Technical Specialist - Census Cartography
Organizational Context
The role is within UNFPA, the UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health. The Technical Specialist will support national counterparts in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the General Population and Housing Census. Reporting to the Census Chief Technical Adviser and guided by the UNFPA Representative, the specialist will address challenges in geospatial and mapping activities across all 26 provinces, ensuring effective integration of modern GIS technologies.
Job Purpose
The Census Cartography & GIS Specialist is responsible for ensuring that all cartographic processes for the census are designed, executed, monitored, and quality-controlled according to international UN standards. This involves overseeing critical stages such as pre-census mapping, the delineation of field enumeration areas (EAs), geodatabase modeling, and the integration of mobile mapping technologies. The specialist will also manage post-enumeration geospatial data dissemination, ensuring the census data is spatially accurate and usable for policy formulation and development planning.
Responsibilities
The Technical Specialist will lead the formulation and execution of the national Census Cartography & GIS Master Plan, establishing technical protocols for digital cartography and managing procurement for necessary hardware and software. They will oversee the spatial delineation and digitizing of Enumeration Areas (EAs) and Supervision Areas (SAs) across all provinces, developing robust Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) protocols. The role includes supervising the deployment of mobile GIS tools, conducting field monitoring, and assessing capacity gaps within national institutions. Furthermore, the specialist will design and deliver training programs, integrate geospatial datasets into CAPI platforms, manage the post-census geodatabase for spatial analysis and mapping, and serve as the UNFPA technical focal point for coordination with partner agencies and national bodies.
Work Experience
Requires a minimum of 7 years of progressive international professional experience in census cartography, GIS design, and spatial database management. Demonstrated experience in digital mapping strategies for large-scale censuses, particularly in developing countries, is essential. Expertise in advanced GIS software, spatial DBMS, mobile mapping tools, and satellite imagery processing is also required.
Skills
Key skills include technical leadership, data and information systems management, analytical and strategic thinking, and effective communication. Proficiency in advanced GIS software (ESRI ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), mobile data collection platforms, and an understanding of UN Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses are crucial.