Website UNDP
Information Management Expert
Assignment country: Nepal
Expected start date: 15/11/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 11. Sustainable cities and communities
Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Expert
Host entity: UNDP
Type: Onsite
Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Birendranagar
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP in Nepal
VISION STATEMENT
UNDP Nepal works with the people and Government of Nepal, and other development partners to pursue equitable and sustainable human development goals through eradication of poverty, increase in livelihood opportunities, improvement in community resilience against conflict, disasters and impact of climate change, while laying down strong foundations for a society based on rule of law with an inclusive and participatory democracy.
Context
UNDP has been present in Nepal since 1963, working towards greater development impact for the people living in the most remote, poor, and vulnerable areas. Reduction of vulnerability to disaster and climate risks is one of the core programmatic approaches in promoting sustainable and resilient development. UNDP’s programme priorities for 2023-2027 are: Sustainable and inclusive economic transformation; Governance, federalism, participation, and inclusion; and Environmental sustainability, climate, and disaster resilience.
UNDP is Government of Nepal’s trusted partner on disaster and climate risk management through strong policy and institutional support and enhancing capacities for resilience building at all levels including support for community-level risk reduction, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, preparedness and recovery. It has built partnerships with all three tiers of government, international agencies, NGOs and academic institutions and expanded the institutional and knowledge base of risk management in Nepal. UNDP’s interventions through different programs and projects on adaptation and mitigation, urban risk management through building code, risk sensitive land use plan, safer construction practices and retrofitting, climate and disaster risk informed development, information management, community-based resilience, and emergency preparedness and aim to build resilience to climate and disaster risk in Nepal.
Project Description: A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot and Pashchim Rukum districts of the Karnali province on 3 November 2023, at 23:48 hours, with epicentre identified near Ramindanda of Jajarkot. The initial seismic event followed by several aftershocks including 7 aftershocks of magnitudes over 4 Richter scale have brought devastating impacts, with loss of 157 lives and 256 people injured. Most severely affected districts are Jajarkot, with 105 deaths and 81 injuries, and Rukum West, with 52 deaths and 78 injuries. There has been significant damage to infrastructure, including residential buildings, educational institutions, health service centers, and administrative structures. A total of 937 houses are fully damaged and 2954 houses are partially damaged as per the data situation report produced by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on 5 November 2023.
UNDP intends to offer its support to the Government of Nepal to start immediate recovery work in earthquake affected municipalities of Jajakot and Rukum West and Salyan districts of Nepal in parallel to the humanitarian support and relief and rescue operation being carried out in this area. Such immediate support, while in one hand, will create jobs and employment for the local community, on the other hand, will build strong foundations for resilient reconstruction and long-term recovery of the population affected by the earthquake.
It is likely that information in the first hours of a disaster will be neither readily available nor very reliable. At this stage, the main challenge is to ensure that information is clear and that it reflects the most urgent needs of the affected population. The second major challenge is to produce and update information regularly. Information is the foremost need for the government, international cooperation agencies, and humanitarian assistance organizations.
Task description
Information management contributes to more effective and timely response, and therefore to saving lives, and how these activities can lessen the impact of disasters and emergencies and improve the quality of life of affected populations. It is recognized as a key element in mobilizing resources, stimulating support, increasing visibility, and strengthening relief and rehabilitation.
Under the supervision of Risk Management Specialist and close coordination with Early Recovery coordinator, the UNV Information Management Expert will perform the following duties:
Information Management:
- Provide IM services for key decision-making including data collection, collation and information dissemination and produce reports in close coordination with PEOC.
- Support in the preparation of situation reports (SITREPS) and other technical documents and coordinate the timely and effective distribution of information.
- Develop, maintain, and update data bases and products to ensure updated resources are readily available and are consistent, accurate and comparable. Maintain data collection and monitoring tools to keep track of activities implemented by the government and non-governmental organizations.
Data analysis:
- Organize, design, and carry out the evaluation and analysis of location specific datasets.
- Understand, document, and ensure the quality of high-value humanitarian data for accuracy, consistency, and comparability.
Coordinate with Information Management officers of development partners and governments:
- Work with UNDP project colleagues to facilitate humanitarian information exchange and the development of relevant databases.
- Organize the exchange of information with governmental, non-governmental organizations, development partners and relevant stakeholders.
Development of Knowledge product:
- Develop interactive reports and represent large, complex sets of data through visual representation.
- Ensure that data is valid, prepared and cleaned for the visualization process.
- Develop formats for knowledge management.
Capacity Development and Knowledge transfer:
- Provide adequate support to government counterparts at PEOC for data collection, information management and data analysis.
- Hands on training to government counterparts on information management and data analysis.
Any other tasks assigned by direct supervisor.
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.
- Information on early recovery intervention shared with partners in timely and effective manner.
- Data and information are made available in formats that can be easily retrieved, shared, and used by government and humanitarian organizations to enable informed decision-making.
- Capacity of government counterparts and development partners on information management built.
- Knowledge products related to early recovery developed.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 35 – 80
Nationality: Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
- 15 years of experience in and progressively responsible for information management, information systems, web management, data management, geographic information systems and mapping, data visualization, or other related area is required.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work with a range of partners including line ministries, provinces, and municipalities
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment
- Experience managing information in disaster response or complex emergencies is desirable.
- Relevant experience within the UN system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
- Previous experience in disaster risk management/resilience will be preferred
- Candidates from the specified location are encouraged to apply
Area(s) of expertise: Community development
Driving license: –
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Nepalese, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in any discipline
Competencies and values
Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNDP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;
Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Surkhet District is a district in Karnali Province of mid-western Nepal. Surkhet is one of the ten districts of Karnali located about 600 kilometres (373 mi) west of the national capital Kathmandu. Its district headquarters, Birendranagar, is the capital of Karnali Province. It is serving as a business hub and document center for Karnali province. Surkhet has a more moderate climate. Winter temperatures drop to about 5 °C and in summer it goes up to 38 °C. Monsoon brings sufficient rainfall during the rainy season. Surkhet ranks low in overall change in climatic condition.
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy.
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