UN Jobs in Nairobi Kenya

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Internal / External Vacancy Announcement
 
Vacancy No:VA/FPA/SOM/08-01/2017
 
Post Title: GIS Assistant 

4 Positions
 
Grade / Level: G-3

 

Type of Contract: Service Contract
 
Duty Station: Nairobi

Duration: 4 Months
 
Date of Issue: 18/8/2017
 
Closing Date: 25/8/2017
 
Organizational Unit: UNFPA Somalia Country Office
 
The United Nations Population Fund is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. 

UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.
 
Background: For a long time attempts have been made especially by the Somali authorities, UN agencies and other international organizations to obtain reliable estimates of the population for Somalia in general and especially the nomadic population.
 
The nomadic pastoral population in Somalia has undergone transformation and change of lifestyles over the years. In the early years, the pastoralists in Somalia were composed of lineage groups/clans having their own grazing lands. 

During the drought they would move to areas owned by other clans to search for pasture and water and returned back during rains. This kind of movement took place on reciprocity terms. Despite the unity of pastoralists, conflicts arose from time to time over grazing land and watering points particularly among clans.

There were very few water points during the dry season mainly shallow wells.
 
In the recent years, boreholes have been introduced making incidences of critical water shortage less common.
 
Pastoralists have now formed villages around water points and settled. The nomadic lifestyle has changed due to numerous reasons that may include availability of alternative livelihood opportunities and the pre-war government policies that viewed nomadism as a primitive way of life that needed to be changed. A number of pastoralists have moved to towns, created villages and settled. 

The nomadic communities have undergone significant changes; for instance they are now attached to a market where they buy and sell goods and some are settling in the villages. 

Moreover, nomads move across international boundaries to as far as Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti to look for pastures and water during the dry season.
 
Job Purpose: The Population Estimation Survey (PESS) of 2014 provided credible demographic and socio-economic data. 

The success and usefulness of PESS has been acknowledged by all relevant stakeholders, who are currently using the data for planning purposes. 

However, there is an urgent need to fill in the remaining data gaps on health and demographic issues, for better planning, policy formulation and informed decision-making. In this regard, a health and demographic survey is scheduled to take place in 2017.

Prior to the survey, a complete and up-to-date sampling frame is required in order to draw up a representative sample. 

For the purposes of the Somali Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS), a desk update of the frame will be carried out through the digitization of structures and Enumeration Areas (EAs) using high resolution satellite imagery. 

The listing of the households will be undertaken within the primary sampling units (or EAs) that will be sampled for purposes of implementing SHDS. 

The GIS Assistant will carry out the digitization of structures and enumeration areas for the update of the Somali sampling frame to be used in the Somali Health and Demographic Survey.
 
Specific Objectives
  • To review the water-point approached used in estimating the population of nomads during the recently concluded population estimation survey, ecological zoning and geographical cluster sampling approaches
  • To come up with an appropriate methodology for estimating the nomadic population of the Somali people
  • To carry out pilot study to test the appropriateness of the methodology for estimating the nomadic population of the Somali people
Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Digitize structures and EAs in rural areas in order to update the sampling frame.
  • Conduct verification and data cleaning on EAs and digitized structures.
  • Generate attribute data and metadata for digitized features.
  • Cary out geo-processing techniques.
  • Carry out data conversion of digitized files to other GIS supported formats.
  • Support any training and supervision of the desk update of the sampling frame including geodatabase creation, geo-referencing, spatial and attribute data creation, GPS data collection and mapping, and satellite image interpretation.
  • Construct and edit EA maps as requested
  • Scan and geo-reference geospatial data
Work relations: The candidate will work under the overall guidance of the Population and Development Program Manager and direct supervision of the GIS Analyst. 

The GIS Assistant will work within the Population and Development section and report to the GIS Analyst.

Internal contacts include the head of Population and Development Unit as well as other team members within Population and Development.

Required Competencies:
  • Strategic vision, strong technical and analytical capabilities and demonstrated ability to work in a team
  • Strong interpersonal skills and communication skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, and negotiating skills, and the ability to cope with situations which may pose conflict
  • Strong presentation skills
  • Demonstrates openness and ability to integrate change
  • Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships
i) Values: Exemplifying integrity; Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system; Embracing cultural diversity; Embracing change.

ii) Core Competencies: Achieving results; Being accountable; Developing and applying professional expertise / business acumen; Thinking analytically and strategically; Working in teams / managing ourselves and our relationships; Communicating for impact.
 
iii) Functional Competencies:
 
Advocacy / Advancing a policy-oriented agenda; leveraging the resources of national governments and partners / building strategic alliances and partnerships; delivering results-based programmes; internal and External Communication and advocacy for results mobilization
 
Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Geospatial related discipline.
Knowledge and Required Experience:
  • A minimum of one year working experience in the geospatial field. However, applicants with a combination of exemplary skills, knowledge and experience will be considered.
  • Experience in utilization of high and medium resolution satellite imagery for the purposes of feature extraction and digitization is required.
  • Working knowledge of ArcGIS, Quantum GIS and Remote Sensing software.
  • Experience in field mapping and sampling frame techniques including creation of enumeration area maps will be an added advantage.
Values:
  • Exemplifying integrity
  • Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
  • Embracing cultural diversity
  • Embracing change
Core Competencies:
  • Achieving results
  • Being accountable
  • Developing and applying professional expertise/ business acumen
  • Thinking analytically and strategically
  • Working in teams/ managing ourselves and our relationships
  • Communicating for impact
Languages:
  • Fluency in oral and written English is a must.
  • Communication in Somali is an asset
How to Apply

Please note that this vacancy is open to Kenya Nationals only. 

Applications with an updated CV and a completed & signed UN Personal History Form (P-11) marked: “VA/FPA/SOM/08-01/2017: GIS Assistant, G-3: Nairobi” in the subject line of the e-mail should be forwarded to the following email address: somalia.recruit@unfpa.org
 
UNFPA will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.
 
UNFPA Work Environment: UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.

Disclaimer: 

WARNING TO APPLICANTS: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter or offer that makes use of the name or logo of UNFPA, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm


Post Title: Intern
 
Type of Contract: Internship
 
Duty Station: Nairobi
 
Duration: 2 Months with possible extension
 
Date of Issue: 18/8/2017
 
Closing Date: 31/8/2017
 
Organizational Unit: UNFPA Somalia Country Office
 
The UNFPA Somalia Country Office, based in Nairobi, is looking for interns in various disciplines. 

Students from these disciplines are welcome to apply, and depending on qualifications, shall be selected for internships that relate either to the organization's strategic activities or to administrative or technical functions. 

Internships will allow the successful candidates to have the opportunity to work in a multi-cultural international organization:
 
Population and Development
 
Internships may be offered at any UNFPA office. However, due to security risks, non-family duty stations (i.e. in security phase III or above) may not accept interns from outside the duty station.
 
Typical tasks
  • conducting research;
  • reviewing and writing reports and proposals;
  • cataloguing information;
  • assisting in the organization of conferences, forums or other collaborative events;
  • Data entry;
Eligibility
 
UNFPA may accept interns providing the following conditions are met:
 
a) enrolment:
 
Active enrollment in or completion of a university or similar educational programme;
 
Candidates for the internship programme are selected on a competitive basis. The profiles of the interns are matched with the needs of the organization. 

The following qualifications are required for consideration:
  1. should be enrolled in an advanced degree programme or have recently Students graduated;
  2. Students must have written and spoken proficiency in English; fluency in French, Spanish or Arabic is an asset.
b) skills:
  • Proficiency in English required. Fluency Somali or in Arabic is an asset;
  • computer literate in standard software applications;
  • demonstrated keen interest in the work of the UN, and of UNFPA in particular, and have a personal commitment to UNFPA's Statement of Purpose and to the ideals of the UN Charter; and
  • Demonstrated the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
Duration: The duration of the internship should normally be two months, which may be extended. The total duration should not exceed six months, but exceptions may be permitted if this is in the interest of UNFPA.
 
Internship assignments are available on a part-time and full-time basis throughout the year, depending on the availability of meaningful assignments and the needs and capacity of offices to receive and supervise interns.
 
Status
  • Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members.
  • Interns may not be sought or accepted as substitutes for staff to be recruited against authorized posts.
  • Interns may not represent UNFPA in any official capacity.
Third-party claims: UNFPA is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship.
 
Interns’ Expenses
 
Interns are not financially remunerated by UNFPA.
 
All costs connected with an intern's participation in the Programme must be borne by:
  • a) the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students;
  • b) the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel (including to and from the office), visas, accommodation, etc.
Insurance: UNFPA accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. 

As interns are not covered under any insurance, including MAIP, they should not travel to hazardous locations in the course of their internship with UNFPA.
 
Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical and life/accident insurance for the duty station for which they will work. 

It must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship which:
  • a) requires transportation to the Home Country or Country of Residence for further treatment; or
  • b) results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the Home Country, or Country of Residence.
Subsequent Employment: The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNFPA but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.
 
Should an offer of employment be envisaged, a 3-month break, from the end of the internship, must be respected. Interns cannot apply for posts during the period of internship.

How to Apply
 
Interested students should send their applications marked: “VA/FPA/SOM/08-02/2017 “Internship - 2017” to the following email address:
 
The Application should include the following documentation:
  • a) a duly completed “UNFPA internship application form” (Download HERE).
  • b) a copy of his/her most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
  • c) a letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;
  • d) a copy of his/her insurance/medical cover
  • e) a letter of endorsement from a senior faculty member who has directly supervised the student in the recent past and who is fully acquainted with the student's performance; and
  • f) a brief paper setting out the reasons why he/she is seeking an internship with UNFPA and what is expected from the experience.
Deadline for application: 31 Aug 2017.