Geo Info System (GIS) Specialist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

 

UNDP has started its new programming cycle for 2008-2012. This country
program consists of two parts: Governance and Fight against Poverty
(Lutte Contre la Pauvreté – LCP). The LCP unit is responsible for the
second axis.

In the frame of the preparation phase, the LCP unit is looking for a
GIS Specialist. Directly supervised by the Team Leader he will ensure,
with a GIS technician, the coordination of capture, formatting,
analysis and presentation of all the geographical data managed by UNDP
in DRC.

Mapping is the starting point of land use planning and design of
developing strategies. As UNDP is the main institution of development
in DRC, it has to lead the identification of area to focus on and draw
the guidelines for developing strategies. However, lack of accurate
geographic data in DRC and absence of information over remote areas
prevent from having global vision necessary for local planning.

In that context, it is necessary to collect raw data, to structure and
georeference them, so as to develop planning tools adapted to various
development initiatives.

The maintenance of a referential geographical data base is an essential
prerequisite for this undertaking. With a lack of operational State
structures with the ability to collect and manage this information,
various actors involved in one way or another in the production of
geographical data in DRC have come together, under the initiative of
the UNJLC (UN Joint Logistic Centre) and of OCHA (Office for the
coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), so as to constitute a uniform
geographical data base. For three years now, work groups have been
formed which have allowed exchanges and harmonisation between existing
databases. A Shared Geographical Referential (RGC) has thus been
instituted, allowing each user to dispose of compatible and comparable
information, but without guaranteeing the absolute trustworthiness of
the information, its exhaustiveness or its accuracy. Updating and
improvement of information remains the main issue. The coordination of
the activities of the RGC work group, which meets monthly, has now been
entrusted to UNDP. This coordinating activity is essential to the
survival of the RGC, itself necessary in relation to any GIS and
cartographic production in DRC.

Furthermore, the systematic localization of development projects in DRC would enhance the ability to track and to support them.

II. Functions / Key Results Expected

The GIS Specialist will be responsible for the coordination and
implementation of geographical data collects, processing and analysis.

– Geographical data concerning the land status are collected and structured

– These data are analyzed to define UNDP intervention’s priorities

– All LCP projects are geo-located and mapped

– Basic geographical data are required for these activities. Due to the
lack of such information in DRC, they are continuously updated and
their accuracy must be improved.

Based on the structured geo-data set, a planning tool will be set up
helping to highlight the intervention areas and classifying the
priority of intervention for each aspect of poverty in DRC. It also
provides a useful tool to assess the impact of UNDP actions.

1. Collect of geographical data

Preparation and supervision of field data collections in the framework of the participative village assessment:

– Creation of field data collect forms and encoding files

– Coordination of GPS training

– Training for data capture

– Quality control of collected geographic and thematic information

2. Processing and analysis of geographic and thematic information

– Building of GeoDataBases (GDB) and data importation

– Set up of analysis methods to process the multi dimensional geodata

– Geo analysis of current situation, potentiality and weakness

– Production of strategic documents (maps and reports) highlighting the
priorities of intervention related to the LCP unit activities

3. Mapping of LCP projects in DRC

– GDB implementation relying on RGC dataset in order to locate the villages concerned by UNDP interventions

– Coordination of data capture and mapping of UNDP interventions. Such
documents aim both to improve UNDP visibility and allow the planning of
project visit and control.

– Design of interactive maps improving data accessibility and communication on UNDP activities

4. Maintenance of essential geographic data (RGC)

In order to maintain and develop the geographical reference data needed
for the previous actions, the GIS Specialist will ensure the following
tasks:

– Ensure the link between field data collecting operator and the responsible of DB update (UNDP and other partners)

– Convert vector data to RGC format and ensure their diffusion

– Update the reference documentation

– Maintain the RGC diffusion platform (web site)

– Organize monthly working group with RGC partners. These meetings aim
to announce actions started by partners to update the RGC.

– Initiate collaboration between partners and strengthen national structures

– Improve data validation encouraging national institutions responsible for.

– Strengthen national institutions in order to deliver the RGC responsibility (GIS training, etc.)

III. Expected Results

The key results will focus, first and foremost, on the enhanced
performance of the Poverty Unit and the success in the implementation
of the its programming strategy. The analysis, the management of data
and the presentation of information are key elements in a successful
implementation of the Unit’s strategy.

In addition, the visibility of UNDP in relation to its donors and partners will be greatly enhanced.

More broadly speaking, the development actors will find a useful source
of information for harmonised planning initiatives, or for development
in their own operational zones. As a complement to their own
information, the UNDP documents produced from the analysis phase (maps
and databases) will allow to better trace the outlines of their own
development initiatives.

IV. Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

– Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards

– Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP

– Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

– Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example

– Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development
in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly
acquired skills

– Good teaching skills for GIS and GPS training

Technical and Operational Effectiveness

– Perfect command of ArcGIS, ENVI, Excel and data base (knowledge of MapInfo is an asset)

– A confirmed experience in geographical data base management

– Good at synthesizing, clear vision of the use of cartographic
reference as programming tool and ability to formulate dedicated
solutions to address developing problems

– Strong competencies in the lead of technical meetings, technical supervision of GIS work

– Significant professional experience in post conflict countries in the field of geographical information management

– Deep knowledge of national and international institutions involved in geographical information in DRC

– Ability to implement new systems

Management and Leadership

– Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback

– Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

– Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills

– Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

– Strong teamwork attitude, while remaining completely independent;

– Solid ability to plan, anticipate, and work under pressure;

– Strong capacity for relationship-building, emotional intelligence, and communication;

– Solid capacity to work in a difficult context and ability to adjust to difficult living conditions;

– Capacity to think and act strategically

– Ability to work in close partnership with a wide range of national and international partners

V. Qualifications

Education:

– An Engineering Degree with specialization (Master or equivalent) in geomatics (GIS and/or remote sensing).

Experience:

– At least five years of work experience as GIS engineer and having
assumed different levels of responsibility, including project
supervision and technical staff supervision.

Languages :

– Fluency in French (written and spoken) is a must as well as in English.

FEMALES CANDIDATES WITH SUITABLES PROFILE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

How to apply

Reference Code: RW_7JTNRC-68