Consultant for the Development of an Interactive Online Atlas

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, 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. UNEP administers the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Coastal and Marine Environment of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The Contracting Parties to the Convention include Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania. UNEP's mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices, and it operates in over 100 countries, employing thousands of staff members dedicated to various environmental initiatives and projects.

Job Overview:
The consultant will support the Nairobi Convention Secretariat in developing a dedicated interactive online atlas for the ‘Integrated Management of the Marine and Coastal Resources of the Northern Mozambique Channel (NOCAMO) Project’. This project aims to enable countries and stakeholders involved in resource use and protection of the Northern Mozambique Channel (NMC) to access spatial and attribute information and update any new data based on changes observed on the ground. The NOCAMO project focuses on the protection and joint management of the northern part of the Northern Mozambique Channel, which is covered by the exclusive economic zones of Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and the Union of the Comoros. The interactive online atlas will be based on the ArcGIS Online system, making its content accessible and collaborative. It will help build solutions for community-based initiatives, provide open data access on marine and coastal ecosystems, enable collaboration across government departments and local communities, and allow users to detect and monitor changes in different marine and coastal ecosystems. The online atlas will also provide maps and app templates to facilitate the comprehension of policy and desired outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key tasks:

• Configuring ArcGIS Online accounts, creating and assigning users, and establishing groups for different countries with various characteristics needed for the development and operation of the Online Atlas.
• Conducting data migration and developing a standardized database model by characterizing collated thematic layers in terms of visual representations, planned uses in the portal, potential data sources, levels of resolution, and data currency. The consultant will standardize the defined data through conversion to a common OGC standard format to ensure visibility throughout the portal and enable processing and analysis. Quality assurance checks will be performed on the migrated data to ensure reliability and suitability for marine spatial planning use.
• Developing the interactive online atlas based on ArcGIS Hub, which will enable the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and Northern Mozambique Channel countries to connect and communicate with internal and public audiences, share open data, showcase content related to specific topics, and manage GIS applications. The atlas will also provide community accounts for individuals not part of the NCS ArcGIS Online Portal, allowing them to access and contribute to NMC Countries’ initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Geographic Information Systems, Information Systems and Management, Marine Sciences, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, or similar disciplines. A minimum of two (2) years of relevant progressive experience in the application of geographic information systems and information management is required. Demonstrated experience in developing GIS solutions for natural resource management applications and maintaining existing geospatial databases and related metadata systems is also required. Knowledge and experience in remote sensing, obtaining biological, geophysical, and socioeconomic geospatial datasets, and developing geospatial databases are desirable. Additionally, experience managing projects related to geospatial and geographic information systems, performing quality control assessments for geospatial products, and working in a multidisciplinary setup with government and non-government stakeholders, including international organizations and local communities, is desirable.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Geographic Information Systems, Information Systems and Management, Marine Sciences, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, or Natural Resources Management is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively contribute to the development of the interactive online atlas and manage the associated geospatial data.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two (2) years of relevant progressive experience in the application of geographic information systems and information management. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in developing GIS solutions for natural resource management applications and maintaining existing geospatial databases and related metadata systems. Experience in managing projects related to geospatial and geographic information systems is also desirable, as is experience performing quality control assessments for geospatial products. Furthermore, candidates should have experience working in a multidisciplinary setup with government and non-government stakeholders, including international organizations and local communities.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written English is required for this position, as English is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as it is another working language of the UN. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the international context of the United Nations and its various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is home-based and is expected to last for a duration of four months. The consultant will work under the general supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, meeting, processing, or training. Additionally, the UN does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.