UNDP Jobs - 60654- Assistant Software Engineer to Support Building Bi

Assistant Software Engineer to Support Building Big Data Analytics Tools – Pulse Lab Kampala

Location :

Kampala, UGANDA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

01-Nov-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 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

Global Pulse (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/about-new) is an innovation initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Big Data. Its vision is a future in which big data is harnessed safely and responsibly as a public good. Its mission is to accelerate discovery, development and scaled adoption of big data innovation for sustainable development and humanitarian action. Global Pulse is building a catalytic network of in-country innovation centers, which will test new tools, data and analysis, share what lessons with the global community, mainstream successful approaches for real-time impact monitoring into policymaking. The first Lab has been established in New York (Pulse Lab New York) followed by Jakarta, Indonesia and Kampala, Uganda.

Pulse Lab Kampala (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/kampala) is an inter-agency initiative of the United Nations under the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Uganda. The first of its kind in Africa, it brings together researchers from Government, the UN, non-governmental organizations and private sector to explore the utility of new sources of digital “Big Data” (such as social media, mobile data, online information) and real-time analysis techniques for social development monitoring and program planning.

A data revolution is underway in Uganda and in Africa. There is more data now than ever. New technologies are leading to an exponential increase in the volume and types of data available, creating unprecedented possibilities for informing and transforming society and protecting the environment. There is more data produced in the last 2 years than in all of human history. There is a tremendous potential in new technology; indeed, this is the forefront of the data revolution already well underway in in the private sector. The new SDGs agenda will have increased demands – and opportunities- for the use of data. Pulse Lab Kampala supports the UN Country team to tap into the revolution obtaining more and better data to support development work and humanitarian action supporting:

Enhance Early Warning: Detection of anomalous trends and patterns of events enables early warning of emerging crises and earlier responses to prevent long-term harm;
Real-Time Awareness: An up-to-date picture of trends, hotspots and dynamic changes in population behavior enhances programme planning and monitoring of implementation and
Rapid Impact Monitoring and Evaluation: Timely feedback on the impact of programmes and policies allows for adaptive course correction and accelerated achievement of results.

Under the guidance of the Pulse Lab Kampala Data Scientist and in coordination with the technical team, the consultant will provide support to build Big Data Analytics tools.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will provide technical inputs to build Big Data Analytics tools with a focus on presentation tools and user interface.

Pulse Lab Kampala tools will:

Help understand emerging human vulnerabilities to socio-economic shocks;
Detect and highlight patterns that could indicate how people are coping with emerging hardship, and;
Gather evidence of changes in behaviour and perception correlated with public sector policies and programmes.

Competencies

Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Core skills

Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute innovative ideas;
Displays open, co-operative behaviour with other team members;
Remains calm and in control, and good humoured even under pressure;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Sets priorities, produces quality outputs;
Meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
Must be able to translate between science/tech and international development;
Planning/organizational skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Bsc. in Computer Science, Electrical engineering, Statistics, Computational Finance, Economics or related field.

Experience

At least 2 years of paid working experience in analysis and data visualization, preferably in a developing country;
Working knowledge of various programming languages and experience with software development. Experience with Python is an advantage;
Experience of web application development, preferably having worked on examples of interactive data visualization;
Experience of writing software to process different types of data (e.g. numerical data, text, images or audio);
Experience of working with Linux server;
Excellent communication skills;
Familiarity with statistical programming and discrete mathematics;
Experience working with open source data processing frameworks desirable.

Language Requirements:

Excellent command of English.

Evaluation method and criteria:

Among the vendors that comply with the requirements, the one with the lowest price shall be awarded the contract.

Evaluation Criteria:

Technical Proposal (Maximum 70 points)

Relevance of education – 5 points;
Language skills – 5 points;
Interpretation of the assignment and methodology- 30 points;
Relevance of experience (professional/work experience)- 30 points;

Application procedures:

Interested consultants are required to submit their completed submission documents by uploading their applications on this jobs website not later than 14th October 2015. The application should include the following documents/information:

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (see Annex II);
Updated Personal CV highlighting past experience in similar assignments and with 3 professional references with contact details (email and telephone);
Technical Proposal: suggested outline for technical proposal; The offerors' interpretation of the assignment; Approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment;
Financial proposal (in template provided in Annex II) stating an all-inclusive fixed lump sum fee for this assignment in USD, supported by a breakdown of costs. Such total lump sum price must include professional fee, and costs necessary to conduct the assignment such as communication costs, etc. The consultant will be paid against the completion of specific, measurable deliverables as identified in this TOR.

Annexes (to be downloaded from the procurement notices website, follow this link for details http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=25747; however the application is to be uploaded on this jobs website in one single PDF document).

Annex I – Terms and Conditions;
Annex II: Template to Confirmation of Interest and Availability and Submit the Financial Proposal.

For further clarifications, please send an email to justine.naiga-bagonza@undp.org and diana.nabbanja@undp.org .