Somalia: Emergency WASH Cluster Information Specialist NOC (Temporary Appointment)

If you are qualified KenyaNational looking for a chance to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable Somali children while gaining opportunities for career growth, you are invited to apply for the above post of Emergency WASH Cluster Information Manager with UNICEF Somalia based in Nairobi.

If successful, you will be part of a dynamic and passionate team in Somalia and Nairobi that works together to improve the health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and basic education of Somali girls and boys and protect them from violence, exploitation and abuse.

The successful candidate will be offered a Temporary Appointmentfor 364 days.

Purpose of the Post

The Information Manager will be a key member of the national WASH cluster coordination team and play a vital role in collecting, analyzing, and sharing information that is important for the cluster stakeholders to make informed (evidence based) strategic decisions on:

• The needs of affected populations
• The prioritisation of these areas according to wash indicators
• Where there is a need for wash actors and to what degree
• What are the key gaps in activity and need
• What capacity (human, material, financial) exists to be used in support of the identified prioritised response needs, and what are the funding priorities

The Information Manager therefore supports the WASH Cluster Coordinator by supporting the cluster with the data and information it requires to make programmatic decisions.

As such, the Information Manager needs to be able to liaise and communicate with many different types of people and agencies and act as a ‘bridge’ between WASH decision makers and technical IM staff (OCHA, SWALIM etc.).

Fundamental to the job is the ability to present information in a way that is easily understood by the cluster members. Sometimes this is through graphic means such a mapping but also through tables, charts, and narrative writing. Other times it involves discussing the information directly with the decision makers to make interpretations of the findings.

Major duties and responsibilities:

General

· Report to the national WASH Cluster Coordinator and respond to the Cluster Membership’s needs for information; work under the guidance of the Information Manager (OCHA), and SWALIM.

· Provide IM services to cluster for key decision making. These services will include data collection, collation, mapping, analysis, and dissemination relevant to the needs of the cluster. This may require building additional and appropriate capacity through the training of additional staff and managing, organising, and conducting these activities.

· Contribute to periodical Cluster coordination and planning meetings, highlighting any significant gaps in humanitarian assistance

· Training and capacity building of WASH agencies and focal points in Information management.

-Promotion of and training on the use of WASH 4W among UNICEF, Government and humanitarian staff and partners.

-Coaching and empowering WASH cluster/Sector IM and Regional Focal Points in best practice in data and information management. This ranges from review of agency 4W templates to final consolidation into the master 4W and generation of simple pivot table summaries.

Data Gathering, Tools and Process

· Proactively gathering of information from other clusters/organisations which may be of use to the WASH Cluster for informing decisions, including movement of population, potential camp locations, outbreaks, water structures

· Identify barriers for information collection, collation, analysis and sharing and work with the OCHA Information Management Specialist to develop appropriate supportive strategies which includes convincing agencies of the purpose and importance of collecting and sharing data/information by providing a timely, added value service to all stakeholders.

Needs Assessment

· Organise and manage the data collection and input and initial analysis and presentation of data for the WASH cluster.

· Support and strengthen distance/field assessment mechanisms

Monitoring

· Maintain information on all current and potential partners, their capacities and areas of work

· Ensure the 4W matrix meets the needs of WASH partners (especially large partners who do not regularly report), OCHA, SWALIM, WASH Cluster Coordinator

· Regular consultation with key partners, to ensure their regular input into the 4W matrix

· Maintain database of ‘Who does What Where When (4W)’and derivative products, such as maps

· Inventory of relevant common Cluster data sets, including population data disaggregated by age and sex.

· Data on humanitarian requirements and contributions (financial, material, human – as appropriate)

· Support Cluster reporting: end of year report, CHF reports, CAP reports, quarterly cluster reports and other ad-hoc reports as requested.

· Gather and collate data on humanitarian response assistance, including feedback and/or issues raised by the affected population

Dissemination and Access to Information for WASH Stakeholders

· Maintenance of information management system, including relevant documents on the humanitarian situation, i.e. mission reports, assessments, evaluations, etc.;

· Share information in an appropriate way (i.e. not all stakeholders have access to the same type of information systems) using internet, e-mail groups, hard copies, verbal feedback at WASH coordination meetings and dissemination to affected communities as part of accountability to affected populations; consider translation into local languages as appropriate. Existing resources include www.humanitarianreform.org/WASH, oneresponse.info or country based websites.

· Identify and organise different web based discussions on specific thematic issues, to bridge the gap between the Somalia and Nairobi Clusters

Mapping

· Produce maps of WASH 4W per location, water and sanitation infrastructure.

· Map out WASH resources, needs and gaps as requested (support may be available from OCHA)

· Support prioritisation of proposals for funding from various sources (CHF, bilateral) by mapping all submitted proposals. Establish systems to manage high numbers of proposals submitted, for timely feedback to agency, and future use by Cluster.

Information Management Intra and Inter-Cluster Liaison

· Liaise with local and available authorities (Somaliland, Puntland) on data – particularly to assess and access existing information.

· Ensure that information management (IM) activities support national information systems (SWALIM), standards and build local capacities.

· Liaise with UNICEF Monitoring and Evaluation experts to gather and share information – especially for background data and sources of information in-country.

Information Management Standards and Policy

· Ensure that IM standards and policies, as advised by the IM (OCHA) are followed, and feedback is given on appropriateness, with suggestions for possible improvements.

Ensuring sufficient IM capacity for continuity

· Bring any shortcoming in IM capacity to the attention of the WASH Cluster coordinator and the IM (OCHA).

Deliverables

4W Matrix

• 4W matrix that meets needs of WASH Partners, OCHA, SWALIM, WASH Cluster Coordinator, and UNICEF capturing 95% of WASH CAP activities in Somalia.
• Quarterly analysis of 4W, for reporting, strategy development
• Quarterly feedback of 4W information, in useful format for WASH Partners

Needs and Gaps

• Quarterly summary of needs and gaps for WASH Cluster

General IM tools

• Maintain cluster contact list, useful for emails, partners etc.; migrate list into Microsoft Outlook format when migration from Lotus Notes takes place
• Develop and maintain agency profile database
• Maintain centralised electronic filing system for WASH Cluster team
• Implement and improve mechanism to support large scale receipt and review of proposals

Website

• Facilitate continued website improvement that captures key documents, in a way that is easy for new partners to find and use

Live consolidated map

• Facilitate development of a “live consolidated map of water sources in Somalia”. The map to be eventually owned and maintained by SWALIM.

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes

· Master degree-level qualification in a relevant field or discipline such as Information Management or Information Systems.

· Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at professional level.

· Willingness and ability to work in difficult environments, in often stressful time-critical situations.

· Ability to work in English required.

· Cultural and gender awareness and sensitivity.

Technical Skill sets

Essential technical skills:

· Strong knowledge of Excel and preferably MS Access or other databases.

· Strong knowledge of Google Earth

· Ability to collect and organise data and use GIS/cartographic outputs.

· Ability to present information in understandable tables charts and graphs.

· Knowledge of multi-variable mapping techniques

· Experience in web design and programming

Other Technical Skills that are considered desirable:

· Data storage and file management expertise.

· Assessment, survey, and monitoring and evaluation expertise.

· Communications and technical writing using both graphic and narrative presentations.

· Knowledge of ArcGIS or other mapping software an advantage.

Managerial/Communications Skill sets

· Essential managerial skills.

· Demonstrated team-building and communication skills

· Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills.

· Able to manage and work in or with a multidisciplinary team

· Excellent written and oral presentation skills.

Competencies

i) Core Values (Required)

•Commitment

• Diversity and Inclusion

• Integrity

ii) Core Competencies (Required)

•Communication

• Drive for Result

• Working with People

iii) Functional Competencies (Required)

•Applying Technical Expertise

• Adapting and Responding to Change

• Deciding and Initiating Actions

• Following Instructions and Procedures

• Leading and Supervising

• Planning and Organizing

Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications with updated UN Personal History Form (On this link, http://www.unon.org/docs/P11.doc) updated CV, copies of academic certificates to the email address below. UN staff are requested to provide at least two Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs). Please quote the vacancy number and post title in the subject line of your application. Applications submitted without a duly completed and signed Personal History Form (P11) will not be considered.Email to: somaliahrvacancies@unicef.org