UNDP Jobs - 63758- Consultant to Improve Custom Java-based Statistica

Consultant to Improve Custom Java-based Statistical Database Manager System (HDRO)

Location :

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

29-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 days between 1 March 2016 - 30 June 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

The Human Development Report Office (HDRO) is a small multi-disciplinary unit located in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York. The mission of the HDRO is to advance human development through the expansion of opportunities, choice and freedom. One of its best known outputs is the global Human Development Report first launched in 1990. In each Report a different development theme is examined in-depth through a human development lens using available data and new analyses resulting in both an assessment of current status as well as a series of policy recommendations for the future. Each report presents updated time series of the Human Development Index (HDI) and associated indicators for each country; as well as other data pertinent to the theme of the report. While the indices are computed in-house, the data on which they are based are derived from other sources.

The statistics group at HDRO is responsible for the creation, production and maintenance of key human development indicators. For the production and management of its data, the statistics team uses a custom-built in-house Java-based database system, informally referred to as “Fisher-Statinator”. The system comprises of a Java 2 Swing client connecting to a MS-SQL relational database through the Hibernate abstraction layer. The Statinator system was introduced in early 2010 and used for the data storage, management and table production during the 2010-2015 HDR production cycles. The Statinator is also used within HDRO to produce and manage data for various web applications including country factsheets, on-line indicator database and statplanet maps and the Google public data viewer.

Broadly, the functions performed by Statinator in the statistics team are as follows:

Data storage;
Calculation of indices and regional aggregates;
Creation of the tables found in the back of the printed report;
Creating SDMX/CSV files for web applications including HDI 2.0, StatPlanet and other downstream systems.

In its five years of usage, Statinator has performed effectively in all areas of functionality. However, like with any technology product, it needs to be updated and further improved to perform more effectively. A few processes that are currently being done manually can also be automated. Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Statistics, the HDRO is seeking the services of a consultant programmer for the duration of 30 days, starting in March 2016.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant, working with the Statistics Team of the Human Development Report Office (HDRO), will resolve existing shortcomings in Statinator and upgrade Statinator based on lessons learnt in 2010-2015. Specifically, s/he will undertake the following tasks:

Tasks towards improvement of performance and ease of use are listed in the appendix. The issues for correction, modification and development are also sorted by the priority – high, medium, low. The idea is to resolve all of them, starting with those with the high priority;
At the end of the project, the consultant will supply a copy of the source code appropriately commented and a “readme” document explaining the structure of the program so that it can be maintained and modified by an independent expert in the future;
Upon finishing the work from this contract, the consultant should remain available to provide any needed services related to this work for the retaining time of 15 days during the 12 months.

Timeframe:

Tasks with high priority to be completed by 15 May 2016;
Tasks with medium and low priority to be completed by 30 June, 2016.

The consultant is expected to work a total of 30 days between 1 March 1, 2016 and 30 June, 2016.

The consultant should spend at least 30 percent of the time in the HDRO office in New York.

Competencies

Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining flexibility and a positive attitude;
Good organizational skills, sound judgment, initiative and effectiveness;
Tact and ability to deal with confidential matters in a discreet and reliable manner;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty;
Ability to work under tight deadlines and strong pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree, or equivalent relevant certification and experience in computer science or software engineering.

Exxperience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience, out of which 3 years of Java programming;
Expertise in the development of database systems connected to a MS-SQL relational database. Knowledge of database management;
Strong design skills using CSS and JavaScript, up-to-date knowledge of latest JS libraries and interest in innovation and interactive design;
Substantive expertise in data management with proven proficiency in programming and building similar applications using Java and related technologies;
Prior experience with a UN statistics office would be desirable.

Language:

Excellent command of English.

Evaluation Method:

Consultants will be evaluated based on UNDP’s cumulative analysis method. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract shall be made to the consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) criteria.

Evaluation Criteria:

Technical (based on CV, interview) – 70%;
Financial (fee) Proposal - (30%).