Organization Mission

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Context

Sector and cluster coordination in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has historically faced significant fragmentation, particularly in the management and sharing of critical data. Information is often siloed within individual sectors, with minimal interoperability or centralized access. This limits the ability of cluster leads and humanitarian actors to make timely, informed decisions—especially during emergencies.

Emergency response in PNG is frequently delayed due to the absence of reliable, up-to-date information. In many cases, response planning relies on outdated data sets, such as the 2011 National Census, or on project-specific data not intended for emergency use. This results in gaps in situational awareness and challenges in rapid response coordination.

To address these issues, the Information Management (IM) initiative aims to strengthen cluster coordination by establishing a centralized, digitized database system. This system will enable Nutrition, Wash, Education, and Child Protection clusters—led by UNICEF—to access real-time,

actionable data that supports emergency preparedness, planning, and response. Furthermore, the IM Officer will provide capacity building for stakeholders, including government officials, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Provincial Disaster Coordinators, particularly in the Highlands Region, to ensure consistent data collection, reporting, and use of digital tools.

This initiative is critical for enabling a more coherent, evidence-based humanitarian response across PNG.

Key Responsibilities

To strengthen evidence-based humanitarian coordination, UNICEF PNG is recruiting an Information Management Officer to support the Nutrition, Education, WaSH, and Child Protection Sectors. The officer will design and maintain centralized information systems, produce decision-support tools such as dashboards and maps (infographics), and build capacity among provincial actors and CSOs. This effort responds to persistent data management gaps—particularly in emergency-prone areas like the Highlands Region—and aims to enhance coordination, accountability, and real-time response. The IM Officer will help address this by:

· Developing and maintaining a centralized information management system/database for the clusters.

· Facilitating timely and accurate infographics, dashboards, and situational analyses to support decision-making during emergencies.

· Supporting the training and capacity building of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Provincial Disaster Coordinators on data collection, analysis, and reporting tools.

· Enhancing data consistency, inter-sector/cluster coordination, and accountability through standardized tools and processes.

Key Stakeholders:

· UNICEF PNG Country Office – Project lead and technical oversight

· Sector/Cluster Lead Agencies– Including government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, and CSOs involved in Health and Nutrition, WaSH, Education, and Child Protection.

· Provincial Disaster Coordination Office

· Humanitarian and Development Partners in the Highlands Region

Expected Outcomes:

· Improved quality and accessibility of emergency-related data across all sectors/ clusters

· Strengthened evidence-based planning and resource mobilization

· Enhanced coordination and responsiveness during emergencies

· Increased capacity of local partners to manage and report on data effectively

· Sector/ Cluster partners equipped with standardized tools and trained in timely data reporting and visualization.

· Monthly situation dashboards disseminated within five working days of data submission cycles.

· At least 80% of provincial and CSO partners demonstrate improved capacity in data collection and reporting through post-training assessments.

Required Skills and Experience

· Experience in managing humanitarian or emergency information systems, including the development of dashboards, databases, and data collection tools.

· Proven ability to train and support local actors in digital data tools, including KoboToolbox, ODK, and Excel-based trackers.

· Proficiency in data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms.

· Familiarity with geospatial tools such as QGIS or ArcGIS.

· Excellent communication, facilitation, and intercultural skills to work effectively with partners at national and sub-national levels.

· Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines in high-pressure humanitarian contexts.

· Affinity with UNICEF”s mandate and child rights-based programming.

Core Competencies

· Competencies and values: Accountability

· Adaptability and flexibility

· Creativity/Innovative

· Judgement and decision-making

· Planning and organizing

· Professionalism

· Self-management

Living Conditions

Living conditions for nationals in Papua New Guinea vary, with better access to services in urban areas compared to remote regions. Security remains a concern, particularly in cities, where petty crime is common. Air travel is often necessary due to limited road infrastructure. The tropical climate is hot and humid year-round. Cost of living is high, especially in urban centers, due to imported goods. Access to clean water, electricity, and healthcare is generally more reliable in towns but limited in rural areas. Communication and banking services are available in cities, though less consistent in remote locations. Cultural norms emphasize modest dress and respectful behavior.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”