General
Description of assignment title
Data Management and Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist
Assignment country
Bangladesh
Expected start date
25/12/2023
Sustainable Development Goal
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
Volunteer category
National UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity
UNDP
Type
Onsite
Duration
6 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Cox’s Bazaar
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with Bangladesh ever since its birth and through its remarkable journey from a war-ravaged economy to a middle-income country. It remains a catalyst in Bangladesh’s journey from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. UNDP assists in building institutions and helps strengthen institutional capacities through people-centric, pro-poor, inclusive and sustainable policy making and development governance.
Context
UNDP Bangladesh’s in-house data collection team, Cox’s Bazar Analysis and Research Unit (CARU) is the only institutional provider of real-time data on violence, criminality, and social tensions in districts affected by the Rohingya Crisis in Bangladesh. This second phase of the programme (2021 -2026) builds on the foundations of the project’s first phase (2017-2021) that supported Bangladesh’s efforts to understand sources of violence, changing pattern of social tension, tracking the media reports, providing briefings and presentations to the stakeholders. UNDP partners with research groups, universities, government agencies and international donors to maximize the capacity and appeal of local organizations supportive of peaceful development. Research Facility of CARU: Knowledge, understanding, and insights into the drivers of conflict, violence, and extremism improved, and stronger capacity to analyze the sources and nature of disinformation, exclusion, and intolerance in Bangladesh. CARU provides a service essential for Bangladeshi policymakers, humanitarian agencies, diplomatic partners, and civil society organizations defending women, refugees, minorities, and vulnerable communities. CARU is now looking to hire a GIS Specialist who can help the unit better understand and visualize the security data through GIS and Graphs for promoting stability, inclusivity, and tolerance in Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar District. This individual would provide substantive and ad-ministrative support to UNDP’s research and data components. The GIS Specialist will report to the Technical Specialist, Research and Survey Analysis un-der the Cox’s Bazar Analysis & Research Unit (CARU) which is a part of UNDP Crisis Response Office in Cox’s Bazar. He/she will closely coordinate with colleagues of CARU and UNDP colleagues.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Technical Specialist: Research and Survey Analysis, the National UN Volunteer will undertake the following, but not limited to, tasks: Assist research activities for the CARU in Cox’s Bazar: • Support on implementation of GIS and graphic design initiatives, data management systems including database and spreadsheets, along with online data collection tools, cleaning and verification of collected data; • Support and participate in analytical work by processing data and information in creative and representative format through using advanced GIS and Graphic Design Soft-ware; • Perform regular monitoring of mainstream and social media to find trends and drivers of social tensions in Cox’s Bazar; • Interview/speak with local people, government representatives, and NGOs on the ground to gain additional insight into recent trends; • Plan visits to host communities and Rohingya camps to collect data, as required; • Ensure entry of collected data into the system in a systematic and organized manner; • Manage, Clean, and analyze data, and obtain the findings in a creative and presentable way; and • Assist drafting periodic reports and special updates. Results/Expected Outputs: • The Data Management Specialist is to provide integral support and boost the efficiency of the CARU team. Accurate media monitoring, data entry and analysis of information for both internal and external audiences will strengthen the capacity of the team and promote UNDP efforts in this new area. The candidate’s initiative will be decisive in achieving high quality results. • Full compliance of administrative activities with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures. • Quality maintenance of internal systems and files.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in managing and analyzing media monitoring data; • Experience in using software for data analysis, e.g. MS excel, SPSS, Stata, N Vivo, GIS; • Geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing Mandatory. • Database design, administrative and maintenance Mandatory; • Experience in working in a humanitarian context is an advantage; • Administration and administrative assistance Mandatory; • Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla; • Working knowledge on Rohingya/Chittagonian dialect is an ad-vantage. • Knowledge of data management with advanced IT skills • Skilled in MS office package and data analysis; • Skills in GIS.
Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes, Information technology, Crisis and emergency response
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Bengali, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Statistics, Geography, Information Management (online database and design man-agement), Computer Science, or relevant disciplines.
Competencies and values
• Respectful and helpful relations with all partners and colleagues • Confidentiality • Knowledge of UNDP Rules and Regulations is an advantage • Leadership and Self-Management • Focuses on results for the stakeholders and responds positively to feedback • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, and constructive attitude • Remains calm, in control, and good humoured under pressure • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills • Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Cox’s Bazar is the prime beach and tourist town in Bangladesh, situated alongside the beach of the Bay of Bengal, beside the Indian ocean, having unbroken 120 Kilometre golden sand beach, reachable through motor transport alongside the wavy water . This town is situated in the Chittagong Division in south-eastern Bangladesh, beside ‘Myanmar (Burma)’. For Bangladeshi’s it doesn’t get much better than Cox’s Bazar, the country’s most popular beach town than the other one ‘Kuakata beach town. It’s sort of a Cancun of the east. It’s choc-a-bloc with massive well-architectured concrete structures, affluent 5 & 3 star hotels, catering largely to the country’s elite and overseas tourists. The beach is only a bit crowded in tourist season, October to March, especially near the hotel-motel zone, but remains virgin during the rest of the year, April to September, when it’s better to take a trip there. Cox’s Bazar is located about 150 km south of Chittagong Metropolitan city, Cox’s Bazar is connected both by air and road with the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka and the prime port city Chittagong. The official language is Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy