National UNV Specialist: ICT Specialist with UNOCHA based in Jordan – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme

Mission and objectives

Following UN General Assembly resolution 46/182, OCHA was created in 1998 to support humanitarian organizations to respond effectively to the needs of people caught in crises, to understand and analyze their needs, and to mobilize international assistance. It provides tools and services to help humanitarian organizations ensure that no one affected by a crisis is left behind.

OCHA alerts and informs humanitarian organizations in times of crisis by collecting, analyzing, and sharing data to help aid organizations understand and navigate the complex challenges they face when helping people.

OCHA leads the development of policies that ensure the humanitarian system continues to evolve so that it better meets the needs of crisis-affected people.

OCHA ensures humanitarian organizations have the funds and resources they need to respond during emergencies. It raises awareness and understanding of people’s needs through its annual Global Humanitarian Overview and mobilizes funding and resources to ensure those needs are met.

OCHA campaigns for the rights of people affected by humanitarian crises. It amplifies their voices and ensures that the humanitarian system is accountable to them. It advocates at the highest levels for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.

Context

UN-OCHA Regional Office for the Middle East & North Africa was newly established in 2023 in Amman, Jordan, and covers in varying scopes the MENA region, including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and Libya. This UN volunteer assignment will contribute to the work of the Administration Unit, which provides support to the Regional Office (RO), Country Offices (CO), and Humanitarian Assistance Teams (HAT) in the region, on policies, procedures, and processes in the Technology Infrastructure, Data Management, and Analysis, IT Solutions, Cybersecurity, and Information protection.

The Unit goals are to put in place procedures and carry out transactions in compliance with UN regulations and rules, provide quality and timely administrative and ICT support and reporting, and ensure that resources are accurately accounted for and utilized efficiently.

National UN Specialist Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to:

• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 1,068.5;

• Annual and learning leaves;

• Free Medical and life insurance; and

• Free access to different learning platforms.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the ICT Officer, the ICT Specialist is expected to assist the Unit in maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing various ICT components. The ICT Specialist will perform the following tasks:

Technical Support (Troubleshooting and Issue Resolution):

• Provide technical support and assistance to staff, when issues arise with ICT systems or services, technical support staff are tasked with diagnosing the problem, identifying the root cause, and implementing solutions to resolve the issue promptly. This may involve helping end-users, conducting system checks, and collaborating with other IT teams or vendors as needed.

Infrastructure Management:

• Assist in setting up, configuring, and managing ICT infrastructure, including networks, servers, databases, and communication systems, ensuring reliability, scalability, and security.

Information Security and Data Protection:

• Monitor ICT systems for security breaches, malware, and other potential risks, taking proactive steps to mitigate and remediate security incidents.

• Promote awareness of information security best practices among UN personnel, fostering a culture of security and compliance throughout the organization.

ICT Project Management:

• Lead or support ICT projects and initiatives, from planning and requirements gathering to implementation and evaluation, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to define project objectives, scope, and deliverables, and manage project resources, timelines, and dependencies effectively.

• Communicate project status updates, risks, and issues to relevant stakeholders, fostering transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.

Assets Management:

• Support in the ‘Physical Verification Exercise’ which involves physically inspecting and verifying the existence, condition, and location of assets listed in the inventory, ensuring that assets are properly accounted for, and identifying any discrepancies between recorded assets and their physical presence.

• Assist in ‘Property Management’ by assigning responsibility for the care and custody of assets to specific individuals or departments within an organization and updating the relevant system(s) timely. Handover and turn-in forms are used when transferring custody of assets between custodians or during employee transitions.

ICT Enhancement and Innovation:

• Contribute to the enhancement of the ICT infrastructure to improve efficiency, scalability, and security, by analyzing current infrastructure, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing necessary upgrades and enhancements.

• Identify, propose, and implement innovative solutions from emerging technologies to enhance systems functionalities and current office procedures; by leveraging technical expertise to design new features or workflows.

• Participate in knowledge-sharing sessions to foster innovation within the team.

Closing date: 17 June

Job Details

Preferred Candidate