National Consultant - Development and Maintenance at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: National Consultant - Development and Maintenance of Web-based Surveillance Data Visualization Dashboards for the Flexible, Integrated and Timely Response to Nutrition and WASH-related Humanitarian Needs Project (FIT Response)

Job Number: 526743
Location: Nigeria
Work Type : Consultancy

Background
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is implementing the Flexible, integrated and timely response to nutrition and WASH-related humanitarian needs in Borno state� (FIT Response) from April 2019 to March 2022. The overall aim of the project is to contribute towards the reduction of morbidity and mortality related to under nutrition amongst boys and girls under five years in the whole of Borno State as part of the response to the ongoing humanitarian situation in the northeast region of Nigeria. In line with the core mandate of UNICEF, the underlying principle of the project is the survival, protection and development of children of Borno state. With funding from DFID, UNICEF is collaborating with non-government organisations, civil society organisations, government's ministries of health, state primary health care development agencies and other pertinent state entities to provide integrated nutrition specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions to the most-at-need populations in Borno state.

UNICEF, through the project, is collaborating with the sector partners and the government to detect and respond to emerging/deteriorating nutrition-related crises in Borno by establishing an agile nutrition surveillance system which will give more frequent information at lower levels such as LGAs and wards. The objective of the surveillance system is to provide timely information on the nutritional situation of the population as well as the status of factors that influence nutrition; to be able to detect and respond to nutrition-related emergencies timely. It will also help the nutrition sector partners to monitor progress, assess coverage of services, predict nutrition situation based on trends, monitor programs and evaluate their effectiveness. The FIT surveillance system will build on existing systems and incorporate a sentinel surveillance mechanism. The system will collect information both on nutrition-specific variables like SAM admissions as well as nutrition-sensitive variables like outbreak of diseases. The data collected will be collated and analysed using innovative technologies mobile/SMS-based technology and web-based analytics to facilitate real time reporting on selected predictive indicators for early detection and response. Alert levels will be built into the system and whenever the alerts are triggered, small scale rapid assessments will be conducted to confirm the alerts with the goal of responding within few days or weeks if a crisis is confirmed.

The major output of the surveillance system is a web-based data analytics/visualization portal with interactive user interface whose link will be shared to stakeholders who would use the surveillance data for informed decision making.

Justification Purpose of Assignment

• In the context of the stated background, the project is expected to develop, publish and constantly maintain a web-based data analytics/visualization portal for the dissemination of the information from the surveillance system.
• Working under the overall supervision of the Chief of Nutrition in UNICEF Abuja CO, under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Information Management Officer and in close coordination with the Innovation Specialist, the consultant is expected to design, publish, update and maintain a web-based data analytics/data visualization portal, with support from the Innovation Specialist and the FIT project team in Abuja and Borno.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished
The consultant, with support from the FIT team is expected to:

• Develop and publish an indicative simple visualization page for the first two rounds of surveillance data collection while developing the fully functional visualization webpage.
• Assess the requirements of the FIT surveillance data visualization website or portal based on the defined objectives as presented by the FIT Nutrition team.
• S/he will liaise with the project team to understand users needs propose on tools, applications or programs addressing the needs and required functionality of the web site. In addition, s/he will make recommendations for backup/restore plan, ease of accessibility, user- friendliness, and ease of maintenance/update.
• Design an easy to access user friendly FIT surveillance website, making it innovative, interactive, organized, user friendly and compatible with all devices including mobiles and tablets.
• Develop a data management system compatible with ODK integrated into the website and embed RSS, discussion forum and social media.
• Train the FIT project team on how to manage the website including how to conduct basic troubleshooting
• Degree or equivalent in Communication, IT, Web Design Programs, data visualization or related field
• Ability to produce written products to a very high standard in English;
• More than 5 years relevant experience in developing, managing and troubleshooting websites, especially those with interactive features; (candidates to share links to similar web-based projects s/he has led the development or contributed significantly to)
• Proven proficiency in the use of the internet and PCs, including Website designing software;The major tasks and suggested timeline identified above is meant to give a brief overview of the assignment and is by no means exhaustive; further info

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required

• Degree or equivalent in Communication, IT, Web Design Programs, data visualization or related field
• Ability to produce written products to a very high standard in English;
• More than 5 years relevant experience in developing, managing and troubleshooting websites, especially those with interactive features; (candidates to share links to similar web-based projects s/he has led the development or contributed significantly to in their cover CV)
• Proven proficiency in the use of the internet and PCs, including Website designing software
• Proven proficiency in the use of PowerBI, Tableau, Adobe Illustrator and related software
• Extensive experience in creating web-based content management systems and proven track record in database-enabled web applications development; system analysis, design, integration and customizing websites;
• Extensive knowledge of the concepts of user experience, user interface design principles and conceptual design;
• Expert knowledge in HTML, CSS and JavaScript;
• Extensive experience with Ubuntu /Linux server and relational database management systems using MySQL;
• Experience providing similar services for humanitarian projects is considered an asset

Core Competencies:

• Communication
• Working with people
• Drive for results

The duration of the consultancy is 80 working days over a 6 months period.

Application Closing Date
6th October, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Applicants should add an all inclusive fee in their cover letter
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.