Information Management Officer (Education), NO-2, TA (364 Days), #00139015, Kabul - Afghanistan, APR

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The post holder is responsible for supporting the information management (IM) function to enable the effective functioning of the Cluster Working Group at the sub-national level, and the achievement of the core cluster functions, throughout the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) in order to facilitate a timely and effective Cluster Working Group response.

The postholder's main tasks and responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

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),
• Support the Cluster Working Group IM function and coordinate with others within the function to ensure effective communication, reporting and engagement,
• Actively engage with other IMs through relevant IMWGs, including participating in the Cluster Working Group IMWG and representing the Cluster Working Group on the inter-cluster IMWG as relevant at sub-national level,
• Promote harmonized and coordinated approaches to IM across partners, AoRs/ Clusters Working Groups and OCHA at sub-national level.

IM Function Support

• Implement an IM strategy and data collection and analysis plan at sub-national level that take into account the information needs of stakeholders and that are compliant with standards and protocols for ethical data and information management and that is aligned with the national level IM strategy and plan,
• Implement regular secondary data reviews and primary data collection including designing questionnaires using appropriate tools,
• Conduct data processing including organizing, cleaning, triangulating, evaluating and validating the data,
• Analyse data to meet identified information needs of sub-national Cluster Working Group members and other stakeholders,
• Create accurate, quality and timely information products that are in line with agreed style guides,
• Disseminate information and information products through appropriate channels,
• Maintain and ensure the accessibility of a common and shared secure storage system,
• Gather feedback on IM products and use them to make improvements.

Needs Assessment and Analysis

• Working collaboratively with other members of the Cluster Working Group at national and sub-national level, contribute to the planning and implementation of needs assessment and analysis, including joint assessments and analysis, as requested,
• 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) as relevant at sub-national level,
• Work with sub-national Cluster Working Group participants to identify information gaps, agree and implement ways to bridge those gaps by providing technical support to partners,
• Analyse needs assessment data to provide required information for the HNO including estimating People in Need (PIN),
• Contribute to joint and inter-sectoral analysis processes and support alignment of needs analysis findings across clusters/sectors and relevant humanitarian and Basic Human Needs coordination platforms at sub-national level.

Strategic Response Planning

• Implement partner presence mapping at sub-national level
• Contribute to strategic planning, response prioritization and development of humanitarian response plans and related analytical products, including support to objectives, indicators, targets, partner mapping and response monitoring.

Resource Mobilization

• Monitor and analyse the sub-national Cluster Working Group’s financial situation and support financial tracking,
• Support and advocate with Cluster Working Group partners for financial reporting on the Financial Tracking Service (FTS),
• Support evidence-based advocacy and resource mobilization by providing accurate, relevant and timely data, information and information products.

Implementation and Monitoring

• Implement and maintain a sub-national Cluster Working Group monitoring plan and associated databases, including a response monitoring (3/4/5Ws) database that is in line with and contributes to national level databases,
• Ensure the sub-national Cluster Working Group monitoring plan, and 3/4/5Ws include programme delivery modalities (in-kind, cash, voucher and services),
• Support sub-national Cluster Working Group members to contribute timely and quality periodic monitoring reports on Cluster Working Group and OCHA platforms,
• Support monitoring in the areas of information flows, dissemination, processing, analysis and dissemination,
• Contribute to quantitative and qualitative gaps and coverage analysis to identify spatial and temporal gaps, overlaps and coverage of the sub-national Cluster Working Group humanitarian response,
• Monitor adherence to relevant sector quality standards, regulations and codes at sub-national level.

Operational Peer Review and Evaluation

• Participate in the annual cluster coordination performance monitoring (CCPM) exercise and annual review,
• Contribute to sectoral and broader humanitarian evaluations.

Accountability to Affected People

• Be accountable to affected populations by encouraging 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 analysed, and by encouraging partners to work accountably,
• Ensure the inclusion of cross cutting issues (age, child protection, disability, gender, gender, gender-based violence (GBV) mitigation and response and HIV & AIDS) in Cluster Working Group data collection, analysis and dissemination,
• Adhere to child safeguarding and PSEA policies including procedures for challenging and reporting incidents.

Strengthen National and Local Capacity

• Support or implement actions to strengthen local and national leadership and capacity by encouraging participation of local and national actors in the IM activities of the sub-national Cluster Working Group and providing support to partners to overcome technical and operational challenges in participating in IM activities,
• Implement an IM capacity assessment and capacity development plan for sub-national Cluster Working Group partners.

The IM Officer (Education Cluster) supports the IM function within the Cluster Working Group at sub-national level, providing better visibility and clarity on needs and gaps, enabling evidence-based and targeted decision-making, fundraising and advocacy, and contributing to an effective Cluster Working Group. As an essential part of the coordination function, effective IM contributes to the predictability and accountability of humanitarian action, in line with the aims of the cluster approach and IASC principles, and ensures that the humanitarian response is well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, effective and builds the resilience of the affected population. This also contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to fulfil its commitments as Cluster Lead Agency, in line with the CCCs. The post also contributes to strengthened coordination and information sharing between sub-national and national coordination structures and supports improved coherence and operational alignment across humanitarian and Basic Human Needs coordination platforms in Afghanistan.

• Education: A completed Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Information Management, Information Systems, Geography, Computer Science, Statistics, Social Science, Geographic Information Systems, Information Technology or any other related field.
• Work Experience: Two years of relevant work experience in Education, Monitoring and Evaluation, Response, Information management, Education in emergencies, Data analysis, Needs assessment, Monitoring and reporting, GIS, Response planning, Accountability to affected populations, Capacity building or any other related field is required.
• Skills: Experience in Information Management, Data Collection, Data Analysis, Data Processing, MS Excel, MS Power BI, Monitoring and Reporting, Needs Assessment, Coordination, ArcGIS is required.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language: Dari and Pashto is desirable.
• An advanced university degree is desirable.
• Formal training in cluster information management is an asset.
• Experience in humanitarian coordination and experience in humanitarian context is an asset.
• Experience with financial tracking services is desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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