Background

1. Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, education and health for vulnerable communities, including collection, analysis and dissemination of information and negotiation of access.
2. Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Somalia with UN agencies and programmes, national and international NGOs and local authorities/communities as appropriate with focus on strengthening the Cluster Approach.
3. Under the overall supervision of the Information Management Officer, the GIS Associate works closely with Clusters and units within UNOCHA Somalia to support the collection, storage and analysis of humanitarian information.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Data Collection and Analysis
• Mapping by providing GIS support
• Preparation and update of Somali reference maps
• Develop GIS products for stakeholders
• Facilitation of knowledge building and management
• Knowledge Transfer

• Supports the Office in the collection of relevant information and data from key humanitarian partners, including Cluster Chairs, representatives of national governments, UN agencies, donors, local and international NGOs, in order to facilitate and maximize the exchange of information and data between humanitarian partners, and support the creation of appropriate information products for decision-making and humanitarian response.
• Promotes the collection, collation and standardization of baseline datasets. Compiles and disseminates these, in particular demographic and vulnerability data, in different formats (including GIS).
  

• Provides GIS support to the Office in general and Clusters assisting in the development of appropriate maps to support humanitarian decision-making and reflect humanitarian response. 
• Support the maintenance of an inventory of UNOCHA produced maps and geo-datasets and, where possible, those available from other humanitarian partners.

• Production and update of reference maps for Somalia based on available data.
• Preparation and maintenance of descriptive maps that provide inventory of local resources such as infrastructure.
• Management of the development, quality control and production of maps.
• Provision of GIS information and maps in appropriate formats to be used in seminars and workshops.

• In close collaboration with the Information Management Officer, determine the primary data and mapping elements required internally and externally to support humanitarian decision making.
• Develop and maintain a client-oriented approach with all relevant stakeholders to help identify their mapping requirements to ensure that information and maps are relevant for planning.   
• Regularly review and seek feedback from clusters to regularly review product suitability.

• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to the Office’s goals and activities. 
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 
• Provision of training and advice to OCHA staff on Information Management issues and products.
• Regularly review and seek feedback from clusters to regularly review product suitability.

• Provision of training and advice to OCHA staff and partners on mapping systems such as google earth, GPS.

Impact of Results:

Competencies

• Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives.

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things.
• Documents innovative strategies and new approaches.

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position.
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks.
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work.
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning.
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

• Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions.

• Uses information/databases/other management systems.

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion.
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients.
• Responds to client needs promptly.
  

• Gathers and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems.

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity.
  
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Self-development, initiative-taking.
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work.
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively.
• Creating synergies through self-control.
• Managing conflict.
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

• Secondary education with specialized certification in statistics or economics.
• University degree in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) or geometrics or economics, statistics or related fields with relevant experience is desirable but it is not a requirement.
  

• 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in data processing, analysis and mapping utilizing popular statistical and mapping software packages (e.g. SPSS/ArcGIS etc.)
• Should have field experience in the use of GPS for mapping.
• Experience in managing and updating website content.
• Experience in management of data harmonization systems with special emphasis on data quality control.
• Familiarity with the UN system is desirable.

• Fluency in oral and written English is essential. Knowledge of Somali is a requirement.