Data Coordinator at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), established in 1972, 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's Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2025 sets an ambitious course to harness data and digital technologies and innovations to better serve Member States and partners in their efforts to tackle the triple planetary crises of climate change, nature loss, and pollution. Through a process of scanning, testing, and scaling relevant digital technologies, UNEP aims to become an increasingly data-driven, agile, transparent, and effective organization.

Digital technologies are a key enabler for UNEP that provide unprecedented opportunities to: (i) support organizational change processes towards enhanced agility, results-orientation and collaborations; (ii) to identify new and innovative solutions to the most pressing climate, nature, and pollution challenges; (iii) to strengthen our capacities to effectively engage and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society: (iv) enhance accountability, results-orientation, and inclusiveness of development programs, empowering citizens by establishing by direct feedback loops. UNEP's digital transformation vision focuses on developing the organization's capability to leverage existing, emerging, and future data and digital technologies and the opportunities they offer to profoundly improve the way UNEP creates and delivers value and benefits for those we serve. The vision is based on an open innovation approach enabling the effective co-design of innovative solutions with strategic partners, civil society and citizens.

The selected consultant shall carry out the following activities:

• Environmental and Socio-economic Data Needs Research: Research and define UNEP's environmental data requirements based on the Mid-Term Strategy (2022-2025), Programme of Work (POW), and Programme and Collaboration Platform (PCP) documents. Conduct similar research to identify UNEP's social-economic data needs.
• Data Source Identification and Consolidation: Identify primary and secondary data sources utilized in the existing UNEP and external thematic data platforms. Plan and execute the consolidation of data into a federated data system aligned with WESR architecture solutions.
• Data Provider Relationship Management: The Data Coordinator will be responsible for supporting and nurturing relationships with data providers. This involves identifying potential data sources, engaging in collaborative partnerships, maintaining effective communication to secure the necessary data inputs, and proposing a strategy to maintain existing partners, engage new data partners, and govern the data partnerships.
• Identification of New and Relevant Data Sources: As part of enhancing WESR's data repository, the Data Coordinator will actively search for new and relevant data sources (including geospatial data). This includes staying abreast of emerging data providers and innovative data-sharing initiatives.
• Coordination of Data Quality Assurance (QA): The Data Coordinator will liaise with relevant stakeholders to oversee data QA processes. This involves validating data accuracy, consistency, and reliability, thereby ensuring that the data accessible through WESR meets the highest quality standards.
• Data Collection Workflows and Processes: Developing efficient data collection workflows and processes is essential. The Data Coordinator will establish clear procedures for data acquisition, storage, and dissemination, ensuring an organized and streamlined approach.
• Support for Data-Driven Initiatives: Collaborating with the WESR team, the Data Coordinator will assist in the implementation of data-driven initiatives and projects. This includes providing insights into data availability, potential data limitations, and innovative data integration methods.
• Data Gap Analysis and Reporting: The Data Coordinator will conduct regular analyses to identify data gaps and deficiencies. These analyses will inform strategic decisions about data acquisition priorities and potential collaborations.
• Data Privacy and Compliance: The Data Coordinator will ensure that all data acquisition and sharing processes align with relevant data privacy regulations and compliance standards.
• Strategic Alignment with UNEP Objectives: Ensure that data acquisition and consolidation strategies are aligned with UNEP's Mid-Term Strategy (2022-2025), Programme of Work (POW), and Programme and Collaboration Platform (PCP).

This post reports to the Data Specialist.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Computer Sciences, Information Technology, Data Science, Information Management, or a similar field is required.
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience working with data sources, data platforms, and related standards, in public or private sectors is required.
• Extensive experience with database administration and management, proficiency with database languages such as SQL is required.
• Experience in working with data partners and establishing data agreements is required.
• Experience in geographic information systems and environmental data repositories is considered a strong advantage.
• Experience with the United Nations, European Commission, or national governments is considered a strong asset.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.