Information Management Specialist (Education Cluster), NOC, Temporary Appointment (10 months), Kabul, Afghanistan, #131013 (Open to Afghan Nationals only)

Afghanistan country office is seeking an Information Management Specialist (Education Cluster), responsible for ensuring IM processes effectively contribute to a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the Cluster that is accountable to those who are affected by the emergency. The incumbent is also responsible to enable an efficient and effective response to the humanitarian crisis, the IM Specialist is responsible for leading and managing the collection, analysis, and sharing of information that is essential for the Education Cluster partners to make informed, evidence-based, strategic decisions.

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Under the overall direction and guidance of the Education Cluster Coordinator, the IM Specialist will provide leadership for the IM function of the Education Cluster. They are responsible for ensuring IM processes effectively contribute to a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the Cluster that is accountable to those who are affected by the emergency. In their effort to enable an efficient and effective response to the humanitarian crisis, the IM Specialist is responsible for leading and managing the collection, analysis and sharing of information that is essential for the Education Cluster partners to make informed, evidence-based, strategic decisions.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The post holder is responsible for managing and coordinating the information management function to enable the effective functioning of the Education Cluster and the achievement of the core cluster functions, throughout the Humanitarian Programme Cycle to facilitate a timely and effective Cluster.

1. Coordination and representation:

• As a member of the coordination team, contribute to the effective roll out and monitoring of the core cluster functions (as outlined by the IASC Reference Module) and to the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HNO, HRP and CCPM),
• Represent the Education Cluster IM function at all levels and coordinate with others within the function to ensure effective communication, reporting and engagement,
• Actively engage with other IMs through relevant IMWGs, Assessment working groups etc including leading or participating in the working groups and representing the Education Cluster on the inter-cluster IMWG.

2. IM function management:

• Create and implement an Education IM strategy and data collection and analysis plan that consider the information needs of stakeholders and that are compliant with standards and protocols for ethical data and information management,
• Provide technical leadership by supporting the cluster coordinator and cluster members with day-to-day work
• Support the development of effective methods and platforms to standardize and share information. Develop and maintain catalogues of Education IM and data products, including maps and assessments.

3. Needs assessment and analysis:

• Working collaboratively with other members of the Cluster, contribute to the planning and implementation of needs assessment and analysis, including joint assessments and analysis, at national and subnational levels,
• Collect information on economic needs, markets, and price monitoring to support the equal consideration and use of all programme delivery modalities (in-kind, cash, voucher, and services),
• Work with Education Cluster partners to identify information gaps at national and sub-national levels, agree and implement ways to bridge those gaps by providing technical advice and support to partners.

4. Strategic response planning:

• Design and implement Education partners’ presence mapping,
• Contribute to strategic planning, response prioritization and the development of the HRP or other response plans as relevant, including the formulation of objectives, indicators, and targets, prioritizing response modalities and activities, identifying and quantifying inputs, and the curation of data.

5. Resource mobilization:

• Monitor and analyze the Education Cluster’s financial situation and support financial tracking,
• Support and advocate with Education Cluster partners for financial reporting on the Financial Tracking Service (FTS), and offline as required.

6. Implementation and monitoring:

• Provide guidance to regional Education clusters on the most effective uses of IM to build the capacity at the regional level,
• Develop, implement, and maintain an Education Cluster monitoring plan and associated databases, including a response monitoring (5Ws) database,
• Ensure the Education Cluster monitoring plan, and 5Ws include programme delivery modalities (in-kind, cash, voucher, and services).

7. Operational peer review and evaluation:

• Support the annual Education Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring (CCPM) exercise and annual review,
• Contribute to sectoral and broader humanitarian evaluations.

8. Accountability to affected people:

• Be accountable to affected populations by ensuring the meaningful participation of affected people, maintaining an effective feedback mechanism, and handling complaints appropriately, by ensuring data about the most vulnerable is systematically collected and analyzed, and by encouraging partners to work accountably,
• Ensure the inclusion of cross-cutting issues (age, child protection, disability, gender, gender-based violence (GBV) mitigation and response, and HIV & AIDS) in Cluster data collection, analysis, and dissemination,
• Adhere to child safeguarding and PSEA policies including procedures for challenging and reporting incidents and ensure other members of the IM team comply.

9. Strengthen national and local capacity:

• Take steps to strengthen local and national leadership and capacity by encouraging the participation of local and national actors in the IM activities of the Education Cluster and providing support to partners to overcome technical and operational challenges in participating in IM activities,
• Design and implement an Education IM capacity assessment and capacity development plan for Cluster partners.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - IM Specialist (Education Cluster), NOC

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• An advanced University degree (master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: Information Management or Information Systems, GIS Information Technologies, Computer Science, Statistics, Social Sciences, or another subject area relevant to Information Management or to the Cluster.
• Formal training in Education Cluster Information Management is considered an advantage.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in information management, data management, geographical information systems, assessments, situation analysis, and/or PM&E with the UN and/or NGO is required.
• Experience demonstrating very strong information management skills in a professional context is essential for this post.
• Experience in a humanitarian context is required.
• Experience working in the humanitarian coordination system is an asset.
• Extensive work experience outside the humanitarian sector which is relevant to this post may be considered in lieu of humanitarian experience.
• Fluency in English and a local language is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.