UNICEF WASH Information Management Officer Temporary Job in Nairobi Kenya

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
 

Kenya Country Office, Nairobi
 

Vacancy Announcement  
 

WASH Information Management Officer (IMO) – NO-B
 

To support the National WESCOORD
 

Temporary Appointment 

Duration:  4 months

Date of Issue: 13 June, 2014

Closing Date: 27 June, 2014

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Temporary Appointment position in the WASH Section, UNICEF Kenya Country Office
 

Background and Justification: Kenya experiences humanitarian emergencies linked to natural disasters such as drought and floods, and outbreaks of human and livestock diseases. 

Drought and flood patterns have become more frequent, intense and unpredictable with the number of people living in areas vulnerable to these disasters in Kenya increasing annually. 

They affect over 10 million people, mostly living in arid and semi-arid lands - which cover more than 80 per cent of the country’s land mass. Additionally, there is often a risk of population movements due to ethno-political or resource-based conflicts.

Humanitarian emergencies often require coordinated multi-sectoral humanitarian response. It is for this purpose that the Water and Environmental Sanitation Coordination mechanism (WESCOORD) was established as a technical arm of Kenya Food Security Steering group (KFSSG) - shortly after the La-Nina related drought of 2000/2001. 

This sector coordination platform brings together agencies active in responding to humanitarian WASH needs of populations affected by emergencies in the country. 
 

Overall, the coordination of WASH interventions in Kenya is led by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (MEWNR), and the Ministry of Health (MoH). UNICEF, as the WASH Cluster lead agency, is responsible for ensuring that the cluster approach is effectively carried out in Kenya. 

In the last couple of years, WESCOORD’s performance as a sector coordination forum improved greatly after the establishment of a permanent secretariat at the MEWNR offices; and UNICEF’s increased technical capacity support to WESCOORD for coordination and information management.

The need for timely and improved information analysis to ensure interventions are based on needs and gaps still remains a priority for the sector. 

During the drought response in 2011-2012 Information Management (IM) capacity of WESCOORD considerably strengthened with a comprehensive 4W and information development and dissemination process; a WESCOORD website and enthusiastic response from partners, donors and other actors in and beyond the sector. This has however been affected by staff turnover in June 2013. 

Strengthening of the IM capacity of WESCOORD is of particularly importance in light of the devolved government structures. 

This will ensure that strategic humanitarian interventions are well planned and coordinated, and that relevant timely information gets back to WASH partners, in a useful format to support action for this and future WASH emergencies in Kenya.
 

Given the importance of information management in the WASH sector, it is crucial that an IM officer is recruited as soon as possible to build on the gains made so far through WESCOORD. The IM officer will also be a key resource for capacity building initiatives of WESCOORD at county level.
 

Scope of Work

Responsibility for WASH Cluster Information Management (IM)

Effective coordination requires appropriate Information Management capacity. 

The IASC Guidance on Responsibilities of Cluster/Sector Leads and OCHA for Information Management  recommends that cluster/sector lead as cluster lead agency needs to appoint an Information Management focal point per Cluster, who should have sufficient expertise and an ability to work with different partners and clusters, and allocate the necessary human and financial resources for Information Management to ensure this.

Rationale: Information Management improves the capacity of stakeholders for analysis and decision making through strengthened collection, processing, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of information at the intra and inter-cluster level.  

Information is in this sense the foundation on which decision-making for a coordinated and effective response is based. 
 

Purpose and Role: The Information Management Officer will be a key member of the national WASH cluster coordination team (WESCOORD) and play a vital role in collecting, analysing, and sharing information that is important for the cluster stakeholders to make informed (evidence based) strategic decisions on:

1. the needs of affected populations
2. the prioritization of these areas according to WASH indicators
3. where there is a need for WASH actors and to what degree
4. what are the key gaps in activity and need
5. what capacity (human, material, financial) exists to be used in support of the identified prioritised response needs, and what are the funding priorities

The Information Management Officer therefore supports the WASH Cluster Coordinator by supporting the cluster with the data and information it requires to make programmatic decisions.  

As such, the Information Management Officer should be able to liaise and communicate with many different types of people and agencies and act as a ‘bridge’ between WASH decision makers, WASH members in the field and in Nairobi, and technical IM staff. 

Fundamental to the job is the ability to present information in a way that is easily understood by WESCOORD members.  

Sometimes this is through graphic means such a mapping but also through tables, charts, and narrative writing. 

Other times it involves discussing the information directly with the decision makers to make important interpretations on the findings. 

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

General

• Report to the national WASH Cluster Coordinator and respond to WESCOORD Memberships’ needs for information; work under the guidance of the WASH Cluster Coordinator.
• Provide IM services to cluster for key decision making.  These services will include data collection, collation, mapping, analysis, dissemination processes relevant to the needs of the cluster.  This may require building additional and appropriate capacity through the training of additional staff and managing, organizing, and conducting these activities.
• Contribute to WESCOORD’s periodical coordination and planning meetings, highlighting any significant gaps in humanitarian assistance

Data Gathering, Tools and Process

• Proactively gathering information from other sectors/organizations which may be of use to WESCOORD at both county and national level for informing decisions, including movement of population, disease outbreaks, water point locations/ functionality etc.
• Identify barriers for information collection, collation, analysis and sharing and work with the OCHA Information Management Specialist to develop appropriate supportive strategies which includes convincing agencies of the purpose and importance of collecting and sharing data/information by providing a timely, added value service to all stakeholders.

Needs Assessment

• Organize and manage the data collection and input and initial analysis and presentation of data for WESCOORD.
• Support and strengthen field assessments mechanisms where possible.
• Contribute to the inter-sectoral rapid assessments mechanism in Kenya (KIRA) during emergencies

Monitoring

• Review and implement the 4W (Who does What Where When) matrix that meets the needs of WASH partners.
• Regular consultation with WASH partners to ensure their regular input into the 4W matrix
• Maintain database of the 4W and derivative products such as maps, graphs, analysis.
• Inventory of relevant common Cluster/Sector data sets, including population data disaggregated by age and sex.
• Data on the humanitarian requirements and contributions (financial, material, human - as appropriate)
• Support Cluster reporting: end of year report, KFSSG interim reports, Humanitarian Updates, Sit Reps etc.
• Gather and collate data on humanitarian response assistance, including feedback and/or issues raised by the affected population

Dissemination and Access to Information for WASH Stakeholders

• Inventory of relevant documents on the humanitarian situation, i.e. mission reports, assessments, evaluations, etc;
• Share information in an appropriate way (ie not all stakeholders have access to the same type of information systems) using internet, e-mail groups, hard copies, verbal feedback at WASH coordination meetings and dissemination to affected communities as part of accountability to affected populations; consider translation into local languages as appropriate.

Mapping

• Produce maps of WASH 4W per location, water and sanitation infrastructure.
• Map out WASH information as requested by key partners at both county and national level (support may be available from OCHA and other actors)
• Support prioritisation of proposals for funding from various sources by mapping all submitted proposals. 
• Establish systems to manage high numbers of proposals submitted, for timely feedback to agency, and future use by WESCOORD.

Information Management Intra and Inter-Cluster Liaison

• Liaise with local and available authorities on data - particularly to assess and access existing information.
• Ensure that information management (IM) activities support national information systems standards and build local capacities.
• Liaise with UNICEF Monitoring and Evaluation experts to gather and share information - especially for background data and sources of information in-country.

Information Management Standards and Policy

• Ensure that IM standards and policies, as advised by WESCOORD are followed, and feedback is given on appropriateness, with suggestions for possible improvements.

Ensuring sufficient IM capacity for continuity

• Establish or maintain existing Information Management structures within the WESCOORD Secretariat.
• Strengthen capacity of WESCOORD Secretariat to sustain IM capabilities.
• Strengthen county level reporting and information sharing procedures to ensure information flow between national and county level WESCOORDs.

Training and capacity building of national authorities and civil society

• Promote and support information management training of WESCOORD partners including UNICEF, government authorities and humanitarian personnel.

Preparation for End of Assignment

• Preparation of a short summary report at the conclusion of the assignment on lessons learned to be shared with WASH at the country, regional and global levels.

Other

• Any other tasks that may be required (within reason) to achieve the objective of this assignment

AWP Areas Covered
IR 4: Capacity for WASH Cluster Coordination in place in case of declared emergency.
 

Expected Deliverables 

The IMO will deliver the following:-

• IM services to WESCOORD for key decision
• Up to date 4W information on current partners, according to an agreed time frame within WESCOORD
• Timely contributions to KFSSG interim reports, Humanitarian Updates & Sit Reps.
• Contributions to WESCOORD meetings, SAG and other working groups.
• An inventory of relevant documents on the humanitarian situation, i.e. mission reports, assessments, evaluations, etc.
• Relevant maps of WASH 4Ws & other data such as water and sanitation infrastructure.
• Strengthened Information Management structures within WESCOORD at both national and county levels.
• Strengthened capacity of WESCOORD Secretariat to sustain IM capabilities.
• District level reporting & information sharing procedures.
• IM training facilitation for WESCOORD partners, including UNICEF, government authorities and humanitarian personnel. 
• A short summary report at the conclusion of the assignment on lessons learned to be shared with WASH at the country, regional and global levels.

Qualification and Competencies 
 

I. Education: Degree-level qualification or equivalent in relevant field such as: Public Health, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, Sanitation Engineering, or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance. 
 

II. Work Experience

• At least two-year’s combined field and headquarters experience in a relevant humanitarian international organization(s) (e.g. UN agencies, INGOs, IOs, Donors, IFRC or ICRC)
• Good knowledge of the UN system and NGO humanitarian community.
• Experience in information management, knowledge management or a related field.
• Experience of humanitarian needs assessments, surveys, and monitoring and evaluation. 
• Proven statistical analytic skills.
• Experience in website content management
• Candidate should be able to operate in a challenging environment, both in terms of working and living conditions. 

Duty station is non-family.

Competency Profile

i)  Core Values (Required)

• Commitment 
• Diversity and Inclusion 
• Integrity 

ii) Core Competencies (Required)

• Communication 
• Working with People  
• Drive for Results  

iii)  Functional Competencies (Required)

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Relating and Networking
• Applying Technical Expertise
• Analyzing
• Planning and Organizing
• Creating and Innovating

Languages:

• Fluency in English.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili would be an asset.

Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae,  to;

The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org

Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/WASH/2014/009” in the email subject.

Interested candidates should also complete the Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded from the UNICEF Kenya website (http://www.unicef.org/kenya).

“Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply”

Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse

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