GIS and Information Management Expert

Terms of Reference:
GIS and Information Management Expert (MapAction)

Short summary

MapAction is recruiting a GIS and information management advisor for a 90 day, short-term humanitarian project related to the earthquake recovery. The new staff member will receive training, and then use these skills to assist our current work, supporting aid activities in water, electricity, and logistics. 

Background

MapAction is a UK-based charity NGO which supports global humanitarian work by providing services in GIS and information management. For more than two decades, we have responded to more than 150 emergencies in more than 80 countries, and we are an Operational Partner for UNDAC (the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team) for nearly all emergencies, including the Venezuela earthquake. Our main activities are emergency response, humanitarian projects, and training (capacity building). The bulk of our work is carried out by volunteers, who are GIS experts in their day jobs. Currently, most volunteers are based in the UK, but some are in other locations, including a regional cluster in the Caribbean. Our volunteers must pass a selection process and initial training in MapAction GIS workflows, and they attend regular bi-monthy training weekends. We have a small team of full-time staff. 

After the initial emergency response, MapAction joined a consortium of NGOs that received a grant from the US State Department. This consortium–called Proyecto Ocho Estrellas (P8E)--includes Relief Response International (logistics), Footprint Project (electricity, especially solar power), Water Mission (drinking water), and Convoy of Hope (logistics). The goal of the consortium is to use these specialties to support the communities most affected by the earthquake, and therefore contribute to the recovery from the earthquake. MapAction’s role within the consortium is to provide GIS and IM assistance, to ensure that the activities are coordinated and properly targeted. Additionally, we aim to strengthen the response by using our existing connections with OCHA Venezuela and the cluster system, to create stronger links between NGOs and the UN system.

To support this mission, and ensure that our initial systems are maintained, the grant includes funds to train and employ a Venezuelan-based GIS advisor. In addition to supporting the activities of the project, we are recruiting a person who wishes to become connected with MapAction in the longer term. Venezuelan staff who complete the training will be added onto a roster, to provide emergency GIS support in Latin America and the Caribbean, as contractors.

The advisor must be available to start work by mid August, due to the urgency of the earthquake recovery. Interviews will be conducted during the week commencing Monday, August 10th. The start date is Monday, August 18th and the duration is 90 days, finishing in November 2026 (exact date to be determined by RRI).

Scope of Work

You will report to MapAction’s lead GIS expert for this project, based in the UK. Initially, you will also report to our MapAction field GIS experts. In practice, you will also receive requests and instructions from the field leader of RRI (the lead partner of the consortium).

Training phase

• You will attend in-person paid training for five days. Training will mostly be in person with one or two MapAction staff and both new colleagues.
• You will recap GIS topics such as file formats, administrative boundaries, data types and data formats, commonly-used data sources, map layouts, symbology, and more.
• You will learn or recap humanitarian-related GIS and IM topics, including Kobo Toolbox form creation, the OCHA humanitarian symbols, 3W data, dashboards, and more.
• You will learn about MapAction’s processes, including our best practices on file organisation, the MapAction ArcGIS Pro toolbar, MapAction templates, MapAction layer styles, map upload, acquiring country data, our communication systems, and more.

Work phase: Proyecto Ocho Estrellas support

• You will join the P8E team of 5-10 people, based at our office and warehouse in La Guaira.
• You will maintain existing map and data products, including spreadsheets, forms, and diagrams for warehouse management, maps showing product distribution, and maps of key locations including temporary accommodations and water distribution points.
• The goal is to make the consortium’s work more efficient, and identify gaps between our activities and the needs of the affected people.
• You will respond to new requests from P8E partners and possibly other humanitarian or government organisations, to produce similar products for them.
• You will have scope to come up with new maps and information products that you think will help the project to be more effective.
• At the end of your contract, you will prepare any materials necessary for final reporting and transfer of responsibilities.

Work phase: OCHA support

• At the same time as supporting P8E, your secondary responsibility is to provide mapping support to OCHA Venezuela. You will work at the OCHA office typically one day per week.
• At the OCHA office, your main responsibility will be making maps for reports, based on data provided by the OCHA IM team.

Roster phase

• After the main work phase (90 days) is completed, you will become part of the MapAction Venezuela roster until the end of 2027, or longer if you wish.
• We hope that you will become a permanent member of the MapAction community.
• Whilst on the roster, you will be requested to travel to assist with emergency humanitarian projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Any additional ‘deployments’ will be paid work under a new contract.
• You should explain this commitment to your family and future employers, so that you can get leave during emergencies.
• If you have an unavoidable commitment and cannot travel, remote support is also possible.
• During an emergency response, your responsibilities include making maps to fulfil requests, and preparing datasets, all according to MapAction standard procedures.

Requirements:

• Must be resident in Venezuela.
• At least two years of GIS experience (ArcGIS Pro or QGIS) OR the combination of two years of IM experience plus humanitarian experience.
• Able to travel within Latin America and the Caribbean for emergency projects.
• Spanish speaker.

Desirable qualities:

• English speaker.
• Familiarity with both ArcGIS Pro and QGIS.
• Familiarity with web maps such as AGOL.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel or similar.
• Familiarity with PowerBI.
• Familiarity with Kobo Toolbox.
• Experience in the humanitarian sector.
• Familiarity with computer programming (e.g. Python).
• Comfortable working in a team.

Salary:

$85 USD per working day.

Location:

Work locations are Caracas and Maiquetía. Candidates must be based in Caracas or near Maiquetía. A car is not required.

Details: The main office location is at a warehouse in Maiquetía. The team has daily transportation from Caracas to the warehouse, but you may need to reach a meeting point in Caracas. Some days, you will work in the OCHA office in Caracas. Transportation is again provided.

Working hours

Transportation generally departs from Caracas at 08:30 and reaches the warehouse around 09:15. Transportation leaves the warehouse around 17:00 and reaches Caracas around 18:00.

Application process

1. Submit your CV for shortlisting. Your CV should indicate how you are suitable for the responsibilities and requirements listed above.
2. Interview either in person or via video call, during the week of 10-15 August.

This is a contracted consultant role based in Venezuela. The consultant (special advisor) must be a legal resident of Venezuela and is responsible for complying with all applicable local tax, registration, reporting, and other legal obligations arising from their engagement, including the payment of any taxes, contributions, or other amounts for which they are personally responsible as a consultant under Venezuelan law.