Job Details:
- Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
- Location: Remote | Kabul
- Grade: Level not specified – Level not specified
- Occupational Groups:
- Statistics
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Scientist and Researcher
- Closing Date: 2023-12-28
STFA constitutes an important vehicle to enable the operationalization of the recently launched UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA), 2023-2025, through joint, inter-agency, ‘Delivering as One’ (DaO) initiatives. Programmatic activities under the UNSFA, undertaken alongside the humanitarian response, aim to mitigate, and hopefully avert, the immediate impact of the crises on lives and livelihoods of vulnerable Afghans. The Fund serves as also enables multiple contributing partners to channel their resources and coordinate their support for the implementation of the UNSFA and the UN joint programs developed under it. The three outcome areas under UNSFA (services, livelihoods, and rights) remain key programmatic priorities under the scope of STFA’s Terms of Reference.
The Fund is administered by the UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office), acting as the Administrative Agent. The Trust Fund Management Unit (TFMU) is the Fund Secretariat for STFA and is the entity responsible for the operational functioning of the Fund and provides technical and management support to the Steering Committee.
Housed in the TFMU, the Data Management Specialist will lead data management processes for STFA, contribute to the development of tools and protocols to generate program and finance information in a timely and efficient manner and ensure robust systems for the storing and archiving of data and documentation. The Data Management Specialist will be expected to contribute to the collation and analysis of data received from all the Participating UN Agencies to support the strategic positioning of the Fund – as a key enabler for the implementation of UNSFA, the operationalization of the triple (Humanitarian-Development-Peace) nexus and ‘Delivering as One UN’ programmatic initiatives.
Data Management, data analysis & visualization
- Implement and upgrade the data management system for managing the Fund’s results framework.
- Analyze, define, and report key data metrics, optimizing collection methodologies.
- Integrate state-of-the-art analytical tools for the Fund’s decision-making and ensure data quality and relevance.
- Conduct continuous data analysis and report findings on data management improvement to the management.
- Oversee data collection, review the quality of data, transform, and offer actionable insights.
- Present data-driven patterns and trends, and generate baselines and targets for monitoring.
- Develop visually compelling narratives from data and introduce custom analytical tools.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Database development and innovation
- Lead the creation and upkeep of databases using advanced capture and synthesis techniques.
- Design and maintain interactive visual dashboards reflecting the Fund’s strategies, an overview of resource mobilization of the country, and tracking the progress of programs/projects implemented by the UN Agencies and PUNOs of the Trust Fund.
- Identify data gaps, explore automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) methods for data capture, and to generate decision-enabling data sets.
- Develop an integrated Programming, Monitoring and evaluation, and Finance framework platform for PUNOs of the Trust Fund, using time-critical and historical data sets.
- Create data setup using AI by importing data automatically from the PUNO’s ERP to the TFMU platform to increase efficiencies for PUNOs, facilitate the Fund’s decision-making, and enhance remote monitoring of initiatives funded by the Trust Fund.
- Provide guidance and support to the Communications Team and Web Administrator to revamp STFA’s website in alignment with MPTF Gateway and UNSFA
- Provide support for updating and managing the contents of the website.
Quality Assurance of data and performing data analysis
- Perform quality assurance of the data supplied by the PUNO, coordinate data collection and analysis processes; apply AI or automated tools to retrieve data directly from the PUNO’s ERP reports, and transform data into easy-to-use formats with actionable insights.
- Analyze data to present development patterns and trends in the focus areas of the Trust Fund.
- Extend support to the M&E and Finance staff of the UN Agencies to create data models (if required), templates, presentations, and documentation for proper data management and analysis.
Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Development
- Extract and disseminate key lessons from joint programs and monitoring activities to foster knowledge sharing among UN organizations.
- Utilize online platforms to enhance collaboration and effectively communicate results to all stakeholders.
- Organize training and capacity-building sessions for UN organizations to keep them informed about the data management tools and systems.
Online Risk Management Information System
- Design and implement risk management tools for the UN RCO and STFA to monitor, analyze, and communicate (to the UN, PUNOs, and other STFA stakeholders) risks and mitigation action points.
- Support the tracking of risk owners and the status of implementation of mitigation measures through the risk management information system, ensuring adequate integration with UN Afghanistan’s risk management dashboards/online platforms.
- Work closely with the UN Afghanistan’s risk management team and UN Agencies risk management working group and risk management focal persons from the participating UN organizations.
- Achieve Results LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, and have lasting impact.
- Think Innovatively LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, and develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
- Learn Continuously LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, and diversify experiences.
- Adapt with Agility LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, and manage multiple competing demands.
- Act with Determination LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate tasks/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
- Engage and Partner LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate the complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 3: Appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
People Management competencies:
- UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Digital & Innovation
- Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyze, and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision-making.
- Data governance: Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases, and operate data visualization technologies.
- Data storytelling and communications: Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.
Business Direction & Strategy
- System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Management
- Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
- Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
- Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
- Communication: Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, data science, information management, international affairs, international development, economics, or a related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in computer science, data science, information management, international affairs, international development, economics, or a related field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Minimum 5 years (with a master’s degree) or 7 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in data management, data analytics, and presenting results in a structured way to inform strategic decisions in a conflict or post-conflict setting.
- Working experience with SharePoint Online for creating and configuring sites, managing permissions, implementing workflows, and understanding integration points with other Microsoft 365 services, such as Power Apps and Power Automate.
- In-depth knowledge of Power BI for creating dashboards, data models, and reports. The ability to work with DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) and familiarity with Power Query are required.
- Proven experience in working with international organizations in conflict or post-conflict settings.
- Proven experience in working with pooled funds such as multi-partner trust funds is required.
- Previous experience with managing big data or artificial intelligence projects is desirable.
- Experience in delivering and facilitating innovative approaches and solutions to development programming would be an advantage.
Required Language:
- Fluency in English is required.
Travel:
- UNDP will cover the cost of travel associated with performing the functions as per applicable Policy. In the event that the Data Management Specialist is required to travel, his/her movements for meetings and consultations shall be coordinated by UNDP and TFMU.