Purpose:
The Information Management Officer (IMO) will be a key member of the Emergency Coordination Unit, and plays a vital role in collecting, analyzing, and sharing information that is important for the Country Office team and stakeholders to make informed (evidence based) strategic decisions.
The IMO therefore supports the Emergency Coordination Unit and respective UNICEF sectors by supporting with the data and information required to make programmatic decisions.
As such, the IMO needs to be able to liaise and communicate with many different types of people, sectors and agencies and act as a 'bridge' between Country Office decision makers and technical IM staff.
Fundamental to the job is the ability to present information in a way that is easily understood by the sector/cluster members and the management. 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.
Reports to: Emergency Field Coordinator
Duration: 11 months
Location: Lilongwe
Expected start date: 2 January 2017
BACKGROUND
Malawi faces a number of hazards, both natural and man-made, which include floods, drought, landslides, disease outbreaks (cholera), fires and pest infestations. Over the last decade, disasters have become more frequent, intense and unpredictable - in the face of climate change, population growth, urbanization and environmental degradation. The floods in Malawi in January 2015 were the most devastating in terms of areas affected, severity of damage, and extent of loss. The rainfall was the highest on record for Malawi, and caused significant flooding and displacements - predominantly in the Southern Region, exacerbating an already precarious situation for rural households in this region, which depend heavily on agriculture for food production.
The country is experiencing its worst food insecurity and nutrition crisis in over a decade, largely due to El Niño. Following devastating floods in the first half of 2015, Malawi faced prolonged dry spells not only in disaster-prone districts in the south, but also in areas traditionally producing food. Agricultural Production Estimates Survey results showed a 30 per cent decline in maize production in 2015 and a further 12 per cent decrease in 2016. The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) forecasts that 6.5 million people (39 per cent of the country's population), including 3.5 million children will face food insecurity during the 2016/ 2017 consumption period, representing an increase of 129 per cent from the 2.8 million people affected in the previous year. As a result, the Government declared a state of disaster in April 2016. With more than 42 per cent of all children already stunted, there are concerns of increased malnutrition rates. A La Nina weather phenomenon is predicted for November/ December 2016 that is likely to exacerbate the situation, with potential floods in the vulnerable southern districts.
Additionally, the current cholera outbreak, with first case registered on 17 December 2015, has further increased the need for timely and improved information analysis, to ensure interventions are based on need, and gaps in the field are identified and addressed. In addition, it is important to identify strategic interventions, and ensure that relevant timely information is communicated back to sectors and PCA partners, in a useful format to support action.
UNICEF has in line with the Standard Operating Procedures for the activation of the emergency coordination mechanism declared a country office phase III level with an active SITCEN.
In line with UNICEFs emergency response plan, data is collected and correlated on a regular basis to track the response to the emergency and to identify gaps. This data is analysed and information is projected in a dashboard and used for response by sectors, Situation reports (SITREPS), cluster coordination and response and planning purposes including recovery and development. Information is provided to the Emergency Coordinator and the Situation Room (SitCen) which is based in Lilongwe. The SitCen is responsible for supporting the overall coordination of the emergency response within UNICEF providing immediate assistance to the UNICEF teams including those that are based in the field during acute emergency, as applicable.
PURPOSE
Under the general guidance of the Emergency Coordinator, be responsible for the overall management of information/data from UNICEFs response in the field.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
Deliverables and time frame
Payment Schedule
Monthly/ every 30 calendar days, pegged on deliverables
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
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General Conditions
HOW TO APPLY:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=501525
