Data Management Specialist (part-time 80%, home-based)

STFA constitutes an important vehicle to enable the operationalization of the recently launched UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA), 2023-2025, through joint, inter-agency, ‘Delivering as One’ (DaO) initiatives.  Programmatic activities under the UNSFA, undertaken alongside the humanitarian response, aim to mitigate, and hopefully avert, the immediate impact of the crises on lives and livelihoods of vulnerable Afghans. The Fund serves as also enables multiple contributing partners to channel their resources and coordinate their support for the implementation of the UNSFA and the UN joint programmes developed under it. The three outcome areas under UNSFA (on services, livelihoods and rights) remain key programmatic priorities under the scope of STFA’s Terms of Reference. 

The Fund is administered by the UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office), acting as the Administrative Agent. The Trust Fund Management Unit (TFMU) is the Fund Secretariat for STFA and is the entity responsible for the operational functioning of the Fund and provides technical and management support to the Steering Committee. 

Housed in the TFMU, the Data Management Specialist will lead data management processes for STFA, contribute to the development of tools and protocols to generate programme and finance information in a timely and efficient manner, and ensure robust systems for the storing and archiving of data and documentation. The Data Management Specialist will be expected to contribute to the collation and analysis data received from all the Participating UN Agencies to support the strategic positioning of the Fund – as a key enabler for the implementation of UNSFA, the operationalization of the triple (Humanitarian-Development-Peace) nexus and ‘Delivering as One UN’ programmatic initiatives.

Data Management, data analysis & visualization  

• Implement and upgrade data management system for managing the Fund’s results framework.
• Analyze, define, and report key data metrics, optimizing collection methodologies.
• Integrate state-of-the-art analytical tools for the Fund’s decision-making and ensure data quality and relevance.
• Conduct continuous data analysis and report findings on data management improvement to the management.
• Oversee data collection, review quality of data, transformation, and offer actionable insights.
• Present data-driven patterns and trends, generate baselines and targets for monitoring.
• Develop visually compelling narratives from data and introduce custom analytical tools.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Database development and innovation 

• Lead the creation and upkeep of databases using advanced capture and synthesis techniques.
• Design and maintain interactive visual dashboards reflecting the Fund’s strategies, overview of resource mobilization of the country and tracking progress of programmes/projects implemented by the UN Agencies and PUNOs of the Trust Fund.
• Identify data gaps, explore automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) methods for data capture, and to generate decision-enabling data sets.
• Develop an integrated Programming, Monitoring & Evaluation and Finance framework platform for PUNOs of the Trust Fund, using time critical and historical data sets.
• Create data setup using AI through importing data automatically from the PUNOs ERP to the TFMU platform to increase efficiencies for PUNOs, and facilitate Fund’s decision-making, and enhance remote monitoring of initiatives funded by the Trust Fund.
• Provide guidance and support to the Communications Team and Web Administrator to revamp STFA’s website in alignment with MPTF Gateway and UNSFA
• Provide support for updating and managing the contents of the website.

Quality Assurance of data and perform data analysis

• Perform quality assurance of the data supplied by the PUNO, coordinate data collection and analysis processes; apply AI or automated tools to retrieve data directly from the PUNOs’ ERP reports, transform data in easy-to-use formats with actionable insights. 
• Analyze data to present development patterns and trends in the focus areas of the Trust Fund.
• Extend support to the M&E and Finance staff of the UN Agencies to create data models (if required), templates, presentations, and documentation for proper data management and analysis.

Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Development 

• Extract and disseminate key lessons from joint programmes and monitoring activities to foster knowledge sharing among UN organizations.
• Utilize online platforms to enhance collaboration and effectively communicate results to all stakeholders.
• Organize training and capacity building sessions to UN organizations to keep them informed about the data management tools and systems.

Online Risk Management Information System

• Design and implement risk management tools for the UN RCO and STFA to monitor, analyze and communicate (to the UN, PUNOs and other STFA stakeholders) risks and mitigation action points.
• Support the tracking of risk owners and the status of implementation of mitigation measures through the risk management information system, ensuring adequate integration with the UN Afghanistan’s risk management dashboards/online platforms.  
• Work closely with the UN Afghanistan’s risk management team and UN Agencies risk management working group and risk management focal persons from the participating UN organizations.
   

• Achieve Results LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences. 
• Adapt with Agility LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity. 

People Management competencies:  

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Digital & Innovation 

• Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.
• Data governance: Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies.
• Data storytelling and communications: Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.

Business Direction & Strategy     

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management    

• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Communication: Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.