Information Systems 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.

ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA's five new strategic directions which are: advancing ECA' s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique; position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent's problems and take local solution to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.

This UNV assignment will be part of ECA’s Knowledge Management Services Section (KMSS) under the Publications, Conferences, ICT and Knowledge Management Division (PCKMD). The Knowledge Management Services Section’s vision is to continuously enrich and add value to the Commission's knowledge ecosystem, through reliable access to high quality information resources and knowledge services”

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief of Knowledge Management Section of the UNECA or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Information Systems Officer will:

•Develop effective recommendations on systems design and applications to meet Knowledge Management and Library services business requirements, and implements projects in a timely and efficient manner; •Plan, implement and manage operations related to the development, upgrading, and the day-to-day administration and maintenance of the information systems in the Knowledge and Library Services including the Integrated Library Management System, ECA Knowledge Repositories, ASKIA portal, ECA Knowledge Hub, Records Management System, the KMSS Web sites and other information systems in the Section; •Provide specialized advice to ECA Divisions, Subregional Offices, analyzing their information requirements and translating these into new applications and determine the application systems integration and linkage issues; •Troubleshoot and provide continuing user support, to include resolving difficult problems, advising on the use of new techniques, monitoring transactions to measure performance and continued effectiveness of the information systems; •Develop and maintain computer programs that require integration of interrelated systems and program elements; ensuring appropriate data collection, management, security and access controls for both local and wide area network issues; •Manage projects involving feasibility studies, systems analysis, design, development and implementation of new information systems for the knowledge management services, and/or, participate as a member of a development team with responsibility for major components of the more complex information systems; •Develop detailed system and other functional specifications and user documentation for the knowledge and library systems and applications; •Organize and perform unit and integrated testing, designing and utilizing test bases and assist users in acceptance testing of knowledge management and library systems; •Develop training materials, operating and user manuals; train staff in assigned systems. •Research, analyze and evaluate new technologies and make recommendations for their deployment; •Participate in writing reports and papers on systems-related topics, system requirements, information strategy, etc. •Maintain effective liaison with vendors, other United Nations Secretariat sections and units providing procurement services and support to the technology infrastructure of the Knowledge Management Services as well as facilitates communications between the section and ITSS for good client relations. •Handle all aspects of contract administration including establishment of service level agreements with vendors and chargeback policy for users. •Perform other functions as required.

•Professionalism •Planning and Organizing •Client Orientation •Technological Awareness

planning, designing, developing, implementing and maintenance of information systems; Practical knowledge and experience in the development of Repositories, digital and virtual library information services; Proven contributions in exploring, adapting and applying new technologies and methodologies in knowledge and information management; experience in application of library/information management standards in systems development; Experience in advanced Web development and online delivery of library resources; Strong research and published technical/policy writing experience and project management skills; demonstrable presentation, training and facilitation skills; proven experience in client and server-side Java Script, XML, HTML, CSS and other programming languages is required.

Addis Ababa (meaning New flower) the capital and largest city of Ethiopia is the duty station of the assignment. With a population of about 4.8 million, it is situated at 2,355m above sea level (it is advisable to take precautionary measures to avoid some health problems that might occur because of high altitude). With an average high-temperature of 20°C (68°F) and an average low-temperature of 10°C (53.6°F), days are mild to warm year-round with cooler nights (Warm dressing including cardigans/warm jackets is advised). March-April is the small rainy season while mid-June to September is the peak rainy season. The time zone in Ethiopia is East Africa Time (EAT) (UTC+03). Getting to Addis Ababa is easy as Ethiopia has the oldest Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) which is the flag carrier of Ethiopia. During the past seventy plus years,

Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers, unrivalled in Africa for efficiency and operational success, turning profits for almost all the years of its existence. Ethiopian currently serves 100 international and 21 domestic destinations operating the newest and youngest fleet. Addis Ababa is often referred to as the diplomatic city as it is the seat of the Head Quarters for both the African Union (previously the Organisation of African Unity) and the UNECA (including other programmes and agencies of the UN) as well as various Continental and International organisations and Embassies. While searching for a home, visitors have many options for temporary accommodations such as high to mid-end hotels, luxury apartments and guest houses. The city has many International and national hotels and restaurants boasting a wide variety of cuisines, several museums and recreational parks and malls. Depending on family needs, there about 10 international schools. Over 12 National banks cater to local and expatriate residents. The commercial bank in ECA caters for banking services for international staff. Ethiopian culture is conservative with a majority of Orthodox Christians, followed my Muslims and Protestants. It is important to be polite and respectful. Dress code should be on the formal side in the city during work hours and moderately conservative after work hours. Alcohol is allowed in the country.

There are recurrent cases of water borne diseases (Typhoid, Amoeba, Acute Watery Diarrhea) among others that occur from time to time, but this is very much dependent on personal hygiene. Malaria is present in the country but limited to the low land areas of the south where the altitude is below 2000m. This is not the case with Addis Ababa. Infectious diseases like measles, hepatitis A, B, and C, meningitis, HIV are also common and depend on the risky behavior practiced without adequate protection for some of the diseases. Health care facilities in Addis Ababa are reasonable for basic care of minor health problems, elsewhere health care facilities are extremely poor. The United Nations Health Care Center is an outpatient health care facility located in the UNECA compound for staff and their dependents. Visitors to Ethiopia should be in possession of a valid health certificate for yellow fever. Vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival in the country.