Terms of Reference – Expert Services in Geographic Information Systems
Organization: 3iS
Business address:
92nd Street #15-78
Name of Services: Geographic Information Systems Experts
Contractual Domicile: Bogotá DC
Type of Contract: Service Provision Contract
Expected Start Date: December 1, 2025.
Contract termination date: April 30, 2026.
Fees: COP 6,000,000 – COP 8,000,000
Organization
3IS is an international non-profit organization that provides information management services to humanitarian and development organizations, enabling partners to make informed decisions that ultimately deliver high-quality, targeted assistance to the world’s most vulnerable populations. 3IS transforms data into information and creates knowledge for decision-makers operating in conflict, disaster, post-disaster, and recovery environments, as well as other complex emergency and development contexts.
Context
The main objective of this project is to strengthen coordination among humanitarian actors through the analysis, evaluation, and provision of synergistic information management services. This initiative will promote information sharing among humanitarian actors to improve decision-making and optimize response capacity.
EVIDEM organizations will share their experiences, knowledge, and lessons learned to achieve this goal. The proposed activities, along with the expertise of each organization in the consortium, not only complement each other but also align with Flagship Initiative 1, establishing a collective coordination structure for information management to serve humanitarian organizations. This will facilitate a people-centered approach, ensuring that their priorities, needs, and capacities are at the heart of all actions.
Leveraging its expertise in humanitarian coordination mechanisms and capacity building in information management, 3iS seeks to strengthen and empower humanitarian partners, enabling them to leverage and optimize tools, technologies, platforms, and best practices in information management to respond more effectively to humanitarian crises.
Description of Services
The individual responsible for providing these services will be in charge of the timely and efficient collection, analysis, and validation of geographic data. They will use GIS tools and processes to generate high-quality spatial information, develop maps and information products that facilitate the visualization, interpretation, and decision-making based on geographic data. The provision of services will include coordinating the exchange of geographic information both internally and externally, and acting as a liaison with providers of satellite imagery and analysis services.
Activities
A. Specific Activities
- Prepare information that allows the validation of the received data (identification of sources, data structure and debugging).
- Provide the spatial information necessary for data collection.
- Prepare the maps based on the project objectives and the specified needs.
- Prepare cartographic products according to the needs based on requests made by humanitarian architectures in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, among others.
- To serve as a liaison on matters of internal geographic information and with external providers, including analysis of satellite images.
- Carry out the processes of linking the collected information according to the project objectives.
- Provide information products that allow tracking of validation processes.
- Implement spatial analysis methodologies for the validation process.
- Document the methodological process used in the validation exercises.
- Ensure that common spatial data standards and structures are applied and that data is properly managed throughout the management cycle.
- Perform general data analysis and management processes.
- Prepare the monthly progress reports.
- Ensure the timely and organized delivery of the products agreed upon in the work schedule.
- Participation in Knowledge Management:
- Participate in cross-functional team meetings and in organized knowledge management spaces.
B. Management activities:
- Prepare the work plan and promptly communicate its progress, difficulties and challenges to the contract representative.
- Attend to the in-person spaces of the project.
- Carry out field missions when their participation in the project is required.
- Prepare monthly progress reports.
- Guarantee the timely delivery of products.
- Participate in cross-cutting groups in a timely manner.
- Contribute to the organization’s knowledge management strategy.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education
Professional with a university degree in geography, cartography, architecture, urban planning, geological engineering, or related fields. Postgraduate studies will be valued.
Experience
To be eligible, applicants for this service provision must have at least three (3) years of proven experience in activities similar to those described in these Terms of Reference. Experience in the humanitarian sector will be given special consideration (desirable), as will participation in primary and secondary data collection and analysis processes. Prior experience using artificial intelligence tools, process automation, or developing intelligent agents (desirable), and the preparation of technical reports or analytical products for non-specialized audiences will also be considered relevant.
Technical Skills
Advanced knowledge of ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, experience with ArcMap.
Advanced command of spatial analysis and expert skills in geodatabase modeling and cleaning.
Intermediate knowledge in Python, JavaScript or SQL (desirable, depending on the project’s needs).
Advanced skills in cartographic design and knowledge of open source GIS platforms (e.g., OpenStreetMap, Google Earth Pro).
Understanding of field data collection practices using GPS and handling of official statistical information sources.
Skill in creating geographic data visualization dashboards.
Advanced Office skills.
Knowledge about regional and national migration dynamics, actors involved and policies in the area.
Languages
Fluency in Spanish (spoken and written) is required, as well as intermediate knowledge of English (spoken and written).
Responsibility to the beneficiaries
Staff are expected to respect the principles of accountability to beneficiaries of 3IS programs in line with international standards, while actively involving beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of 3IS projects.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
Staff are expected to respect local culture and 3IS policies, procedures and values ​​at all times.
3IS has zero tolerance for harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, human tracking, and child abuse and exploitation. Any violation of these principles and policies will be treated as a serious offense.
3IS is an equal opportunity employer regardless of background. 3IS may conduct reference checks with other organizations regarding matters related to sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.
Deadline November 20, 2025: Statement: Candidate assessment will be ongoing and the position may be filled before the application deadline