Individual Consultant: Technology for Development, Knowledge Management, and Project Coordination Support (COVID-19) (Home-based)

Job Description

The Regional ICT section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant on Technology for Development (T4D), Knowledge Management (KM), and Project Coordination Support (COVID-19).

The Consultant will work in close coordination with the T4D Business Analyst under oversight by the Regional Chief of ICT to address the increased need for T4D and innovation related knowledge management and project coordination support to the East Asia and Pacific Region in the context of COVID-19 outbreak.

Purpose of Assignment:

As the demand for Technology for Development (T4D) solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic rises, Country Offices (COs) start to implement T4D and other innovation initiatives to increase the reach of their response. Knowledge management and strengthened project coordination are needed to ensure COs and their partners learn from each other’s successes and failures. Good practices captured now also offer opportunities for future fundraising.

The Consultant will support the T4D Business Analyst in developing a well-maintained knowledge management system that gathers, extracts, packages, maintains, distributes and continually updates evidence, data and knowledge for internal and external audiences in order to support a culture of appropriate technology use and innovations in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Work Assignment:

1. Knowledge management: The EAPRO T4D Covid-19 Response has an operationalized knowledge management function in which data, information and knowledge on T4D initiatives are systematically acquired, continuously upgraded and disseminated to counterparts, partners, donors, media and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Act as Knowledge management focal point under the guidance of the Regional T4D Manager.
• Draw on the EAPRO knowledge management strategy to create a T4D Knowledge Management Action Plan for the COVID-19 response.
• Support the establishment of communities of practice or other forums for learning across COs drawing on expertise of other COs, Regional and HQ T4D and Innovation practitioners.
• Support assessments, review knowledge management products, edit and review feasibility studies.

2. Best Practices and Learning: Lessons learned and best practices in the areas of T4D and innovation for the COVID-19 response are captured and influence UNICEF’s programme policy, official programme guidance and policy dialogue.
• Learning for T4D. In close collaboration with the T4D and Innovation Leads across EAP undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful initiatives and share observations/findings with the T4D Business Analyst for further dissemination so best practices and insights can benefit UNICEF’s knowledge management work.

3. Project coordination: Capacity on knowledge acquisition, management, and sharing linked to the T4D COVID-19 response is strengthened. UNICEF T4D Practitioners are supported in the production, visualisation and dissemination of high quality KM products.
• Under the supervision of EAP T4D Business Analyst, advise UNICEF T4D and Innovation practitioners on implications for action and policies proposed.
• Support knowledge management activities through information exchange.
• Set-up regular check-in call with practitioners, effective deadline management.

End Product:

Submission of Deliverables per agreed timeline and quality:

• COVID-19 KM Action Plan has been developed.
• The UNICEF T4D is supported through the creation of a community of practice on COVID-19 response in the EAP region through effective coordination of the stakeholders: regular calls, effective deadline management, review of proposed actions in accordance with UNICEF guidance, etc.
• Knowledge management: collecting of stories featuring good and bad practices, reviewing and editing HIS on T4D initiatives, keep database of initiatives up to date.
• Support assessments and review feasibility studies.
• Verify overlaps and coordination with other UN entities (raise issues to T4D advisor).
• Any other activity/output as required.

Work Schedule: Work plan and schedule will be agreed upon start of the contract by the consultant and contract’s supervisor.

Estimated Duration of Contract: 50 working days during May-December 2020.

Official Travel: Home-based assignment. The consultancy may need to travel to Country Offices depending on pre-approved requests for technical assistance.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in Knowledge Management, Business Administration, Technology, Change Management, International Affairs, International Relations or related field. A combination of a first university degree in one of the above fields and at least two years of practical experience in international development work and the knowledge management and/or the use of technology for development may be substituted for the advanced university degree.  
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in knowledge management and/or identifying, designing and implementing solutions for large-scale projects with technical components.
• Experience in supporting and coordinating project activities across a large organization and with other international partner organizations.
• Exposure to RapidPro, OpenSRP, DHIS2, ODK and other digital public good technologies, and deploying, maintaining and rolling out these technologies is desirable.
• Exposure to Open Source, mobile and emerging technology applied to public health is desirable.
• Exposure to UNICEF, UN or other INGO programmatic areas, including (but not limited to) health, nutrition, WASH, child protection and/or education, and experience in applying technical solutions to address programmatic issues.
• Desirable: Knowledge or significant interest in one or more of these areas:

• The use of Technology in Development and Humanitarian contexts.
• RapidPro, ODK (or mobile text messaging, chatbot and real-time monitoring applications).
• mHealth/eHealth and EdTech/eLearning.
• E-Government.
• Geographic Information Systems and Information Management (e.g. Superset, HDX, AcessMod).

Other skills and attributes:

• Hybrid background combining programmatic knowledge, ability to work across organizational boundaries and technical skills to respond to the organizational needs and functions that technology must support.
• Proven ability to interact diplomatically with counterparts at all levels.
• Understanding of international development issues.
• Ability to interact with people from different disciplines, and with varying degrees of technical experience.
• Must have strong skills in business analysis and knowledge management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills a must. Presentation skills are an advantage.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s ICT landscape an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.
• Candidates in a time zone location within maximum 5 hours of GMT +7 (Bangkok) is preferred.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 2 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 30 April 2020.

About the Organization

UNICEF is out to change the world for children vaccination by vaccination, blanket by blanket, biscuit by biscuit, book by book. In most of America, these things are considered completely ordinary. But in many parts of the developing world, they can save a child's life. UNICEF is unique among world organizations and unique among those working with young people. As a global movement, we use our authority to influence decision makers and diverse partners to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. In 155 countries and territories, UNICEF's field staff uses hard-won expertise to meet the challenges facing children and those who care for them. Our history has given us a profound understanding of development and the importance of child health, education, equality and protection in advancing humanity. All that we do helps children realize their full potential. In support of UNICEF's work, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF focuses on five major priorities: education, emergencies, HIV/AIDS, immunization and malnutrition.