Internship. UNCCD, Bonn. Open until 20 May 2015

INTERNSHIP

Internship to assist in content management for the UNCCD Scientific Knowledge Brokering Platform

Type of position
: Internship

Number of positions offered
: 1

Duty station
: UNCCD offices in Bonn, Germany

Languages:
English required. Other UN languages are an asset.

Duration: 4 months

Starting date:
June 1st 2015

Application deadline:
May 20th 2015

TERMS OR REFERENCE

1. Background and justification:

 
The UNCCD Scientific Knowledge Brokering Portal (SKBP) has been developed as a pilot in 2014 to act as a "bridge to bridges". It is designed to improve access to scientific and technical information on desertification/land degradation and drought (DLDD). The SKBP will address many knowledge gaps on global sustainable land management practices, by providing awareness, guidance and access to relevant knowledge sources. The SKBP pilot consists of two modules: An interactive map of knowledgebases, and a search portal for content offered by partner organizations.

Development of the SKBP is led by the secretariat’s Knowledge Management, Science and Technology unit (KMST), in cooperation with partner institutions. The KMST unit offers an internship within the team responsible for content management and development of the SKBP.

2. Description of duties for the Intern:

 
The intern will perform the following tasks under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer:

 Assist in the collecting, structuring and uploading of information to the SKBP portal;

 Assist in developing, maintaining and applying taxonomies and classification systems to existing knowledge bases;

 Perform desk research and online research;

 Any other duties as decided by the supervising officer that relate to the internship.

3. Internship Objective and Learning Elements:

 
Internship objective and teaching/learning elements include inter alia:

Experience and knowledge of the work of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification;

 Enriching experience in working on knowledge management and knowledge sharing platforms;

 Understanding the importance of information technology and architecture to determine the structure, design and flows of information.

4. Expected Qualifications/Skills

Must be in pursuit of a Master’s degree in either archival, information systems, information management or related fields;

 Basic knowledge and understanding of sustainable land management practices, and issues relating to desertification, land degradation and drought;

 Basic knowledge of information management and record keeping, including the use of taxonomies and classification systems;

 Understanding of modern library and knowledge management practices;

 Ability to work collaboratively with knowledge providers and with service providers in information technology;

 Ability to work in an organized and structured way;

 Fluency in written and spoken English.

5. Submission of applications

Internship application forms can be found at:

http://www.unccd.int/en/about-the-convention/The-Secretariat/Internships-and-fellowships

Your completed application form and Curriculum Vitae should be submitted by e-mail to staffing@unccd.int, specifying in the subject line: Internship SKBP.

The deadline for applications is 20 May 2015. Only applications submitted by the deadline and meeting the requirements will be considered. No telephone calls will be returned. Please address your application as indicated above and please do not address or copy your application to an individual at the Secretariat.

Interns are not financially remunerated by the UNCCD. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or his/her sponsoring institution.

Taxonomy (data classification/categorization) consultant. UN Volunteers, Bonn. Open until 25 April 2014

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT PROCUREMENT NOTICE

Date: 16 April 2014


Job title: 64491_Taxonomy (data classification/categorization) consultant

Duty station (Bonn,Germany):
Home based and Bonn, Germany

Job Globally advertised:
International

Practice area:
Management

Brand :
UNV

Type of Contract:
Individual Contract

Category :
External

Post type :
International

Languages required:
English

Starting date: 12 May 2014

Application Deadline: 25 April 2014

Duration of initial contract:
3 months

Expected duration of the assignment:
3 months

Project name:
UNV Corporate Taxonomy

1. Background

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN Volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity, as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

The Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section (VKIS) enhances UNV’s proactive capacity to mainstream volunteerism into peace and development initiatives through:

 Promoting sound volunteer management practices, including the development of innovative volunteering solutions (volunteer modalities and volunteer management resources and tools) and the management of the Online Volunteering service;

 Leading the delivery of volunteerism advisory services for integration of volunteerism for peace and development into policies and programming; and for enhancing the recognition of volunteerism contributions;

 Leading initiatives for Volunteer Learning and Knowledge Management


Project background




UNV uses a number of different computer systems to support its core activities, including a roster of candidates, a system to manage the Online Volunteering service activities, a volunteer reporting system, a knowledge and document management portal which are tailor made systems. UNV also uses a common UN ERP package system to manage its projects, human resources and finances. Finally, UNV operates global and national public websites. Each of these systems uses a different taxonomy . Some taxonomies such as countries or languages are available in UNV's three working languages (English, French, Spanish), others are only available in English. The current taxonomies neither allow for consistent, and effective classification of information nor for harmonized and systematic reporting .

UNV Strategic Framework 2014-2017 and the related Integrated Results and Resources Matrix require the consolidation of different taxonomies into one corporate taxonomy to enable accurate reporting and consistent measurements and to facilitate the searching, retrieval and archiving of information.

UNV has therefore undertaken to review its existing taxonomies and develop one corporate, user friendly taxonomy, allowing consistent data classification across the organization.


Reporting lines




The consultant will report to the Knowledge Management Specialist and will be supported by the Knowledge Management Associate. S/He will work in close consultation with the Taxonomy reference team (comprising representatives of CPPU, VKIS (Online Volunteering, Knowledge Management and VRS), VRRS, ICTS, CU).


2. Description of Responsibilities (scope of the work)


The consultant is expected to:

1. Analyze current taxonomies (taxonomies inventory, including their objectives, references, key principles, use and users).

2. Carry out relevant consultations to ensure that all stakeholders are engaged in the process.

3. Develop a taxonomy policy including objectives, references, key principles, use and users.

4. Propose new corporate taxonomy. The proposed taxonomy must be as per state of the art standards of data classification and taxonomy practices (user friendly, intuitive, natural, mutually exclusive, etc.). In particular, it should propose the consolidation of taxonomies for countries, organizations, development topics, development results, volunteer activities and document categories, to be used by the different UNV systems.

5. Analyze impact of implementation of proposed taxonomies on corporate systems as well as data management and transformation.

6. Develop data maps and transformation plan including correspondence matrix.

7. Develop guidelines on the use of the corporate taxonomy by the different system owners, and develop a taxonomy governance structure.


Describe expected results, deliverables and provide a due date per each deliverable


1. Taxonomy policy including objectives, references, key principles, use and users (May 2014)

2. Fully developed corporate taxonomy, in particular countries, organizations, development topics, development results, volunteer activities and document categories, to be used by the different UNV systems (June 2014)

3. Taxonomy guidelines including the required governance structure and associated change management mechanism (July 2014)

4. Data mapping and transformation plan (July 2014)

Kindly consider two missions to Bonn – in the beginning and toward the end of the consultancy for presentation.


3. Competencies


 Excellent knowledge of information architecture and classification;


Demonstrated ability to provide effective advice on taxonomy policy and implementation;


Knowledge and understanding of technologies relevant to data management;


Proven knowledge of developing and maintaining taxonomies and related tagging and search functionalities of web-based systems;


Familiarity with the work of the United Nations system and understanding of the UN operations and structures, particularly those related to information and knowledge management, as well as statistics;


Familiarity with volunteer and development project management is an asset;


Strong analytical skills;


Excellent communications skills, good drafting and writing abilities;


Strong organizational and client orientation skills;


Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain trustful work relations.

Corporate Competencies:




Excellent intercultural communication skills and sensitivity to cultural differences;


Respect for diversity: Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

4. Qualifications

Education:


 Master’s degree in library and information science, knowledge management studies;

 Good knowledge of taxonomy standards (eg ISO 25964).


Experience:


 Minimum 5 years of experience in developing and maintaining taxonomies used by businesses/organizations to classify and categorize key data, information, and knowledge

 Previous experience with UNDP or another UN organization, e.g. UN statistics department, is an asset


Language requirement:


 Fluency in English;


Proficiency in an additional UN language is desirable.

5. Application procedures:
Applicants have to provide a technical and financial proposal.

The technical proposal shall describe the methodology and the approach how to fulfill the required deliverables as well as outline the major components of its implementation.

The financial proposal shall consist of all-inclusive lump sum for the whole duration of the contract period, which shall include the consultancy fee, costs of living, and cost of travel to and from the duty station. The financial proposal shall contain a breakdown of these costs and indicate the number of off-days the consultant wants to take during the contract period (if any).

The lump sum/contract price is fixed regardless of subsequent changes in the cost components.


Criteria for Selection of the Best offer:


The selection of the best offer will be based on the combined scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted – 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30%.

Key selection criteria are:

 Proposed methodology (20%)

 Proven experience in developing taxonomy (20%)

 Proven analytical skills (20%)

 Proven experience working with the UN (10%)

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via the UNDP website. Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this ToR and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications

described above. Applications should contain: A brief cover letter, a short summary of relevant qualifications and a technical proposal. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. A current completed and signed P11 form/ UN Personal History Form in English. Blank form can be downloaded from www.sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc

Please also include your CV. Contact details for 3 references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you provide all requested materials. All documents should be scanned and attached in one pdf format document.


Financial proposal
should be sent in a separate e-mail and addressed to : procurement@unv.org clearly marking the job title in the subject line.

Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.