UNDP Jobs - 49722- ICT Advisor- Civil and Voter Registration

ICT Advisor- Civil and Voter Registration

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

TA International

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

19-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

Three Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Three Months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Since 2004, UNDP and its partners have supported the Sierra Leonean National Electoral Commission (NEC) to implement a strategic planning and reform process, as well as prepare for and administer the 2012 election – the country's second national election since the end of the 10-year civil war in 2002, and the first without the supervision and major logistical support of the international community and UN peacekeepers. With the successful conduct of these elections Sierra Leone has made important gains in the consolidation of its post-conflict democracy and towards self-sufficient administration of its own elections.

Following the successful conclusion of the 2012 elections, UNDP’s Support to the Electoral Cycle in Sierra Leone 2011 – 2014 Programme continues to support the sustainability of know-how and the development of long-term capacities of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), including voter registration. To this end, the Programme will also provide assistance to the National Registration Secretariat (NRS) to harmonize its national civil registry with NEC’s voter database, as well as other agency databases, so that NEC may receive a voters register derived from an integrated national civil registry, thereby reducing the cost of voter registration and ensuring harmonization of government registries. Under the Outcome of Strengthening Civil Register to support NEC with a technically sound, credible and sustainable Voter Register at this stage, UNDP is seeking the services of Civil and Voter Registration ICT Advisor with knowledge of voter registration and electoral affairs for the Programme. Under the guidance and the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of the Support to the Electoral Cycle in Sierra Leone 2011 – 2014 Programme, the Civil and Voter Registration ICT Advisor will assist NRS in coordinating a multi-faceted program to develop, test, and implement an integrated national civil registry system eventually leading to creation of Sierra Leone National Civil Registry.

The recent unfortunate outbreak of the fatal Ebola Viral Disease has imposed several challenges including completely limiting the possibility of deploying a Consultant for this purpose as Consultants are finding it near impossible for getting themselves medically insured for assignments in Sierra Leone. The CO has therefore decided to recruit on a staff contract using a temporary appointment modality

Duties and Responsibilities

Provides strategic IT advice and services to NRS

Civil and Voter Registration ICT Advisor will provide strategic IT advice to NRS focusing on achievement of the following results:
To provide an ICT methodology and work plan to carry out the assignment;
Analysis of NASSIT data, NRS data, and NEC database to determine the feasibility of merging and creating a new, integrated national ID database based on structure of NEC’s current database;
Implement, test, and debug customized developed C# software for the INCRS, more specifically the Smart Card Inventory Control System, Distributed Card Production (Surface and Chip Personalization software), Biometric Registration Kits, District Consolidation Software, Central Consolidation Software, Biometric De-Duplication Software, and general interfaces to synchronize the dataflow between before mentioned modules;
Implement, test, and debug customized developed MS SQL databases at Biometric Registration Kits, District Consolidation and Production Sites, Biometric De-Duplication, and Central Database;
Assist NRS with setting up Biometric Registration Kits, District Consolidation and Production Sites, Biometric De-Duplication, and Central Systems;
Assist NRS with Production Pilot (Wellington), Freetown HQ Pilot (Full System in HQ), Biometric Registration Pilot (Social Safety Net), and full BEmONC pilot in Western Urban Area. These pilots are designed to progressively test the INCRS;
Assist NRS in producing Technical Specifications and User Manuals for the INCRS;
Produce a strategic ICT plan to the UNDP covering the period 2013-2016. The plan aims to enhance the civil register’s performance and credibility in order to provide a credible Voter Register for the 2016 Local Elections and the 2017 Presidential Elections;
Produce, within the strategic planning exercise, Civil Registration ICT Procedures to guide the INCRS operators actions and activities during and related to civil registration processes;
Provide ICT advice to the CTA in the drafting of activity work plans;
Develop a comprehensive review report on capacity development of NRS ICT Team;
ICT capacity development activities for National Election Commission (NEC), National Registration Secretariat (NRS) and Births & Deaths (BD);
Provide advice on the ICT capacity development of staff of the national civil registration service;
Provide a clear ICT framework for NEC, NRS and BD institutional strengthening and capacity development with regards to Civil Registration;
Provide technical ICT advice on national civil registration functions and processes;
Participate in the project ICT evaluation and monitoring exercises;
Technical support, in close consultations with the Chief Technical Advisor to working groups assembled in relation to the development of an integrated national ID database;
Provide strategic leadership and technical support towards the harmonization and synchronization of NEC and NRS registry data systems;
Relevant IT-sensitive input on draft legislation and regulations to ensure that correct IT terms and concepts are expressed within the legal framework.

Provides strategic IT advice and services to NEC

Civil and Voter Registration ICT Advisor will provide strategic IT advice to NEC focusing on achievement of the following results:
Establishment of a limited in-country voter ID card printing facility for NEC;
Provision of advice on strategies, policies and plans affecting NEC’s immediate and long-term IT systems and needs necessary for satisfactory fulfillment of its constitutional mandate;
Provision of training for NEC IT staff in substantive areas such as database management, software management, and hardware management with attendant focus on ensuring sustainability of NEC’s IT operations;
Routinely monitors partner performance in relation to specified IT tasks as defined in NEC’s annual work plan.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

Leadership

Capacity to supervise a multidisciplinary high level team and to supervise programme activities.

Technical Support

Good knowledge of information systems software such as MS Office Suite.

Planning and Management

The Advisor needs to demonstrate a proven record in the field of coordination, with experience in facilitating the work of missions and task forces.

Communication

The Advisor will have written and oral fluency in English;
Ability to explain complex technical concepts to a non-technical audience.

Teamwork

Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with colleagues in multi-cultural environment;
The post requires considerable cultural and political sensitivity and an ability to meet deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

An advanced degree (Masters) in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or related discipline.

Experience:

7 years or more of functionally-related professional experience;
The suitable candidate for this consultancy shall have extensive experience in civil registration;
In depth knowledge to design, develop, test, analyze, and debug customized C# applications and large MS SQL Databases;
In depth knowledge in Microsoft Server 2012, networks, firewalls, Dell Direct Access Storage, Microsoft Clustering (in OS and MS SQL), Virtual Machines, Virtual Switches, and Virtual Networks;
Experience in delivering technical assistance or implementing voter and civil registration systems, preferably in developing or post-conflict countries;
Work experience in post-conflict contexts is necessary;
Experience in one or more of the following: civil registration, biometrics and identity systems.

Language:

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.