Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Information Systems Section, within the Humanitarian Sector Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. Managing information during emergencies is crucial, providing reliable data on affected populations and their urgent needs. Accurate information and data are critical for a rapid, effective, coordinated and principled humanitarian response. OCHA’s digital products serve as central hubs for information management services to the entire humanitarian community. Its team monitors and collects information from more than 4,000 key sources, including humanitarian agencies at the international and local levels, governments, think-tanks and research institutions, and the media. Products include maps, graphics, situation reports, and humanitarian bulletins. This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Information Management Assistant and is located in Nairobi, Kenya. Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Section, the incumbent reports to the Editor (P3).
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Information Management Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: Content Delivery and Crisis Coverage
- Follow up in support of ensuring the timely delivery of quality content from information partners and promptly initiate coverage for sudden onset crises and disasters. Curate key content through dedicated delivery mechanisms, ensuring visibility and relevance. Content Management and Workflow Coordination
- Support the coordination of content management across different duty stations to ensure smooth collaboration and consistent workflows. Quality Control and Verification
- Facilitate the process of conducting quality control and verification of content as needed, leveraging language skills for country, regional or thematic coverage. Monitor and report any technical problems following standard operating procedures. Escalate issues and contribute with recommendations for improving the content management process, particularly in response to technological advancements. Client Service
- Address standard client needs by efficiently resolving cases, ranging from simple to moderately complex, using empathy and sound judgment under minimal supervision. Impact of Results
- Facilitate the process that ensures that critical information reaches stakeholders quickly during crises, enhancing the organization’s ability to respond effectively and coordinate humanitarian efforts.
- Streamlined workflows and improved processes lead to greater efficiency and consistency in content delivery, benefiting the entire organization.
- Contribute to the maintaining the credibility and reliability of OCHA’s content, which is crucial for the organization’s reputation and the trust of its users.
- Address client needs by efficiently resolving standard cases using empathy and sound judgement.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of content management standards and online information management guidelines. Demonstrates knowledge of independent research to identify and address key issues, developing effective information retrieval tools for specialized audiences. Proficient in applying controlled terminology to enhance metadata for online content while adhering to classification guidelines and document selection criteria. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of technical subject matter; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; ability to follow specific team workflow procedures to ensure timeliness, reliability of service to humanitarian community. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Technological awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.
Education
High school or Secondary School diploma is required. A university degree or specialized qualifications in international affairs, social sciences, library sciences, information systems or related fields are desirable.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of experience with entities operating in the humanitarian, human rights or development sector, including two (2) years of experience in communication, reporting, information management, online editing, desktop publishing or journalism is required. Experience understanding web content management systems, including the use of taxonomy and content classification is desirable. Knowledge of humanitarian issues is desirable. Experience working remotely with teams across different locations is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
| Language |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
| English |
UN Level III |
UN Level III |
UN Level III |
UN Level III |
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds. The contract will be administered by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of OCHA. Appointment against this post is on a local basis. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
