Associate Information Management Officer

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)B

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA1

Target Start Date2023-05-08

Job Posting End DateJune 8, 2023

Terms of ReferenceOperational context

Guyana is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention or the 1967 Protocol, and there is no national legal asylum framework, UNHCR offers the only mechanism in the country to access international protection through refugee status determination, under its mandate. While there is a relatively small number of people of different nationalities currently seeking asylum in Guyana, approximately 20,000 Venezuelan nationals have entered Guyana in search of safety and stability due to the difficult political and socio-economic situation in their country of origin. Significant numbers of Guyanese nationals (and their descendants) have also returned to Guyana after many years living in Venezuela. The increasing number of forcibly displaced people from Venezuela has put additional strain in already limited resources and impacted host communities, especially vulnerable local communities in the country’s hinterland, where protection, social and tele-communication services are limited.

From October 2019 to February 2020, with the support of UNHCR the Government of Guyana provisionally rolled out biometric registration of Venezuelan forcibly displaced people, being the first country in the Americas to utilize the PRIMES registration system for Government registration. As this pilot was discontinued, a comprehensive data collection system remains a high priority discussed at several levels with governmental stakeholders, other UN agencies and NGOs. The profile of the forcibly displaced people in Guyana includes mainly Spanish-speaking and Indigenous Warao-speaking populations in remote border zones, mining areas and urban centres; as well as mandate refugees and asylum-seekers of different origins, dispersed mostly in the country’s capital.

The Associate Information Management Officer will report to the Protection Officer and be an integral part of the protection team, working closely with other units, as well as at inter-agency level, to execute the operation’s strategy for data collection about forcibly displaced people, with a focus on creating and utilizing surveys complemented by protection monitoring activities and limited registration on PRIMES. The incumbent will coordinate and oversee the implementation of above-mentioned components of the data collection system for the Guyana operation, provide technical support to colleagues and partners (including general IT support to the office), conduct monitoring and follow-up on data collection activities, including through regular missions to the priority areas (especially in hinterland communities) and support the continuous development of strategies adapted to the operational needs in the country, including the possibility of coordinating the creation of IT systems and solutions for the Government and other local stakeholders.

Desirable candidate:
- Knowledgeable in IT systems and UNHCR Registration Systems
- Excellent writing and analytical skills;
- Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
- Demonstrated understanding of critical issues around safe and ethical data collection and analysis
- Experience in collecting, storing, managing, and protecting data of forcibly displaced people in line with UNHCR principles
- Knowledge and experience of participatory approaches to engaging with and mobilizing communities and stakeholders.
- Understanding working with vulnerable populations and utilizing a protection approach in formulation of strategies
- Demonstrated coordination and consensus building skills to manage multiple stakeholder consultation processes.
- Ability to identify and circumvent risks associated with political sensitivities
- Ability to work under significant time pressure and come up with innovative and creative solutions faced with fast-paced changing circumstances.

Candidates will have to sit a complementary written test as a part of the selection process.

Please note this is an international position offered under an International UNOPS contract at level IICA 1, and therefore is opened to applications of not nationals of Guyana.

The position is initially offered until 31 December 2023, with possible extension subject to budget, good performance and operational needs.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

Levels of language knowledge in the application refer to:
A1-beginner
A2-elementary
B1-lower intermediate
B2-upper intermediate
C1-advanced/proficient
C2-fluent

The United Nations in Guyana is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Standard Job Description Associate Information Management Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The UNHCR Data Transformation Strategy 2020-2025 envisions that by 2025 UNHCR becomes a trusted leader on data and information related to refugees and other persons of concern, thereby enabling actions to protect and to empower persons of concern. The Strategy stipulates investing in four complementary priority areas: data management and governance; information systems; capacities and skill development; and culture for evidence-informed decision-making. The strategy envisages data and information management functions in UNHCR carried out in a complementary and inter-linked manner between Headquarters Divisions and Services, Regional Bureaux, Country Operations and key external partners, including persons of concern. Under the direct supervision of the (Snr) DIMA Coordinator/Deputy Director/Head of Service/Deputy Representative or other IM staff or designated manager, the Associate Information Management Officer supports data and information management activities in the relevant country and regional offices. They are part of a team of data and information management staff (depending on office configuration) and support coordination among staff working on information and data management activities and liaison with Headquarters/Region/Country on data related issues. Information and data management staff are responsible for coordinating, planning and delivering on data and information activities for all UNHCR operational contexts, responses and populations of concern, including providing coordination and leadership in partnerships on data with all stakeholders - including persons of concern. They serve the entirety of UNHCR staff and activities, including protection, programme, operations, external relations and executive management for evidence-informed planning, advocacy, and coordination. They are key in ensuring multi-stakeholder, multi-sector, and multi-country activities are provided with robust and meaningful data and information to support planning, funding and advocacy efforts. This includes both internal and external assessments, regional and country-based planning and monitoring activities such as the COPs, CRRF, RRPs, HNOs, HRPs, and Cluster Plans. Information and data management covers the assessment, design, implementation and evaluation of data and statistical related activities. This includes assessment of the information landscape; definition of information and data needs; design of data and information activities, including data collection, analysis, storage and dissemination; implementation of data and information management activities; and monitoring and evaluation of data management activities. The focus is largely operational data along with financial and HR data related to assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluation. This is the data, information and analysis needed to deliver robust and comprehensive assessments and evaluations, and to support results-based planning, monitoring and reporting implemented by UNHCR and by its partners. Depending on if they are located in HQ, regional or country offices, the role of the data and information management staff is to provide the necessary quality assurance and technical support for the full range of the data and information management and analysis activities to countries and regional offices; to ensure these process are in accordance with technical standards for data and information management; and to undertake regional or country data and information management (definition, collection, analysis, storage and dissemination) activities. In addition they are responsible for coordinating HQ and external support to the country and regional offices, to liaise with relevant bodies on relevant data and statistical matters; to monitor the quality of data and information management activities in country/regional or HQ; to design and implement global, regional or country-based data strategies and systems; to ensure data and information activities are implemented in according with data privacy policies, global data sharing agreements and data protection regulations; to communicate the status, value and importance of data; to provide the data, information and analysis needed for global analysis; and to identify risks and opportunities based on insights derived from data. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties Coordinate data and information management activities: - Participate in the data and information management team and activities. - Contribute to the design and implement data strategies and systems. - Assist the data team and others communicate the status, value, and importance of data. - Support the collection, storage, management and protection of data. - Support consolidation of data systems, including the interoperability of operational data and systems. - Ensure consistency of data and results for country, global and regional analysis, including cross border analysis and response. - Support the coordination with HQ, external and regional partners on data and information management efforts - Take part the relevant IM network (internal and external) on refugee. IDP, etc and related issues. - Support data security, data protection and responsible data-sharing. Support offices with data and information management: - Support the analysis of primary and secondary data for interpretation and evidence-informed decision making. - Support the monitoring of data and information management activities in offices for integrity, veracity, reliability and credibility and compliance with policies. - Provide technical and training support to operations. - Support assessments and situational analysis process with analytical frameworks, data collection, and analysis (standards, methodologies). - Support planning process (standards, methodologies) with data and statistical analysis and quality assurance on Theories of Change and indicators. - Support monitoring by providing quality assurance to the monitoring methodologies, data collection and analyses. - Review and assess country or region-specific data systems and needs; provide recommendations to regional bureau. Undertake data and information management activities at the Global/Regional/Country level: - Help consolidate data and information for country, regional and global analysis. - Undertake data management activities (definition of needs, data collection, analysis, storage and dissemination) - Support analysis for comparative country, regional and global analysis, including political and socio-economic trends. - Take part in planning processes (COPs, regional RRP, regional migration response plans, etc.). - Support cross-country assessment and situational analysis, such as in regional RRP situation or COP. - Support the analysis of trends concerning changes at the outcome and impact levels. - Develop information management products such as indicators, templates, maps and dashboards. - Help ensure data is curated and stored in data registries and libraries in accordance with standards. - Undertake geospatial and statistical analysis. - Provide population movement tracking systems and other population data systems. - Support web-based data portals. - Support solutions for meeting `communication with communities¿ information and data needs. Work in close collaboration with: - All staff to further data literacy and assist in interpretation the data; - Registration staff regarding the use of individual and personally identifiable data collected or managed by UNHCR; - Programme staff on the data and information aspects of assessment, targeting and monitoring (three most data driven aspects of the OMC); - Cluster coordinators and partners on data and information needs in UNHCR-led cluster operations, including HNO and HRP processes. - Inter-agency staff on the development, coordination and monitoring of country and/or regional responses plans; - Protection staff on the design, implementation and analysis of protection and case monitoring systems; - Operations coordinators and reporting officers on the design and delivery of data and information management products for internal and external consumption; - Sectors technical experts on the methodologies, formats, storage and dissemination of sectoral data and information, including cross sector analysis. - Senior management to understand and serve their information and knowledge needs. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Social Science; Statistics; Information Management; Physical Science; Economics; Data Science; Geography; GIS; Engineering; Demography; Computer Science; or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Experience with data sharing, data management and data analysis to support policy formulation and implementation. Desirable Knowledge of national and international statistical systems; knowledge of international protection, human rights and international humanitarian law; experience in data collection and analysis in field situations; knowledge of GIS and geospatial systems and techniques. Functional Skills DM-Data collection methodologies DM-Data Management DM-Database Design & Development DM-Data Collection and Analysis DM-Metadata Creation & Management IM-Statistics Analysis DM-Open Source Software & Data DM-Population census and econometrics DM-Protection Data Management Systems DM-ArcGIS (Geographic Information System) DM-Cartographic Skills SP-Design tools such as Global Positioning System (GPS) CL-Cluster Information Management Tools, Resources and Approaches PG-Needs Assessment and Response Analysis DM-Data governance, quality assurance and preservation DM-Data Interoperability DM-Data science methodologies DM-Development of and revision of data standards DM-Qualitative data analysis DM-Quantitative data analysis (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Required Languages English

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Desired Languages Spanish

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

EducationBA: Demography (Required), BA: Information Technology (Required), BA: Social Science (Required), BA: Statistics (Required)

Certifications

Work Experience

Other informationThis position requires Functional Clearance