GIS Consultant

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

Terms of Reference:

The Emergency Preparedness and Support Response Division (EME) is responsible for enhancing the World Food Programme’s (WFP) preparedness and response capacity in emergencies, including early warning, preparedness planning, crisis support and information management.

The Geographical Information System (GIS) Unit within EME is continuously gathering data and updating georeferenced information to ensure that WFP is ready to create detailed cartography as well as spatial analyses of the areas of interest in order to support humanitarian emergency response.

The EME division provides strategic and normative guidance, technical support and capacity building to field offices and Regional Bureaus (RBs), to other HQ units, as well as inter-agency coordination. In recent years, EME has undertaken a decisive role in convening and steering WFP emergency operations all over the world, providing guidance and support to RBs and field offices when deemed necessary. In this coordination effort, that the Division provides both vertically and horizontally within the organization, GIS role is crucial to visualize and analyse emergencies using the most innovative geospatial technologies and tools and provide useful insights on how natural and anthropic hazards might affect WFP operations.

The GIS Consultant will work under the supervision of the Data Visualization and Analysis Team Leader and will report to the GIS Coordinator.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:             

The consultant will support the development of workflows, systems and tools in order to be able to:

• Under supervision of the GIS Team Coordinator and the ICA Coordinator, act as the focal point for the Integrated Context Analysis (ICA) to liaise effectively with other relevant stakeholders.
• Support the development of joint PRO-R/EME/RAM/ Integrated Context Analysis publications.
• Missions to support COs/RBs when required for the Integrated Context Analysis.
• Under the supervision of the Data Visualization and Analysis Team Leader, act as Regional Focal Point for spatial analysis and mapping and liaise effectively with the other Desk Officers by attending regularly to the Weekly Analytical and Coordination (WAC) meetings and the Operational Task Forces (OTF).
• Work within the Data Visualization and Analysis Team in support of the divisions/units/clusters that need mapping support.
• Promote implementation of standards related to mapping and support field colleagues by developing procedures and workflows to improve the management of geospatial assets.
• Provide support with spatial analysis on natural hazards, environmental degradation and other datasets through the development and implementation of Earth Observation (EO) based solutions.
• When required, assist the Global Solution Team Focal Point with the automation of routine tasks for data acquisition, processing and analysis of natural hazards and environmental degradation datasets.
• Liaise with GIS focal points in the RBs and COs to facilitate the productions of maps and analytical products, including the design, implementation and maintenance of GIS applications and tools, ensuring coherence and compliance with organizational policies and standards.
• Maintain WFP spatial databases – the corporate GIS Infrastructure – with up-to-date information and act as focal point for the maintenance of the Geonode-based ICA Portal.
• Provide technical support to the development and design of GIS training modules and other learning material – for governments and academic partners – for capacity building and trans-national knowledge transfer.
• Assist in the preparation of material for meetings, workshops and conferences.
• When required, deploy to the field to provide GIS support as part of the Emergency Response team.
• Foster the maintenance and promotion of a GIS community to facilitate information and knowledge sharing through regular posts on WFP Communities.

Deliverables at the end of the contract:

• Data needed to produce maps at any time are updated and shared across the organization through the corporate GIS Infrastructure and GIS platforms.
• Most advanced tools are used to produce quality information products at all levels (WFP field staff, WFP Managements and external audience).
• Cartographic maps are created in a timely manner, according to needs.
• Technical support for the implementation of GIS solutions and workflow to facilitate data standardization and sharing, map production and dissemination on corporate platforms is provided to GIS colleagues.
• Data preparation and mapping for the Integrated Context Analysis, for approximately six ICAs per year, with regular maintenance of the ICA Portal.
• Data preparation and mapping for additional spatial analyses, as requested to support COs and RBs.
• Documentation of new methodologies, procedures and workflows developed.
• Analytical mapping products and reports in the event of shocks.
• Training and other learning material production to support the GIS Analysis Team Leader in delivering approximately four capacity building training courses per year to COs, governments and academic partners.
• Materials for EME and/or GIS meetings, conferences and workshops.
• GIS page into WFP Communities regularly updated.

Other outputs within his/her professional competence as required to support project objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

Master’s Degree, preferably in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), computer science or other relevant fields, OR equivalent work experience is required

Experience:

Profound experience working with GIS software ArcGIS 10.x, QuantumGIS and other OpenSource softwares knowledge are an asset.

Minimum of one year of increasingly responsible relevant professional experience in the field of Geographic Information Systems.

Knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge of main GIS softwares: ArcGIS, QGIS and other OpenSource softwares knowledge an asset.
• Strong knowledge of spatial analysis techniques.
• Advances GIS mapping and data management skills.
• Familiarity with spatial databases.
• GIS development skills: knowledge of ArcPy for GIS workflow automation is an asset.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Strong ability with Office365.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Languages:

Fluency in English, working knowledge (level B) of a second UN language will be considered as an asset (preferably French, Spanish or Arabic).

Terms and Conditions

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Deadline for applications: 7 Feb 2021

Ref.: VA No. 136483

Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.