Background

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UNV volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity, as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

UNV Information and Communications Technology Unit (ICTU), located in Bonn, Germany, is responsible for creating and maintaining multiple corporate applications. The unit is actively engaged in delivering on Digital Transformation.

This consultancy would contribute to Digital Transformation project’s Output 1: Unified Volunteer Platform (UVP). The platform will facilitate volunteer mobilization by establishing an intuitive single-entry point for candidates to offer their services (regardless of the volunteer modality); and for organizations to request services of volunteers (for all types of assignments). Establishment of the Unified Volunteer Platform will result in deployment of UN Volunteers worldwide faster and at a reduced cost of operations.

2. MAIN OBJECTIVES, RESPONSABILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK.

The UNV digital transformation project aim to deliver a Unified Volunteer Platform (UVP) based on Azure platform. The expert is expected to contribute to implementation of the platform. The tasks will range from analyzing the business requirements to arrive at the best design, deciding and defining work-packages, co-ordinate with the vendor for deliverables, implement changes as and when needed, troubleshoot incident and problems, develop technical guides and share knowledge. The work will be delivered onsite in the UNV HQ (Bonn, Germany).

UNV is looking for an expert to provide strong technical expertise and delivery of, and integration with the other applications in the ecosystem.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of Responsibilities (scope of the work)

Task: Technical analysis and design, systems development, support to project management

• Elicit, analyze and validate business requirements;
• Develop and translate business requirements into application functionality, specifications, and test plans;
• Apply rapid development and iterative prototyping to complex software problems;
• Monitor infrastructural components related to the platform and suggest options to improved designs;
• Liaise with staff in business units, external IT specialists, and provide specialized advice to users;
• Develop technical documentation;
• Maintain effective communications with stakeholders;
• Integrate UNV applications in a consistent manner (Application integration, data integration, business rules integration);
• Performs impact analysis and change control and manages implementation of the changes;
• Coordinates with outsourced company developers about the requirements to the system changes/ development, discussing technical issues and getting the solution as per agreed contracts;
• Ensure optimum technical performance of the system, upgrade or enhance existing functionalities, troubleshoot and provide continuing user support, including resolving problems (Tier III applications support);\
• Provide training to the users;
• Assist the preparation of periodic and ad-hoc reports and statistics.

Task: Standard and Quality Assurance/ ICT Service Management

• Develop, implement and monitor information standards and guidelines;
• Ensure that software code and configurations, including those delivered by vendor, adhere to the standards including the applications security aspects;
• Provide advice on use of new techniques, monitoring transactions between the systems to measure performance and continued effectiveness;
• Ensure data security and access controls considering both local and wide area issues;
• Research and analyze new technologies relevant to UVP;
• Participate in elaboration of internal procedures, mechanisms and controls to ensure stability, improved quality, security and performance of systems;
• Monitor responsiveness and robustness of usage and maintenance procedures;
• Coordinate efforts to develop and maintain the library of system documentation and internal user manuals, training materials, and guidelines and making recommendations on improvements;
• Maintain and update the Helpdesk knowledge base to support internal and external users.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work full time in UNV Bonn premises, under the direct supervision of the Systems Development Specialist. The consultant will also work with UNV selected vendor for the implementation of the project.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNV;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

• Demonstrates professional competence to meet responsibilities and post requirements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Results-Orientation: Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals, generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Communication: Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match target audiences;
• Team work: Ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team;
• Client orientation: Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with national partners and stakeholders and pro-activeness in identifying of beneficiaries and partners’ needs and matching them to appropriate solutions.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in information technology, computer science, data management or related field, or relevant experience in the field;
• Accreditation in a formal project management methodology (e.g. Prince2 or PMI) desirable;
• Accreditation in Agile methodologies (e.g. Scrum Master) desirable.

Experience:

More than 10 years of relevant experience in full stack software implementation based on Microsoft technology stack, including at least 8 years of experience in .NET and Azure. Experience should include working with databases like Microsoft SQL Server; responsive web development using JavaScript libraries like React/Angular; Integrations using API/Web Services; Azure components and resources (E.g. Service Bus, Logic Apps, DevOps, Containers, API Management). Good knowledge of secure software development with dedication to Teamwork, transparency, continuous learning.

Experience in technically leading a project and a small team with proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualize and write concisely and clearly would be an asset.

Language requirement:

Excellent writing and oral communication skills in in the official languages in English.

Criteria for Selection of the Best offer:

The selection of the best offer will be based on the combined scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted – 70% , and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30%.

Key selection criteria are

• Approach and working experience in the field of Microsoft Technology development (21%)
• Proven experience in .NET programming (21%)
• Proven experience in Javascript (AngularJS, React) frameworks (11 %)
• Proven experience in Webservices and JSON (10 %)
• Scrum master certified (7%)

5. Application procedure:

Qualified candidates must apply online via the UNDP Jobshop. Interested candidates are advised to carefully review these terms of reference and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above.

Applications should contain:
a) Cover Letter, including a summary of your experience and expertise and why you are the most suitable for the job
b) Technical proposal: The technical proposal shall describe the methodology and the approach how to fulfill the required deliverables, ideas you may already have from reviewing our previous Annual Reports online, as well as outline the major components of its implementation. It should be justified by referencing previous experiences.
c). Samples of previous work (where applicable): Indicate type of samples required
d). Financial Proposal using the duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (COI) Link to COI template; https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default

Your Financial Proposal must indicate the total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNV under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNV
e) Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;

Please paste the cover letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application and ensure you have provided all requested materials. All supporting documents should be scanned and attached into one PDF format document. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Queries should be sent to:procurement@unv.org, att Marc Wharton clearly marking – 0093699: IC for Microsoft technologies expert for UVP.

Terms and conditions, as well as contract samples can be found at this link:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf
as well as contract samples can be found at this link:http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/procurement/business/how-we-buy.html

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

Please make sure you provide all requested materials. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications sent by email will not be considered. Applications without the fully completed Confirmation of Interest Form, including financial costs will not be considered.

Note: UNDP/UNV reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this procurement notice. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP/UNV with similar terms of reference, experience and educational requirements.