| Posting Title: | Climate Change and Adaptation Information Management Expert |
| Department/Office: | United Nations Environment Programme |
| Duty Station: | NAIROBI |
| Posting Period: | 10 October 2023 – 23 October 2023 |
| Job Opening Number: | 23-United Nations Environment Programme-219707-Consultant |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Result of Service
An information management system and database including an information portal to disseminate and share information, outputs and facilitate knowledge-sharing through a well-functioning system and information platform that will serve as a comprehensive, up-to-date, and easily accessible library of information on climate change adaptation projects and programmes.Work Location
Eswatini
Expected duration
7 MonthsDuties and Responsibilities
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Ecosystem Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
Climate change is one of the most complex challenges that humankind has to face in the next decades. In particular, it is likely that the biggest impacts of change will be on agricultural and food systems over the next few decades. Climate change reinforces existing vulnerability patterns as the exposure to risk becomes more frequent, intensive and unpredictable. Therefore, climate change poses a threat to humanity as a whole including future generations and mostly the poor and marginalized, those with the least responsibility for the ecological debt, will face the most immediate and severe consequences. As the climate change process seems to be irreversible, it has become urgent to develop sound adaptation processes to the current and future shifts in the climate system.
In light of that, the Government of Eswatini (GoE) through the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA) is developing a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as the donor and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the delivery partner. The project seeks to strengthen the enabling environment for adaptation planning and implementation in Eswatini with a focus on long term adaptation investment and enhancing national capacity for integration of climate change adaptation in planning, budgeting and financial tracking processes.
UNEP is seeking the services of an Information Management Expert to develop an information management system and database including an information portal to disseminate and share information, outputs and facilitate knowledge-sharing through a well-functioning system and information platform that will serve as a comprehensive, up-to-date, and easily accessible library of information on climate change adaptation projects and programmes.
The consultant will work under the technical supervision of the the Task manager in the Climate Change Adaptation Unit (CCAU) in UNEP in liaison with the Meteorological Services of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs. The National Coordinator and UNEP’s Task Manager will be the primary contact for the consultants. They will provide an update on a weekly basis with regards to progress and support required.
The consultant will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:
Output 1: Establish a climate change information management system and central database for the collation and dissemination of climate information (including the results of the long-term research programme under Activity 3.3.1) to inform future adaptation assessments.
1.1 Review relevant National and sectorial reports on climate information systems to inform future adaptation assessments.
1.2 Design a climate change information system and central database to manage climate change information flow. The climate information management system will focus on data collection and analysis and will primarily store technical climate information. It will be interactive and enable relevant parties (technical staff of relevant departments and line ministries) to upload and change.
1.3 Conduct a stakeholder consultation workshop to key stakeholders, MTDs, Sector Planning Units including MoEPD, MoF, MTEA, CSO, and other thematic lead ministries and departments to present a beta version of the climate information system and database.
1.4 Conduct a validation workshop on the established information system to national stakeholders and operationalize the system
Output 2: Develop and implement a coordination mechanism for improving access to and sharing of data (including procedures for data collection and analysis)
2.1 In consultation with the PMU and sector experts, develop a coordination plan for improving access to and sharing of data.
2.2 Establish procedures to access and information disclosure.
2.3 Conduct two technical workshops with relevant stakeholders to present developed coordination plan and established procedures to information access and disclosure for inputs and implementation of the developed coordination mechanism.
2.4 Submit final Coordination Mechanism report
Output 3: Develop a climate change information portal to disseminate information on climate change, NAP process and all knowledge information and materials developed during the NAP process
3.1 In consultation with the PMU, design and develop a climate change information portal to disseminate information on climate change. The portal will provide climate change information across all sectors and to a broader range of stakeholders (including rural communities) to enable them to quickly understand the challenges of climate change.
3.2 Assist the PMU in procuring a domain to host the website for at least 10 years from the first year of the project.
3.3 Develop a user manual for the support staff and system administrators to perform content upload, system maintenance and administration.
3.4 Develop and implement a strategy for
the operation and maintenance of the
climate information system.
3.5 Conduct a technical workshop including a mini training to hand over the website management with the PMU, identified Ministry personnel and other line ministry experts.Qualifications/special skills
The consultant should have an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Information Technology (IT), Engineering, Computer Sciences, Database development and management, or a related field from a recognised and reputable institution.
A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
At least 7 years continuous working experience in the fields of database development/design, database administration, installation and support for different database platforms is required
At least 5 years of prior experience designing visually appealing and navigation friendly web sites and Databases is required
Extensive experience in programming and CMS development, including versioning of which at least two years are specific to Word Press CMS is required
Expert knowledge of SQL Server environments for designing and developing databases. SQL Server Database Certification would be an asset; 3+ years is required
Have a broad knowledge of current web development technologies and design tools in the field, and new software and other web programming languages and programs including use of HTML (including version 5), AJAX, Java script XHTML, CSS, XML, XSLT, Macromedia Flash, Java is required
Microsoft and Linux environment; experience in Postgres, Java and Python; particular skill in fault finding technical problems and developing solutions and experience in information and communication technology is required
Have excellent knowledge of recent trends in graphic design, web sites, including online video publishing, and social media networking is desired
Team Foundation Server (TFS) user or administrator is desired
Good understanding of Information Architecture, UI, UX, cross-browser compatibility, and web security is desired
Demonstrated expertise in the use and configuration of the following products and techniques including, Search engine optimization, Google Webmaster tools, Google developer tools and Mobile device adaptation is desiredLanguages
For this consulting position, fluency in oral and written English is required, knowledge of other official UN languages is optional.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
