GIS and Remote Sensing Officer at International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Context:

• There are 7.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia. The country also has one of the highest numbers of Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) in the world with more than 3.8 million who have been displaced by conflict, insecurity, forced evictions, droughts, and floods.
• In Somalia, climate change acts as a threat multiplier by exacerbating competition between clans over grazing land and water resources, inducing displacement and the recruitment of youth by armed actors, marginalizing minority groups, and empowering the extremist organization, al-Shabaab, which exploits inter-clan grievances to capitalize on climate-induced crises. Somalia is currently experiencing an extreme drought due to the impact of four consecutive failed rainy seasons, a climatic event not seen in at least 40 years. As a result, nearly 1 million individuals have been newly displaced due to the drought
• The IOM Somalia mission is implementing frontline activities as well as taking the lead in the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) programme, which encompasses mobility tracking, flow monitoring, and surveys components that aim at supporting evidence-based programming. As co-chair of the Information Management and Assessments Working Group (IMAWG), and key member of Internally Displaced Peoples Working Group (IDPWG), the DTM programme is enabling humanitarian actors plan and respond to needs in Somalia and across the region.
• Under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator (Emergency and Post Crisis), with the the direct supervision of the Programme Manager (DTM), and in coordination with the DTM Information Management Officer and Regional Data Hub in Nairobi, the GIS and Remote Sensing Officer will provide Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing analysis to help strengthen the development, implementation and data quality of DTM activities across Somalia.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support for GIS activities in IOM Somalia.
• Participate in planning and development of the geographic data management tools (shapefiles and processes of DTM specifically related to data collection done in settlements and IDP sites), as well as in the maintenance of the IOM geo-database.
• Participate in the development of data collection tools and training of field staffs to facilitate the inclusion of GIS-related requirements and indicators.
• Support the improvement of geo-referencing/Global Positioning System (GPS) cleaning and documentation of geo-coordinates.
• Carry out thematic geo-statistical data analysis as required; conduct GIS and remote sensing analyses relating to natural hazards and climate related displacement in the Somalia context.
• Recommend needs and inform on GIS/mapping tools and products. Work closely with DTM and Information Management (IM) staffs to identify needs and produce the relevant products and maps; provide training and assist in skills development for IM and GIS activities.
• Produce online maps (with ArcGIS Server for data review and analysis) and printable maps (with ArcGIS, and Adobe Illustrator/InDesign), as well as Dashboards, Graphs, Profiles, Shapefiles and KMZ files for reporting.
• Support the monitoring of data collection processes and data management activities, including data mapping, encoding, storing, processing, and analyses, in specific to aspects related to GIS.
• Use geo-spatial analysis to identify increases or decreases in Internally Displaced populations (IDPS) in locations of interest.
• Establish updated thematic GIS maps which illustrate core district and site-level gaps, needs and challenges.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education

•  Master’s degree related to GIS, Remote Sensing, Data Science, Geography or related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or
•  University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience

Experience

•  Advanced experience with geo-spatial information management and analysis, and excellent spatial analysis skills;
•  Experience in raster and vector GIS;
•  Experience working in international organizations and the humanitarian community;
•  Experience in relevant issues such as migration, displacement, and humanitarian assistance;
•  Experience in the region an advantage.

Skills

•  Advanced knowledge of ESRI suite software (ArcPro, ArcMap, ArcGIS Online); advanced knowledge of Microsoft office including Excel; knowledge of R, STATA, SPSS, Python or equivalent statistical software an advantage;
•  Skilled in managing Geo-databases and Relational Database Management System;
•  Good writing, communication and negotiation skills;
•  Works effectively with local authorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the broader community to advance country or regional objectives;
•  Demonstrated ability for training and capacity building of a wide variety of stakeholders including enumerators, field staff, local authorities.

Languages

• IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. Working knowledge of Somali is an advantage.
• For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).
• Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.