Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) -Senior Officer

UNOPS -Somalia Country Office (SOCO) is recruiting this position: Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems- (AFIS)-Senior Officer

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to help shape UNOPS’ efforts to support the expansion of affordable, accountable and effective policing in Somalia.

Somalia is amid major new political and security developments that will offer a greater possibility for peace and security than the country has seen in over 20 years. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), established in 2012, and international community have driven a process of rebuilding of functioning government institutions and processes through Somalia’s peacebuilding and state-building priorities under the Somali Compact (2013-2016), based on the Busan “New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States” agreement. The Somalia National Development Plan (2017-2019), builds on this foundation laid by the Compact and sets the priorities for national recovery and development in full collaboration with national and regional governments.  A landmark electoral process in late 2016 and early 2017 resulted in a peaceful transfer of power to a new President and government, in place since February and March 2017 respectively. The government has set out an ambitious agenda for its term (the period to 2021).  At the London Somalia Conference in May 2017, a Security Pact was agreed by Somalia and the international community, which will allow for sustainable, long-term security based on mutual accountability.

The functional objective of UNOPS in Somalia is to deliver projects in an efficient and effective manner, to achieve the development outcomes sought by the Government of Somalia and the donor community. The aim of UNOPS in Somalia is to provide implementation services to the Government of Somalia, the donor community and partner agencies in the reconstruction and development of the country. In doing so, UNOPS aims to exceed client expectations in the delivery of quality services throughout the country.

Job Specific Background:

The Stipends programme is a part of Security Sector Reform (SSR) and falls within the second of the Peace and State building Goals (PSGs): “Establish unified, capable, accountable and rights-based Somali federal security institutions, providing basic security for its citizens.”

Complementary to the stipends programmes is the biometric registration of the Police & Military personnel. Registration of the Police/Military personnel promotes accountability and transparency and is crucial for strengthening the Somali government’s capacity in terms of improved financial and personnel management.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment: 

The Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems-(AFIS) Senior Officer will lead the conceptualization, planning, preparation and monitoring of registration and verification activities and will report to the Police/Military Stipends Senior Project Managers. 

Under the direct supervision of the Police & Military Stipends Senior Project Managers, the Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems-(AFIS) Senior Officer will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:

• Lead the conceptualization, planning, preparation & monitoring of registration/verification activities for Police & Military Stipends.
• The AFIS Senior Officer coordinates with the Pay Team Observers (PTOs) to ensure that beneficiary data are aligned with stipend payments. S/he also conducts formal and on-the-job training to ensure that field teams are prepared and knowledgeable to operate the UNHRS system efficiently.
• Liaise with the PTOs & Senior Project Managers for the Registration/Verification plan and perform thorough checks on the biometric equipment, ensuring that kits were ready for deployment. 
• Liaise with ICT for the maintenance of UNHRS Servers, Biometric kits, Fingerprint scanners , cameras, software upgrades and advise the Senior Project Managers  on procurement and/or replacement of equipment and software if and when required.
• In coordination with the relevant project focal points, she/he will ensure the timely  and accurate flow of Biometric registration and verification data, provide comprehensive data quality reports identifying gaps, define and assess business impact, address data quality at the source and promote a data-driven culture.
• Synchronise field data captured on field kits with UNHRS  servers/databases, ensuring that beneficiary data is secured and aligned and compiling comprehensive beneficiary registration/verification reports as per set standard.
• Ensure that data backups are taken after each registration/verification/stipend run activity and are properly secured.
• Coordinate with the PTOs and Project Team for creation of monthly Payment Lists, reconciliation of verification list with the payment list and reconciliation of payment lists with the bank proof of payments.
• Maintains an up-to-date Biometric Asset Register with the current location of the kits. Responsible for the handover-takeover of the Biometric kits and maintains records of the same.
• Provide comprehensive data analysis and any ad-hoc reports for data assurance, audit and quality control purposes.
• Maintain contact with field teams to ensure the smooth completion of beneficiary registration/verification activity, provide remote support to the field teams, troubleshoot and provide quick effective resolutions to the application/system issues when encountered at field level and travel to field locations when required.
• Assist the Police & Military Stipends Senior Project Managers in development of regional, personal & thematic plans to achieve stated goals  and  objectives, including developing background  and  contextual components of work plans.
• Provided inputs to the weekly/monthly/quarterly reports.
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings ,technical evaluations and  other working groups.
• Other duties as required by the Supervisor

 Impact of Result 

The Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS)-Senior Officer has a major role to support the Police & Military Stipends Senior Project Managers that directly affects the ability of the FGS and FMS (military and police) to effectively and efficiently disburse stipend payments in a timely fashion, which will have a direct impact of the delivery of safety and security services to the broader Somalia. 

• Master’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Management, Software Engineering, Statistics or other relevant disciplines is required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in  Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Statistics with a combination of  an two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Technical Diploma Certification in related areas such as Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Statistics combined with 6 years of professional relevant work experience will also be considered.

• Fluency in written, reading and spoken English Language is required.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life Harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types.
• Mogadishu is not a Family Duty Station.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon   request.
• UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.             

  It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. 

  Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contract Agreement (LICA)
2. Contract level: LICA 9 /ICS 9
3. Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Africa Region

AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.

Somalia Country Office:

UNOPS Somalia Country Office (SOCO) has had a solid and continuous in-country expert presence successfully implementing programs since the mid-1990s, where it is currently undertaking various projects and initiatives in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS) and partners from the global donor community. UNOPS’ projects in Somalia focus on several key sectors that include infrastructure development, institutional capacity building, project management, advisory services, and procurement services. These projects cut across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, national security, law enforcement, immigration services, justice, transport, and public works among others. UNOPS work in Somalia is geared towards driving growth and development in the country, a process that requires developing a close relationship with the FGS and the other development partners.
  
Through its involvement in Somalia’s development process, UNOPS is providing transparent and accountable solutions in the country’s state and nation-building process. In addition, UNOPS is also committed to implementing the United Nations Strategic Framework Somalia 2017 – 2020, with the aim of helping Somalia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNOPS work within the context of these commitments means that the projects it implements in Somalia are specifically designed to provide long-term solutions in the country, leading to sustainable and inclusive growth.

What drives us is a passion to fight inequalities and to provide opportunities to those most vulnerable. This means we often work in the most challenging environments, building foundations for communities to function and people to live with dignity and respect.

To succeed here, he/she need to be able to combine creativity with the organizational skills to manage numerous different projects to tight deadlines simultaneously, as well as working with the different units to meet their expectations.