least 5 years of work experience in network and website administration is required.

Demonstrated experience in deploying hardware in a Windows Server environment.

Demonstrated experience in Microsoft Office 365 tools (eg. Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, Power BI etc.).

Experience working with various Content Management Systems such as Drupal and Joomla. Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English required.

Knowledge of Spanish or French is an asset.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.