Information Management Specialist

Host entity: UNICEF Papua New Guinea

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Administration, Data science, information management, Artificial Intelligence, Information technology and telecommunications

Application deadline: 14/09/2026

Mission and objectives

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.

Assignment context

Information management plays a critical role in UNICEF by ensuring that accurate, timely, and reliable data is collected, analyzed, and shared to inform evidence-based decision-making and effective programme delivery. It supports planning, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions for children and communities by transforming data into actionable insights for both humanitarian and development contexts. Strong information management enables coordination across sectors and partners, enhances accountability and reporting to donors and stakeholders, and strengthens emergency preparedness and response. By maintaining high standards for data quality, accessibility, and security, information management helps UNICEF track results, identify gaps, and continuously adapt strategies to maximize impact for children’s rights and wellbeing. UNICEF is seeking for the services of an Information Management Specialist to lead the IM function which will benefit both its programmes, its partners and the government of Papua New Guinea. This function will be responsible for providing IM support to both UNICEF and the sectors that it supports.

The Information Management Support for UNICEF Country office and UNICEF-Led Sectors in Papua New Guinea. To strengthen evidence-based development and humanitarian coordination, UNICEF PNG is recruiting an Information Management Specialist to support its Information Management functions. The specialist will design and maintain centralized information systems, produce decision-support tools such as dashboards and maps (infographics), and build capacity among staff and government partners on Information Management. This effort responds to persistent data management needs at the country office for planning and decision making as well as response to the various emergencies faced in the country. The IM Specialist will help address this by:

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

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

· Supporting the training and capacity building of staff and partners on data collection, analysis, and reporting.

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

· Support the Knowledge Management function in PNG country office.


Key Stakeholders:

· UNICEF PNG Country Office – Project lead and technical oversight

· Government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, and CSOs

· Provincial Disaster Coordination Office

· Humanitarian and Development Partners.

Expected Outcomes:

· Improved quality and accessibility of programme data within the country office and across partners in PNG.

· 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

· Sections and their partners equipped have standardized tools and trained in timely data reporting and visualization.

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

· A centralized office dashboard with all the key metrics for decision making available.

Task description

i. Data Collection and Consolidation

· Coordinate data gathering, clean, and validate data from UNICEF systems, partners and field offices.

· Develop and maintain standardized data collection tools and templates.

· Ensure timely and accurate submission of data from partners and field offices.

ii. Database Development and Management

· Design and manage a centralized database for multi-sectoral data storage and analysis.

· Regularly update datasets.

· Ensure secure and structured data archiving for easy retrieval and analysis.

iii. Information Product Development

· Produce infographics, dashboards, maps, and situation reports to support planning and coordination.

· Design visual materials for emergency briefings, donor updates, and inter-agency coordination meetings.

· Support storytelling through data to highlight emerging humanitarian needs and response gaps.

iv. Coordination Support

· Support in maintaining partner contact lists, 5Ws (Who does What, Where, When, and for Whom) matrices, and activity trackers.

· Attend and support UNICEF and UN meetings with updated data products and summaries.

· Facilitate data-sharing protocols and ensure consistency across clusters

v. Capacity Building and Technical Assistance

· Train UNICEF Staff, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Provincial Disaster Coordinators, and other stakeholders in data management, reporting, and analysis tools.

· Provide on-site or virtual support to field teams on IM tools and platforms.

· Develop user guides and SOPs for data collection, entry, and visualization processes.

vi. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Support

· Align IM tasks with M&E frameworks to track progress against regular UNICEF and Humanitarian response plans.

· Support data triangulation and verification of program results.

· Align IM reporting indicators with Core Commitments for Children (CCC) in Humanitarian Actions (HAC)

Skills and experience

3 - 5 years of 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 Kobo Toolbox, 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.

Competencies and values

· 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.

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Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.