Location: Sudan (the) (Juba)
Closing date: 07 Aug 2008
Job Description

I. SUMMARY

This document sets out terms of reference for expertise to establish and maintain a coordinating capacity within the “socio-economic risk & security threat mapping and analysis” component of the Strategic Planning Support Team of UNDP Sudan.

II. BACKGROUND

UNDP Sudan is carrying out a restructuring of many of its programme units, with the idea of integrating its security programmes (DDR, Mine Action) with the Natural Resource and Resource-based conflict Unit, its Community Recovery and Rehabilitation Unit and its Recovery and Rehabilitation Programme presently within the Trust Funds Management Unit. The objective of this restructuring is to address and correct multiple overlapping within programmes and projects, to identify and build on potential strategic synergies between them, rationalizing and optimizing the use of resources, particularly in terms of staffing. Finally, and possibly more importantly, the objective is to assure that the overall programming in the new Unit is responsive to strategic national needs and priorities, internally coherent, and appropriately integrated within the overall strategy of UNDP Sudan.

The complexity and breath of Sudan’s security enhancement and socio-economic recovery and development challenges call for strategic planning tools that are capable of clearly identifying and presenting the multiplicity of the security threats and the socio-economic recovery risks, and of detailing their inter-linkages, while supporting the process of priority-setting in terms of selected responses and interventions.

Based on the existing security threat mapping methodology being developed within UNDP’s Interim DDR Programme (IDDRP), and calling upon UNDP Sudan (and other key international partners’) prior experience with socio-economic risk mapping, together with BCPR tools and experience in conflict and risk analysis, it is proposed to create a socio-economic risk & security threat mapping and analysis team (termed the TRMA), initially focused on Eastern Sudan, 3 Areas and other key (mostly southern) states in Sudan.

The TRMA team should have the capacity to support both UNDP and its’ key counterparts, particularly community, regional and state-level authorities, in the strategic selection and planning of interventions, through both the presentation and definition of the critical challenges, and the facilitation of effective analysis and scenario building. It will also be a key facilitator of effective coordination, by clearly evidencing gaps and overlaps of the selected interventions.

The unit will additionally provide, through the periodic updating of its’ mapping, a dynamic tool for M&E and impact assessment of the interventions.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES

The socio economic risk & security threat mapping system, at present, is a semi-manual process and
needs to acquire a GIS capacity in order to institutionalize it as an operational tool.

The Database Officer will undertake the following activities:

- Develop and maintain a multi-language socio-economic risk & security threat mapping database based on the output requirements & guarantee its compatibility with the web based application;
- Identify needs and advise on database functionalities the socio-economic risk & security threat mapping and analysis team requires in order to develop and maintain a dynamic threat-/risk mapping system;
- Develop a strategy and mechanism for socio-economic risk-/ security threat mapping field data collection and management (downloading and uploading of datasets);
- Liaise with national and international counterparts in South Sudan to identify existing databases, support inter-operability and data exchange and promote co-ordination and information sharing;
- Provide technical support to the TRMA team on data information management;
- Prepare training module exercises for national capacity building;
- Data entry;
- Basic mapping and other duties as may be required by the Head of the TRMA.
IV. COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Good research skills, including ability to identify and propose solutions to issues/crises; ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given; Appropriate background in information management and database design;

Planning and Organizing: Ability to work and manage conflicting priorities;

Communication: Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both written and oral;

Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships;

Respect for Diversity: Works effectively with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

V. OUTPUTS

Through the duration of the assignment, the Database Officer will deliver the following outputs:

- Develop a multi-lingual dynamic mapping-database interface compatible with web-based GIS;
- Continuously develop extra functionalities according to needs;
- Produce field data-entry guidelines and prepare training module exercises for national counterpart institutions utilizing the threat mapping tool on the ground;
- Data entry and basic map production;
- Other outputs as may be required by UNDP Sudan.

VI. REPORTING

The Database Officer will report directly to the Data Coordinator and liaise daily with members of the TRMA Team and partners as required. He/She will produce reports on various activities as required by The Head of TRMA, as well as a final end of assignment report reviewing activities undertaken.

VII. QUALIFICATIONS

The following educational and professional requirements apply for the selection of this position:

- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent), preferably in Computer Sciences, Engineering, Geographic Information Systems or related field; A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree..
- 5 years professional working experience at the national and international levels of responsibility in supporting information technology infrastructures;
- Strong practical knowledge and experience in Relational Database Management Systems, Access, SQL, ArcSDE, Oracle, C++ and knowledge of mapping software (ArcGIS) is an asset;
- Familiarity with Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and Spatial Database Engines (SDE);
- Previous field experience in peacekeeping or post-conflict operations;
- Knowledge of or experience with threat/conflict analysis, security sector, DDR, Arms Reduction/Control, and/or post-conflict recovery programming.
- Excellent inter-personal and communication skills;
- Good English writing and oral skills; Fluency in one or more official UN languages
- desirable;;
- Excellent liaison, co-ordination, and planning skills;
- Previous experience in developing and implementing capacity building tools with both international and national counterparts;
Vacancies Contact
jobs.juba@undp.org
or
Hardcopy applications can be hand-delivered to the following address: Operations Manager, UNDP Juba with mention: Confidential - Application to Database officer - TRMA