Information System Interns
Location : Kampala, UGANDA
Application Deadline : 27-Feb-18 (Midnight New York, USA)
Type of Contract : Internship
Post Level : Intern
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 02-Apr-2018
Duration of Initial Contract : 3 Months
Expected Duration of Assignment : 3 Months
Background
Disasters are, for many Ugandans, an all too common occurrence. In the last decade alone, Uganda has experienced over 2,500 disaster events, causing death, destruction and lost opportunities. Over 70 per cent of natural hazards in Uganda are related to extreme hydro-meteorological events such as droughts, floods, severe thunder and lightning storms, among others. The impact this has had on the economy has been considerable, with a reduction in GDP of 3.5 percent on average from 2010 to 2014, according to the World Bank. While over half of the country is vulnerable to drought, and a third to floods, communities along the fragile dryland cattle corridor, mountainous regions and informal urban settlements are at risk. It is estimated that 43 per cent of Ugandans could regress into poverty during shocks .
Recurring small-scale and slow-onset disasters particularly affect communities, households and small and medium-sized agriculture-related enterprises, and constitute a high percentage of all losses. All countries - especially developing countries, where mortality and economic losses from natural disasters are disproportionately higher - are faced with increasing levels of hidden costs. However, until now all this goes largely unaccounted for despite its potential effects on national planning for disaster management. Moreover, even when farmers choose to take risk transfer options that make partial or complete compensation for the losses, it is mostly not reported and compensation is not commensurate with the value of the losses.
The national 'Desinventar' information system for the collection and analysis of disaster damages and losses used to be generic, however, it has been revamped and tailored to Uganda's context. In the process, the agricultural indicators to record sectoral damage and loss data have been integrated. Related historical disaster damage and loss data, dating 5-10 years ago and beyond, thus needs to be captured and entered into the revamped information system (Desinventar). The information intern to be recruited, is therefor to support the historical data collection, capturing and analysis process.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Disaster Loss and Damage Information Intern (s) is to support the implementation of activities under the workstream on 'incorporating DRR into agricultural sector' under the project 'Supporting Developing Countries to Integrate Agricultural Sectors into National Adaptation Plans (Nap-Ag) Project'. Specifically, the disaster information intern is to;
- Undertake historical disaster data collection from the print media, particularly the New vision online archive;
- Collect and validate historical disaster data from all relevant Ministry Departments and Agencies, at central and local / district levels;
- Undertake the capture and entering of the collected data into the DesInventar information system;
- Support data analysis, interpretation and preparation of a 'Disaster Statistical Digest'.
To accomplish the above, the Disaster Loss and Damage Information Intern will be expected to undertake the following detailed tasks: Liaise with the Office of the Prime Minister and collect disaster damage and loss data from relevant Ministries, Agencies, Departments and Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and any other available sources;
Liaise and follow up with district officials to collect historical disaster data;
Collect Disaster damage and loss data from 'New Vision' newspaper digital archives;
Transform all the collected data including digital data onto the provided standardized data collection form;
Enter all the collected data into DesInventar database within give a stipulated period;
After entering, support the analysis and preparation of the 'Disaster Statistical Digest';
Support the organization of a national workshop to disseminate the analysis results contained in the statistical digest.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
- Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
- Consistently approaches work with professionalism, energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Demonstrates strong ability to manage relationships with diverse stakeholders;
- Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills, adapting to diverse stakeholders and audiences;
- Demonstrates strong planning and organization skills;
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
- Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view
- Ability to engage and maintain effective rapport with different kinds of people.
- Ability to manage timelines and accomplish tasks as planned.
Required Skills and Experience
Education Requirements
The applicant must meet at least one of the below educational requirements:
- Be enrolled on a tertiary institution programme (university degree or equivalent, or higher from a recognized institution) in information and communications technology, or Information management, Project management or other relevant fields;
- Be enrolled in the final academic year of a tertiary institution level in any of the fields listed above; and
- Have graduated with a tertiary institution degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-month.
Experience:
- Candidates must be able to adapt to an international, multicultural, multilingual environment, have good communication skills and can work in a team;
- Previous experience from volunteering or extra-curricular activities linked to the Vision and Mission of the UN would be considered an asset;
Conditions of Internship
UNDP internship programme does not provide a salary or remuneration for the internship;
UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
UNDP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified Women are encouraged to apply.
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