The Myanmar Information Management Unit / MIMU was established in late 2007 and is a service to humanitarian and development agencies under the management of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. The MIMU receives strategic guidance from an Advisory Board comprising UN, INGO, NNGO and donor representatives, and administrative and operational support is provided by UNDP.
The MIMU is tasked with improving the capacity for analysis and decision making. The Unit maintains and safeguards the common data and information repository for development and humanitarian actors in the Myanmar context through gathering and compiling data from various sources on all sectors countrywide, and at the lowest administrative unit for which it is available. It then makes this information accessible to the wider group of stakeholders as a variety of information products which support evidence-based planning and decision-making.
The MIMU also plays a key role in promoting standards related to data, geo-referencing and information management among UN agencies and NGOs, including defining principles around how data will be stored, working with technical working groups to bring together available information from various sources and promoting use of the standards set by these technical groups, and supporting wider development monitoring processes.
The Information Management Analyst is a key part of the MIMU Senior Management team and is managed directly by the MIMU Manager. This position directly manages staff members of the GIS team (4) as well as any interns and consultants employed in GIS-related activities. The IM Analyst will also provide technical support to cross-team technical projects and initiatives and may directly manage staff and consultants involved in such initiatives.
Reporting to the MIMU Manager, the Information Management Analyst has a key role in the MIMU as a member of the Senior Management Team, providing input to and supporting the implementation of MIMU’s Information Management Strategy under the leadership of the MIMU Manager. He/she will lead the MIMU GIS team and activities, ensuring these are appropriately planned, implemented and monitored in line with the wider MIMU strategy, while also actively supporting the streamlining of IM processes across teams. He/she will lead on building the capacity of the GIS team and support wider MIMU internal and external capacity building activities.
The IM Analyst will assist in the development and improvement of information management products and procedures to ensure that information flow/management functions efficiently and provides the best possible functionality and usability to the Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, as well as humanitarian and development community in Myanmar.
The IM Analyst will also play a key role in supporting cross-team functioning within the MIMU, as well as supporting technical partnerships and initiatives with relevant government counterparts and departments, humanitarian and development agencies, as well as academic, development and private sector actors. Some field travel will be required.
Within limits of delegated authority, the Information Management Analyst will support the MIMU to undertake GIS activities through the following functions and expected results
- Responsible for all MIMU GIS-related plans, partnerships, products, projects and activities, ensuring quality, timely and relevant GIS products and initiatives which support decision-making in humanitarian and development sectors;
- Leading on strategic planning of MIMU GIS-related activities in line with MIMU strategic objectives/directions. This includes the planning, oversight and monitoring of activities, budget and timely implementation (workplans);
- Management of day-to-day MIMU GIS-related activities, providing oversight and guidance to the MIMU GIS team, team capacity building, acquiring and maintaining required data, developing products and projects, integrating appropriate data standards, analysis, quality control;
- Ensure an updated base of consistent, quality products and data repositories in user-friendly formats.
- Ensure appropriate quality control systems covering all GIS products, data and maps generated and disseminated by MIMU;
- Ensure robust monitoring and evaluation of MIMU GIS activities and provide timely inputs to MIMU reports and communications products;
- Ensure strong working relationships with other MIMU units with close collaboration on MIMU projects, products and support to partners;
- Ensuring awareness of sector developments including web-mapping, RS and other technologies which may be relevant for future MIMU projects;
- Active participant in the MIMU Senior Management Team, supporting refinement of MIMU strategy, fundraising, budget monitoring, and activities.
- Lead in MIMU provision of technical advice and support in the use of spatial data to partners including government, humanitarian/development agencies, clusters/sectors, academic institutions, researchers, special projects etc;
- Input, on behalf of MIMU, to the formulation and implementation of relevant policies, guidelines and standards on cartographic and geographic information related matters;
- Lead on integration of data standards in MIMU systems, and refining of MIMU systems to be as efficient and user-friendly as possible;
- Promote wider data and information sharing and the adoption of global data standards in initiatives of government, academic, development and private sector partners; (georeferencing/GPS, Place Codes, National coding system, etc);
- Develop and maintain repositories of high quality geographic information on Myanmar for internal use and external use by partners through appropriate platforms and applications (geoserver, web-based interactive products etc);
- Lead in the development of quality information products including base, thematic, hazard and customised maps;
- Undertake geo-spatial analysis to support a systematic and evidence-based approach to humanitarian and development coordination and response;
- Manage existing and new GIS technical projects with government counterparts, Myanmar universities and other partners to strengthen spatial data availability in Myanmar This includes leading the village mapping initiative with government, support to the finalization and implementation of the National Coding System, government-focused capacity building, development of data standards, policy formulation, etc. Define requirements, tasks, resource and work assignments, ensuring that approved quality levels and deadlines are met;
- Establish and maintain new strategic technical partnerships and joint initiatives as required to achieve MIMU goals and to strengthen geo-spatial information exchange, analysis, and use of standards;
- Lead MIMU GIS-related liaison, networking and coordination with relevant humanitarian and development actors, including the organization of GIS Working Group meetings and ensuring appropriate MIMU representation in GIS-related initiatives;.
- Lead MIMU GIS-related activities in emergency preparedness and response, including development of appropriate and timely maps of hazards, affected areas and populations and support to relevant activities related to disaster response and disaster response preparedness.;
- Support, within MIMU capacities, information management activities related to technical cooperation and technical assistance projects in disaster response preparedness, in close collaboration with government departments and Myanmar universities.
- Mentor and coach MIMU GIS team members in the development of required technical and analytical skills;
- Leading on MIMU GIS-related capacity building for partners including government counterparts Ensure updated and appropriate training content and curricula, materials (manuals, handouts), and development of new modules as required
- Lead in MIMU provision of technical advice and support in the use of spatial data to partners including government, humanitarian/development agencies, clusters/sectors, academic institutions, researchers, special projects etc;
- Lead in developing new and innovative GIS-based IM products and applications to strengthen mapping and analysis for decision-making in humanitarian and development sectors using webmapping, geospatial applications and other tools;
- Lead in development of tools enabling MIMU users to create their own maps and products;
- Support the integration of spatial data standards across MIMU products and systems
- Provide technical advice on information management related issues and challenges to the MIMU team and partners;
- Collaborating closely with the MIMU Manager and MIMU SMT, provide leadership and technical support to the streamlining of MIMU systems and processes and establishment of improved central repositories and data management systems;
7. Any other related tasks as assigned by the MIMU Manager or designee.
Knowledge of the use of information management concepts in humanitarian and development contexts, and ability to apply them to strategic and/or practical situations; ability to critically review the applicability and limitations of relevant technology to the task at hand, and to oversee the integration of appropriate technological solutions in work processes; strong capacity in data management and use of databases; ability to develop and execute architectures, policies, practices and procedures in order to efficiently manage the information lifecycle needs of the project.
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.
Data and Task Management
- Master’s degree with 5 years or a Bachelor degree with 7 years in GIS or information management related field.
- 5 years of experiences in GIS and Information Management or similar field with Master’s degree
- 7 years of experience in GIS and Information Management or similar field with Bachelor’s degree.
- Demonstrated knowledge of geographic information system design and development, and competence in geo-database design and management, (ArcGIS, QGIS,).
- Demonstrated experience in the application of GIS and geospatial data standards to product development in humanitarian response or in a development context (complex emergencies and/or natural disasters)
- Relevant previous experience with UN or INGO.
- Expertise in use of standard software packages, especially Excel, Access.
- Experience of work in the humanitarian and/or development context in Myanmar is an advantage.
- Ability to work with a diverse team in a complex environment.
- Fluency in English, including ability to write clearly and concisely.
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken an absolute requirement
- Knowledge of Myanmar language is an advantage
Candidates must apply on-line through UNDP job website together with academic qualification certificates.
UNDP is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
Women are encouraged to apply the post.
Only those candidates in whose qualifications and experience the Organization has further interest will be contacted for subsequent interview(s).
UNDP regrets its inability to reply individually or attend to telephone queries on the advertised posts.
Contract Duration: 364 days