Organization Mission

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff.

UNRWA’s primary role is to offer humanitarian services in education, healthcare, relief, social services, infrastructure, camp improvement, and emergency response to over 5 million registered Palestine refugees across its five areas of operations: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank including the East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The agency also plays a key role in advocating for the rights of Palestine refugees and supporting their well-being until a durable solution to their plight is found. The Department of External Relations and Communications (ERCD) is responsible for raising funds and ensuring due diligence of private sector contributions for the entire Agency. Its Communications Division (CD) focuses on improving internal communication within the agency, as well as communication with Palestine refugee communities and the general public.

Context

Since the onset of the Gaza emergency, UNRWA has been facing an increase in demand and complexity of prospective partnerships that requires increased due diligence capacity, tools and information management support, to effectively meet the growing needs while managing reputational risks and safeguarding the Agency’s mandate.

The UNV Information Management Associate will support the due diligence function of the Agency by providing information management services for existing and new private sector partners making financial or in-kind contributions to UNRWA in line with UNRWA’s Due Diligence policy.

The UN Volunteer will provide technical assistance in the management of due diligence data to meet the needs of external and internal stakeholders; systematize and develop data collection and management processes and tools including new templates and databases; identify and address data quality issues; provide due diligence information products (dashboards, infographics, reports etc.).

Additional information:
International Specialist UN Volunteers are entitled to:
• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of USD 2565.48 (subject to change in monthly Post Adjustment Modifier).
• Entry lumpsum, Exit lumpsum; and Travel Allowance
• Annual and learning leaves;
• Free Medical and life insurance; and
• Free access to different learning platforms.

For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/become-volunteer/volunteer-abroad

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Head of External Relations Services, the UN Volunteer will:
• Support the design and development of, and manages databases, spreadsheets and other data tools; consolidates operational information on a regular schedule to support analysis.
• Evaluate and analyse UNRWA specific datasets through meaningful statistical techniques.
• Assist in assessment and needs analysis activities, including humanitarian needs overviews, secondary data reviews, preliminary scenario definitions and multi-cluster initial rapid assessments; manages platforms and tools that support data collection and analysis.
• Maintain spatial baseline and operational datasets in accordance with relevant standards and guidance; maintain a repository of spatial data and ensures that the data are documented and accessible to all humanitarian partners through local and/or online services.
• Update information products such as reports, charts and infographics by turning data into graphical products to convey messages and a storyline. Participates in Information management working groups and under the supervision of Head of External Relations Services, shares information with humanitarian partners.
•Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Required Skills and Experience

3 years of Experience in managing methodologies for measurement, producing and analyzing statistical data and producing clear and succinct written analysis of data and customized analytical data visualizations for decision-makers -in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or other comparable international organization is desirable, as is experience in the Middle East- is required.
• Demonstrated service mindset in responding to requests and interacting with internal and external stakeholders, with an ability to collaborate internally with relevant colleagues.
• Practiced communicator with demonstrated ability to condense information and capture and communicate it in a well-structured way.
• Good capacity to analyze data, processes, and policies.
• Attention to details and problem-solving skills.
• Track record of working independently and meeting tight deadlines.

Core Competencies

• Planning and Organizing.
• Adapting and Responding to Change
• Leadership
• Accountability

Living Conditions

Location: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the Middle East. Bound by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, Red Sea to the south and the Palestinian National Authority to the west.

Weather: Jordan’s climate can be classified as semi-arid (Bsh) on the Koeppen-Geiger classification. It features a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Jordan”s location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area. January is the coldest month, with temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, and August is the hottest month at 20°C to 35°C. Daily temperatures can be quite hot, especially in the summer; on some days it can be 40°C or more, especially when a hot, dry southerly wind blows. Such winds can sometimes be very strong and can cause sandstorms.
About 70 percent of the average rainfall in the country falls between November and March; June through August are often rainless. Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year. Precipitation is often concentrated in violent storms, causing erosion and local flooding, especially in the winter months.

Safety and Security: Jordan is a relatively stable country. The potentials for internal or external armed conflict are considered very unlikely in the current political environment. Peaceful demonstrations, and sometimes road blockages, do occur in Jordan, motivated by domestic factors such as unemployment, deprivation of resources and development or for regional issues such as solidarity with the Palestinian cause or with the Syrian crises. Most of these events are driven by civil society unions and Islamic parties. Domestic tribal civil unrest sometimes turns violent, especially outside main cities, due to tribal disputes or socio-economic reasons. In all occasions law enforcement agencies usually manage to contain the situation rapidly.
Road traffic accidents are the primary threat against UN personnel in Jordan. Poor road conditions and bad driving behaviours are the main reasons for the high rate of traffic accidents.
Amman is a category A duty station with security level 1.

Transportation and housing: Taxis as well as ride-hailing services (Uber and Careem) are abundant and affordable in Amman. Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Public minibuses are the most common form of public transport. They normally only leave when full, so waiting times of an hour or more are inevitable, especially in rural areas. The larger air-con buses offer a speedy and reliable service, departing according to a fixed schedule. Housing is readily available with rents for one- to two-bedroom apartments ranging between 500 and 800 JD (1 JD = 0.708 USD) depending on the location.

Health Services: Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Almost all doctors (and most pharmacists) speak English; many have studied abroad.

Language: The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken – especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent.

Learn more about Jordan from the Ministry of Tourism’s website:
https://www.mota.gov.jo/Default/En