Background

UN Global Pulse is the Secretary-General’s initiative on big data and artificial intelligence for development, humanitarian action, and peace.Its Vision is to contribute to a future in which big data and artificial intelligence are harnessed safely and responsibly for the 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 centres, 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 under the leadership of 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.

Rationale:

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 tremendous potential in new technology; indeed, this is the forefront of the data revolution already well underway 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 behaviour enhances program planning and monitoring of implementation and;
• Rapid Impact Monitoring and Evaluation: Timely feedback on the impact of programs and policies allows for adaptive course correction and accelerated achievement of results.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

Under the guidance of the Manager Pulse Lab Kampala Manager, and in close coordination with UN Global Pulse management, the consultant will coordinate project implementation for the Mali Project and other related activities. The consultant will maintain a fluent dialogue with the project partners to ensure ownership of the project outputs.

Oversee and coordinate project implementation:

• Define the project work plan (including benchmarks, milestones and timelines) and design work plans for project team members in regard to Big Data Analytics;
• Lead, manage and coordinate day-to-day planning, implementation and management of project activities according to the Project document and project log frame;
• Coordinate the project team (technical specialists, project officers, support staff, consultants) and ensure timely implementation, results –orientation and accountability for project results;
• Support the delivery of quality project outputs through preparation and support of monthly work plans for the teams and daily overseeing of the work of all team members especially those in Radio Mining;
• Reviewing all deliverables and reports for Radio Mining and Data Analytics to be submitted to UNDP prior to submission and liaise with staff members and consultants to ensure that the quality of the deliverables and reports submitted to UNDP are according to relevant guidelines, TORs and hold the expected standard of quality;
• Draft Terms of References and management of local and foreign consultants, monitoring progress on deliverables under those contracts and providing feedback as necessary, and coordination of the work of the consultants consistent with the overall project implementation plan.
• Undertake external high-level communication with UN Global Pulse, donors and stakeholders on project activities, budgets and reporting.
• Monitor the project’s progress towards the attainment of the project objectives and propose measures to address bottlenecks;
• Document the technical processes undertaken for the implementation of project components on a monthly and quarterly basis;
• Capture technical lessons learned during the implementation of project components – lessons learned log can be used in this regard;
• Manage and monitor the project risks linked to the implementation of project components;
• Identify project risks and coordinate initiatives to mitigate and manage them.

Provide technical guidance for project implementation:

• Provide technical guidance of innovation in operations of the Mali Project from the Private Sector to achieve the project outputs;
• Compile best practices from the private sector and incorporate them into the project work plan.

Expected Outputs:

The expected deliverables of the assignment include:

• Project work plan (including benchmarks, milestones and timelines);
• Delivery of quality project outputs through preparation and support of monthly work plans for the teams and daily overseeing of the work of all team members;
• Identifying, managing and monitoring the project risks linked to the implementation of project components;
• Creating project schedule, with milestones, due dates and estimates for those materials that are required and other resources, such as team members, which will then be submitted to management for approval;
• Working with the project officer to monitor project funds, ensuring the funds are used for the proper purposes, proper activities and with the efficiency and transparency.
• Preparing Standard Progress Reports (quarterly and annual).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Strong project management skills;
• Positive, constructive attitude and consistently approaches work with energy;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to receive / integrate feedback.
• Excellent oral and written skills;
• Excellent communication skills, organized (dealing with many stakeholders);
• Planning/organizational skills.

Technical and Functional Competencies:

Communication: 

Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: 

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning & Organizing: 

Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently; is able to meet tight deadlines and to work under pressure.

Client orientation:

A constructive approach to the resolution of problems and dedication to providing timely support.

Technological Awareness:

Strong interest in digital data landscape and the emerging discipline of Big Data for Development

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters’ degree or above) in Social Sciences, Project Management, Economics, Business Administration, Information Systems, Information technology, Engineering, Data Science or related field.

Experience:

• At least three (3) years of relevant professional experience working with operations with private sector in Uganda or the region;
• At least two (2) years of working experience with engineering teams;
• Knowledge of innovations in operations with private sector;
• Experience working in non-family duty stations.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency of English language is required.

Management Arrangements:

Institutional Arrangements"

• The consultant will report to:Pulse Lab Kampala Manager on a regular basis and to UN Global Pulse management on the progress in line with the set deliverables of the assignment;
• The consultant will liaise, interact, collaborate/meet staff at Pulse Lab Kampala and partners;

UNDP (Pulse Lab Kampala) will support the consultant in the following:

• Access to all reports and data relevant to the assignment. These will include donor reports, project documents and donor reports;
• Support and assistance to gain access to relevant stakeholders for consultations to the extent possible.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The contract will be based on deliverables. The consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the IC’s duty station) should be identified separately. Payments shall be done on a monthly basis based on actual days worked, upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period.

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses shall be agreed upon, between the Country Office and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent.  The provided living allowance will not be exceeding UNDP DSA rates. Repatriation travel cost from home to duty station in Kampala and return shall not be covered by UNDP.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology;

Cumulative analysis:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (qualification + interview) (70%) and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced qualified proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

1. Only applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
2. Only the top 3 candidates that have achieved a minimum of 70 points (70%) from the review of the education, experience, and language may be invited for an interview. Only candidates who pass 70% of technical evaluation will be evaluated further;
3. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation;
4. For those passing technical and interview evaluation above, offers will be evaluated per the Combined Scoring method:

• Technical evaluation (70%)
• Financial evaluation (30%)

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points):

• Criteria 1:        Education Qualification - Max 20 points;
• Criteria 2:        Relevant working experience At least three (3) years of relevant professional experience working with innovations on in operations with private sector in Uganda or the region; At least two (2) years of working experience with engineering teams-- Max 20 points;
• Criteria 3:        Demonstrated experience working in non-family duty stations - Max 5 points;
• Criteria 4:        Working knowledge in English – Max 5 points;
• Criteria 5:        Methodology - Max 20 points.