International Consultant- Spatial Data (Geographic Information Systems) – CST I
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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourage qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.
JOB DETAILS
Job Title: International Consultant- Spatial Data (Geographic Information Systems)
Grade: CST I
Type of contract: Consultancy
Duration: 11 Months (with the possibility of extension)
Duty Station: Kabul
Vacancy Number: 828640
Date of Publication: 13 August 2023
Deadline of Application: 27 August 2023
ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The hunger crisis in Afghanistan is unfolding at a rapidly, with over half the country’s population of 15 million now facing acute food insecurity—the highest number the humanitarian community has ever seen in Afghanistan. Work opportunities are shrinking, with most households now reporting just one day of work per week. This comes on top of the worst drought in years, which is especially concerning for the 85 percent of the population who rely on agriculture for livelihoods. Preventing and mitigating a drastic increase in hunger and malnutrition is the aim of WFP in Afghanistan which can only be achieved through the scaled up and sustained complementary food security and nutrition interventions, combined with a scale-up of resilience interventions to safeguard gains. WFP has embarked on a significant month on month scale-up of its crisis response and resilience programmes across the country, ensuring that the programme is delivered at the right scale and time, targeted to the right areas. WFP is also actively following up on evolving trends to pre-empt hotspots, while guaranteeing quality and maximum impact of the programme through the monitoring of these hotspots to be able to support continued donor advocacy.
The Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) Unit is a technical support unit for WFP operations and provides analytical and mapping support to CO management, Programme Unit, Logistics, AOs, Food Security and Agriculture Cluster. The RAM (VAME) Unit undertakes food security assessments in conflict, disaster affected areas in collaboration, other UN agencies and NGOs. The unit also builds national capacity in food security analysis and mapping. As the former GIS consultant working with VAME is not willing to continue work in Afghanistan VAME is hard and immediate need of a GIS consultant (CS-I) with specialization in Spatial Data Analysis (Geographic Information Systems).
JOB PURPOSE
The consultant will be responsible for maintaining geospatial data relevant to food security and vulnerability issues in the country. The overall goal is to ensure that food security information is made available for WFP programming decisions and contributes to the work of Afghanistan, UN agencies, and civil society including NGOs.
The various tools used by the GIS officer should be adapted to meet the increasing demand and respond to new requirements. The scaling-up of the CO current capacity to improve the types and quality of maps produced and utilize the benefit of more functions in GIS is obvious. Keep up to date the Early Warning Dashboard, add new features, provide analytical production regularly. Also, to support 72 hrs approach GIS related part. Keep in touch with other UN, NGOs and other forums GIS related aspects, product sharing and benefiting from each other. At the same time, the CO as part of its new capacity development strategy is planning to strengthen the capacity of its key partners and counterparts and need to identify current available products in Afghanistan and define WFP’s comparative advantage.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
To fulfill above mentioned responsibilities, the expert on CONSULTANT is expected to provide technical support to WFP in three functional areas: (a) analytical work; (b) mapping services; and (c) information management and outreach.
Analytical Work
- Provide technical GIS support to emergency needs assessments which identify the mapping requirements and prioritized each requirement.
- Keep the Early Warning dashboard updated with the available new information and ensure those of the monthly based updates are incorporated to the tools developed.
- Add new functions to improve the EW dashboard and improve the products.
- Provide monthly Early Warning updates to the programme unit heads and other relevant units.
- Build on the GIS related part of the 72 hrs approach to enable the unit for provision update early warning and at the same time early estimation of losses, damages and impact of flood and other sudden onset disasters.
- Undertake GIS analytics required for the VAME or other CO units to enhance and improve targeting and Programme implementation.
Mapping Services
- Design and produce maps that need of WFP (VAM Unit, Programme Unit, Management Team, and other Units), Clusters (FSAC), and other thematic Groups.
- Preparation of maps that graphically represent findings from emergency needs assessments, IPC, ICA, and other vulnerability analyses.
- Preparation of thematic, i.e., analytical, maps for WFP, partners, civil society, and UN system agencies and to support WFP advocacy activities.
Information Management and Outreach
- Review existing databases of geospatial and socio-economic data. Develop mechanisms by which such data can be shared with other WFP Programme units.
- Support WFP Programme and Logistics Units with maps and information products during all phases of the WFP programming cycle, including pre-intervention, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Support WFP staff to foster partnership with relevant UN and civil society to strengthen existing capacities for Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping and share the results of GIS analytics and other product as suitable.
- Provide GIS training to WFP staff and partners, as needed.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
- Advanced University degree in Computer Science, Engineering or any other relevant Field.
Experience:
- Has at least 3 years’ working experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Field.
- Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.
- Has taken leadership of implementing programmes.
- Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.
Language:
- Fluency (Regular Level) in English language.
HOW TO APPLY
To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. We want to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible. Please contact us at afg.hrrecruitment@wfp.org to advise us of any accessibility needs you may have.
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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment
WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.
