About this role
Organizational Setting
FAO Afghanistan is investing across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In particular, FAO provides a combination of humanitarian and basic needs/non-humanitarian assistance to female and male farmers and herders across Afghanistan in the agriculture, livestock, irrigation and natural resources sub-sectors through its projects and programs, as described in the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) and the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) 2023-2027, specifically under UNSFA Priority 2 Economic Opportunities and Resilient Livelihoods.
Reporting Lines
The Information Management Assistant (IDEA) will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) and / or Deputy FAOR. S/he will work under the guidance of the Head of Monitoring, Analysis and Strategic Communication (MASC) Unit. S/he will be required to work under the direct supervision of the Information Management Specialist in Kabul.
Technical Focus
The position focuses on operational support to IDEA implementation, data quality assurance, user support, and capacity strengthening. The role compliments the Information Management Specialist (IDEA) on day-to-day operational troubleshooting and strengthening the capacity of the field personnel and all other stakeholders as required.
Tasks and responsibilities
IDEA Implementation Support
• Supports the day-to-day operation/troubleshooting of the IDEA system.
• Assists with the configuration and preparation of mobile devices for beneficiary registration and assistance delivery, including Kobo Collect, NFC and biometric components, as applicable.
• Supports form deployment, testing, version control, and troubleshooting in coordination with the Information Management Specialist, regional MEAL colleagues and OER etc.
• Provides first-line technical support to FAO field teams and implementing partners during implementation.
• Maintains a log of issues and escalates technical problems to relevant support teams as needed.
Information Management and Data Quality Assurance
• Supports with routine data cleaning, validation, and consistency checks across IDEA and related MEAL datasets.
• Assists in the consolidation and harmonization of monitoring data streams, including real-time and post-activity data.
• Contributes to maintaining clear data flows and documentation, ensuring alignment between field teams, partners, and central systems.
• Supports with the preparation of basic dashboards, tables, and analytical summaries for internal monitoring and reporting purposes.
Capacity Building and User Support
• Supports with refresher trainings for FAO staff and implementing partners on IDEA tools and data protocols.
• Assists in the preparation of user guidance materials, SOPs, and job aids in coordination with the Information Management Specialist.
• Provides assistance to FAO staff on IDEA data handling and quality assurance practices.
• Supports the documentation of processes, lessons learned and prepares an operational guidance manual to strengthen institutional memory.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Secondary school with 5 years or more, or bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification with 4 years and above experience in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Management, Information Management, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of UN or INGO experience is desirable in Information Management, MIS or digital data systems or Cash/Voucher or beneficiary level data management.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Dari and/or Pashto).
• National of Afghanistan
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Experience supporting mobile data collection systems (KoboCollect or similar).
• Strong skills in data cleaning, validation, and quality assurance.
• Familiarity with Excel and basic dashboard tools (Power BI or similar is an asset).
• Understanding of data protection, confidentiality, and ethical data handling.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a complex operational environment.
• Previous experience with UN or humanitarian programmes is an asset.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
- Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
- Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
- For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
Other facts
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
What you'll do
- The role focuses on providing operational support for the IDEA system, including troubleshooting, configuring mobile devices for registration, and ensuring data quality through cleaning and validation across various datasets. The assistant will also contribute to capacity building by supporting training and preparing user guidance materials for staff and partners.
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