Historique

The Senior Human Rights Advisor Unit is a component of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and is responsible for providing advice, technical expertise, situational assessments and analysing human rights issues to the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Sri Lanka as well as OHCHR, the UN Human Rights Mechanisms (Charter and treaty based), and when requested and appropriate, other UN Agency headquarters or UN Secretariat Departments;  building the capacity (training and other) of the UNCT to integrate a human rights based approach into on-going and envisaged humanitarian, recovery and development work of the UN: supporting the UNCT in convening relevant working groups on human rights and protection issues, supporting and/or undertaking relevant projects as is appropriate and possible on human rights issues. The other key function and current priority of the Senior Human Rights Advisor in Sri Lanka is support the Government of Sri Lanka in designing a comprehensive transitional justice strategy to address the legacy of past based on four pillars including accountability, truth seeking, reparation and institutional reform, based on its commitment made during 30th session of the Human Rights Council in September 2015 (resolution 30/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka).

In this regard the Government of Sri Lanka introduced a bill to establish the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) on 22 May 2016 and Parliament adopted the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) Act No. 14 of 2016 on 23 August 2016. The Office on Missing Persons is an independent and permanent body dedicated to the search for and tracing of missing persons and the clarification of the circumstances in which they went missing. A central function of the OMP is to centralise data including from existing records held by other institutions.

This project seeks to ensure the physical preservation of historical records relating to disappearances and the missing; digitise and archive these records comprehensively; create a basic taxonomy and index records; develop an archive database of scanned materials for the OMP to enter metadata of historical records and save scanned materials; and develop the framework for a permanent database.

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES

The scope of the assignment is to advise the OMP, working closely with the Archiving Team, to:

• Design, test, pilot, operationalise and deploy an archive database with a user-friendly interface for data storing and retrieval based on the input of a cohort of users and the Principal Project Coordinator to store the metadata of the historical records and the scanned images. Data will be saved on to the database on a regular basis and a backup of the database will be maintained;
• Advise on the design and piloting of a separate permanent database for the OMP;
• Develop standard operating procedures, a user manual and a training module for the new users of the archive database;
• Conduct training on the new database platform for Archiving Assistants, the Principal Project Coordinator and the Research and Archiving Officer as well as relevant OMP officials.

Devoirs et responsabilités

EXPECTED RESULTS AND DELIVERABLES

With this background, the Database Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Principal Project Coordinator, report to the Commissioner of the OMP on a day-to-day basis and to the Senior Human Rights Advisor and will be responsible for the tasks listed above; as well as undertake any other task assigned by the Principal Project Coordinator.

Expected results:

• The framework for a permanent, user friendly database is designed and the process for designing such a database commences based on the technical input of the OMP Commissioner, the Principal Project Coordinator and all relevant officials;
• Selection of an archive database and development of standard operating procedures, a user manual and a training module developed for the new users of the database;
• A training program is conducted for Archiving Assistants, the Principal Project Coordinator and the Research and Archiving Officer as well as relevant OMP officials.

Accordingly, the following deliverables are expected:

1st Deliverable – Submission of work plan developed together with the Principal Project Coordinator within 15 days of start date with regards to the various tasks indicated above; in coordination with the Technical Specialist, UNDP and the Senior Human Rights Advisor, OHCHR.

2nd Deliverable – after 2 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

3rd Deliverable – after 3 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

4th Deliverable – after 4 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

5th Deliverable – after 5 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

6th Deliverable – after 6 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

7th Deliverable – after 7 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

8th Deliverable – after 8 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

9th Deliverable – after 9 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

10th Deliverable – after 10 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

11th Deliverable – after 11 months; reporting against the activity plans and updating the plan as required.

12th Deliverable – final report against the activity plans.

Compétences

PROFILE OF CONSULTANT

The consultant should have excellent professional experience in the design, testing, operationalising and deployment of databases for scanned and digitised records.

1. Competencies

Technical skills

• Excellent expertise in relation to database design and record management;
• Knowledge and expertise in human rights documentation and archives is preferable.

Partnerships

• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of the OMP; 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent database design and record management skills;
• Excellent coordination skills and results-oriented collaboration with colleagues.

Results

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP and OHCHR.
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Good team player that has ability to maintain good relationships.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in IT/Computer science or related fields;
• A minimum of 5 years of demonstrable experience and knowledge in the field of web-based database development and system running, testing, operationalisation and deployment / record management; specific knowledge of SQL and/or other Web page development software, as well as knowledge on IT hardware.
• Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in the substantive area;
• Excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skill for conflict resolution and negotiation;
• Computer proficiency especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office);
• Proficiency in English and Sinhala. Proficiency in Tamil language is desirable.

TIMEFRAME

The envisaged time frame of the consultancy is a total of  up to 11 months from the start date of the contract.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.

The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work.
• Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar projects and contact details of 3 professional referees who can certify your competencies, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation and overall suitability to this TOR
• Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including cover letter, the credentials on offer and brief interview (optional) and the offer which gives the best value for money for the UNDP.
• Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: consultants.lk@undp.org   stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee: LKR

Or

All Inclusive Daily Fee: LKR

Amount in words: Rs.

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel (economy class flights is required to and from the Duty Station) honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 65 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts. 

PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

Payments will be made monthly upon of the receipt of the works done for the month contributing to the outputs mentioned above, certified by the Commissioner of OMP and approved by the Technical Specialist of UNDP.