UNICEF Jobs in Uganda, Technology for Development (T4D) Technical Specialist

Job Title: Technology for Development (T4D) Technical Specialist, Kampala, Uganda
Closing Date: Friday, 05 August 2011


UNICEF Kampala, George Street, Kampala

DURATION:

7 months beginning August 2011, with intention for a Phase 2 of 4 months

BACKGROUND:

In November 2009, UNICEF Uganda set up a Technology for Development Coordination Unit, tasked to support the integration of innovative practices into traditional UNICEF programming, and to look for sustainable opportunities to launch projects with significant technology components that are designed, supported, rolled out and maintained in partnership with the Government of Uganda and long-term NGO, CBO and faith-based organizations.

The T4D Unit focuses on identifying regional and global trends in innovative technologies; examining initiatives with programmatic counterparts and assessing opportunities for utilization; advising government counterparts, strengthening partnerships and supporting capacity building with local and regional stakeholders; managing the design and development of ICT programs, software applications and hardware components; coordinating testing and deployment; managing internal and external consultants and companies; working with programmatic counterparts to oversee testing, scale up and handover phases of various initiatives; and monitoring and evaluating outcomes.

Ongoing T4D initiatives include:

an array of mHealth applications used by VHTs, Health Centres, district health offices and community members – based on the RapidSMS platform and including web-based elements and USSD functionality
a social monitoring platform and related national campaign called "Ureport", which encourages citizen (especially youth) involvement, action, monitoring, and government accountability; also built using RapidSMS
a dynamic web and Blackberry-based data collection and mapping application (DevTrac) which geo-tags project monitoring information gathered during UNICEF field visits
RapidFTR, a Blackberry application for Family Tracing and Reunification during emergencies
a USSD and web based application for Birth Registration (MobileVRS)
mobile-phone based monitoring in schools
a national Child Helpline
an SMS-based supply-tracking application
rugged solar-powered computer systems being built and deployed at 100 UNICEF supported Youth Centers and Teacher Colleges
an online/offline content portal that will be filled with Uganda-specific content and maintained and managed by UNICEF, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and other partners

UNICEF Uganda subscribes to a philosophy that supported IT solutions should strive to be enterprise level, open-source, sustainable by in-country talent as much as possible, and low cost.

UNICEF Uganda plans to expand and scale the use of many of the aforementioned projects, while continuing to develop, field test, modify and deploy new T4D initiatives; strengthening project sustainability (based on sound business models and ownership/handover strategies); empowering UNICEF and Government of Uganda staff to take the lead in integrating T4D components into existing initiatives; and supporting capacity building in the private sector and academia's capacity.

In order to achieve this, UNICEF Uganda seeks to fill the position of T4D Technical Specialist, to develop strategic implementation plans for existing and new initiatives, work with partners and UNICEF program colleagues to design new initiatives, provide day-to-day technical support for multiple ongoing projects, manage related budgetary, supply/contracting and other administrative duties to keep a small innovative unit running within a UN bureaucracy, draft fundraising documents and concept papers as needed, provide general monitoring and quality assurance for UNICEF T4D solutions, and oversee a team of internal technical consultants (software programmers, engineers, etc) and external companies to carry out these projects.

Additionally, partnerships are critical to all of the T4D Unit's work: the consultant will outreach to and support coordinated work with like-minded innovative donors, open-source development communities, local innovators, youth organizations, cultural and religious organizations, NGOs, the private sector, local media, and national and foreign academic institutions, to provide a space to nurture and test new and innovative ideas as well as to build local capacity and encourage shared resources.

The need for this consultancy at this time arises from: the move of the previous T4D Technical Specialist into the formal UNICEF Health and Nutrition team structure; the focus on delivery, national scale-up, and handover of what have to date been test projects; and the limited in-office experience of programme officers with T4D as a cross-sectoral field.

Purpose:

To identify, assess and integrate ICTs into regular UNICEF programming where appropriate, and to build capacity within UNICEF, Government, private sector, NGO, CBO and faith-based partners to increasingly lead T4D related projects; with a special focus on input to strategy for hardware production scale-up and roll-out as well as training, on ICT projects falling under the Child Protection (Keeping Children Safe) programme (Birth Registration and Child Helpline) as well as support around Keep Children Learning projects, on partnership work related to mapping and monitoring initiatives in Uganda, and on administrative and supply duties to support those initiatives.

The consultant will support the Section Coordinator with outreach to academic, civil society and private sector interest groups with linkages to T4D activities, taking the lead in areas either assigned, or directly relevant to the consultant's portfolio.
The consultant will support creation of a sustainable business model and private sector outreach strategies to support UNICEF Uganda's plan for deploying small ICT centers at 100+ youth centers across the country. This may include: working with youth center partners, creation of necessary informational materials, and contribution to strategy to be used by Private Sector specialist to support private sector partnerships for ICT for Youth Centers
The consultant will advise the "Keeping Children Safe" team to guide the on-going deployment – including hardware needs - and any remaining software development needed in the national Ugandan Birth & Death Registration System, as well as support coordination of the public-private partnership between Uganda Telecoms and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
Working with technical consultants, the consultant will guide the development of Uganda's Child Helpline, which will be upgrading operations from a system of multiple call centers using a paper based system for case management, to a single, national lights-off call center using state of the art case management technology.
The consultant will temporarily manage on-going programmatic development of the DevTrac platform (online knowledge sharing/data mapping platform to track development work and outcomes), and oversee the programmer(s) and external companies who work on the technical development, as well as engage with local and global partners to support testing, improvement and expansion of the initiative. A project manager directly responsible for this project will be recruited in the near future.
The consultant will research, identify and advise on integration of other ICT tools and innovate solutions to development challenges into UNICEF's standard work. This could include anything from investigating new mobile tools and data collection devices, to looking at initiatives such as bio-gas, water purity tracking devices, etc
The consultant will work with a team of internal technical consultants (software programmers, engineers, etc) and external companies to successfully achieve the aforementioned T4D projects.
The consultant will ensure necessary contracts are created and supplies ordered to keep T4D-related projects and team operations functioning smoothly, working within the standard UN system of contracting and procurement.
The consultant will provide routine usability feedback and quality assurance reports on all projects within the consultant's portfolio.
The consultant will provide ongoing documentation, of publishable quality, for all projects they are engaged on.
The consultant may be asked to pursue funding opportunities, and develop related proposals.
The consultant will support the Section Chief in drafting T4D-related ToRs, budgets and other administrative duties.
The consultant may be requested to represent UNICEF Uganda's T4D Unit during high level donor visits, government and development partner meetings (Working Groups, Task Forces, etc), and international conferences and events.
The consultant will, when requested, advise and provide technical support to UNICEF's East and Southern African Regional Office (ESARO), as well as UNICEF HQ.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Below are the key tasks to be completed; however, consultant is expected to take on tasks as assigned by supervisor to ensure efficient functioning of the T4D unit and all the projects we support, upon regular joint review of UNICEF's needs and priorities with team and management:

1. Working with T4D, Private Sector Specialist and graphic designer, prepare documents for private sector and other partnership efforts

2. Report on technical development and implementation of national Birth and Death Registration (BDR) system to Register Generals Office, URSB, Ministry of Gender, and UNICEF Senior Management / Child Protection

3. Report on status of Child Helpline case management development and implementation

4. Identify and assess at least two new T4D initiatives, or new phases of ongoing initiatives, with immediate potential to improve UNICEF programming

5. Provide recommendations on integrating platforms currently deployed by UNICEF Uganda (such as RapidSMS, RapidFTR, DevTrac) with other technologies, (such as IVR and MMS) and other relevant platforms (such as J2ME and Android apps, Facebook)

6. Identify, assess, and formalize at least one new significant partnership (PCA, SSFA, MoU, LTA, etc) with public / private sector, academic or civil society institutions

7. Represent UNICEF T4D at high level event to showcase successes of UNICEF Uganda T4D initiatives, share lessons learned and interact with other innovations experts

8. Administrative and supply/procurement duties related to the above.

EXPECTED/KEY DELIVERABLES:

The consultant's main role is to support all necessary coordination of projects and work within the T4D unit. However specific monthly deliverables are required, including:

1. PR-quality documents and reports, including business plans, for partners on all joint initiatives and proposed joint initiatives. (Month 1)

2. 2-4 page project briefs, with accompanying documents, to keep the stakeholders updated on the projects in the consultant's portfolio: to include Birth Registration (Month 2), Child Helpline (Month 3), data integration and sharing with other platforms (Month 5), as well as top priority emerging T4D initiatives to be assigned at time of engagement and throughout contract (Month 4).

3. Standard partnership and contractual documents, delivered and ready for management review (Month 6)

4. Final report prepared for relevant program sections and management on T4D initiatives, on lessons learned and shared at at least one high level meeting. (Month 7)

Technical expertise required:

An advanced degree in International Affairs, International Relations, International Development, or a related field. A combination of an advanced degree and practical experience in international development work may be substituted for the particular fields mentioned.
5-7 years experience designing and implementing solutions for large-scale technical projects – including supervising engineers and software developers; responsibility for budgets, contracts and procurement, etc.
3-5 years experience working within key UNICEF programmatic areas (Health and Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, Child Protection, Education, WASH, Communication and Emergencies).
Experience with ICT hardware, mobile phones and web-based technologies in Africa, particularly designing or deploying tools appropriate to low-bandwidth environments.
A strong understanding of UNICEF programmes and policy, including knowledge of communication, technology, youth participation and partnership goals, as well as sound interpretation and judgment to present these programmes and policies in a way that enhances UNICEF's image.

Experience in supporting and coordinating project activities across a large organization and with other international partner organizations.
Good understanding of development issues, world affairs and current events
Proven ability to interact diplomatically with high-level officials as well as experience working directly with community-level partners.
Proven ability to manage relationships with UNICEF partners, including youth coalitions, universities, intellectual leaders, UN organizations, NGOs and the private sector
Proven skills in negotiation, networking, strategic thinking, advocacy and fundraising
Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to transfer knowledge and skills.
Strong writing and communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing messages and priorities with multiple audiences
Ability to travel and work in remote and sometimes insecure locations
Fluency in written and verbal English is a must; another UN or local language is a plus
Residence and work experience in East Africa, current or past, is advantageous.

TO APPLY

Send letter of interest, CV and any relevant sample work (links or attachments) to jobst4d@gmail.com and cayado@unicef.org

Applications must be received by 5 August 2011