Antecedentes

UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2018-2021) recognizes the importance of contextual analysis, crisis prevention and recovery, and the management of multidimensional risks as fundamental for development. The objective of the Crisis Response Unit (CRU) is to ensure that UNDP is well positioned to respond in the timeliest and most effective manner to crisis, triggered by natural hazards or armed conflicts alike. CRU is also the leading entity on emergency preparedness enhancement, including through early warning and risk management. CRU is responsible for UNDP’s corporate crisis response strategy and capability, primarily regarding sudden onset crises and complex protracted crises, and serves advisory, coordination and operational functions. 

The mandate of CRU includes guiding the organization’s corporate preparedness for crisis response, which encompasses corporate early warning capacities and crisis response preparedness. With growing emphasis placed on understanding and managing risks - whether they pertain to conflict, natural hazards, or economic shocks, more effective tracking of risks by UNDP is critical for the organization to engage in more informed risk management practices that strengthen preparedness in relation to crises and, in turn, strengthen resilience.  CRU’s early warning team provides support to HQ and to Country Offices (COs) to address their needs in contextual risk analysis, adaptation, early action and - acknowledging unique contextual circumstances as well as unique CO requirements - provide tailored support.

As part of its supporting role, CRU has developed the Crisis Risk Dashboard (CRD), a platform that facilitates integrated risk analysis by drawing from diverse quantitative and qualitative data, transforming the data to analysis, and visualizing the resulting information as a resource for the organization to more effectively manage crisis-related risks, and to ensure development initiatives that are risk-informed. The specific requirements of COs and of various HQ divisions requires the CRD to be deployed in various configurations, adapted to context-specific risks and to the intended applications. the CRD aims to put various in support of CRU’s engagement on early warning, CRU’s Rapid Response and Preparedness Team is seeking an information management consultant to support the organization's early warning capacities, specifically in daily management and operation of the CRD platform.  The consultant will specifically support the data and information management processes for deploying new CRDs while maintaining and further developing existing CRDs by engaging with UNDP country offices globally.  The consultant will further support the integration of new tools and capabilities of the CRD platform developed by UN and external partners, particularly in the areas of machine learning / artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and big data / social media analytics.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Summary of key functions: 

• Facilitate data capture, management, and analysis 
• Produce data visualizations via interactive dashboards 
• Provide training and technical support on information management practices 

Data capture, management, and analysis: 

• Support the design, development and management of databases, spreadsheets and other data tools that comprise the CRD and its operations; 
• Provide data and information management support for existing CRDs, including data update and verification of quantitative and qualitative data; 
• Facilitate the integration of datasets into existing databases, including the data cleaning, structuring and transformation as well as data modeling and database development; 
• Facilitate the integration of various types of data including both open-source and internal quantitative and qualitative data as well as cartographic informational resources such as satellite imagery and analysis; 
• Facilitate the integration of structured and unstructured data from big data, machine learning, social media analytics and satellite imagery modules;
• Identify and integrate additional primary and secondary data sources into CRD databases as required by evolving needs to support crisis risk analysis; 
• Develop and adapt tools for data capture via end users, including the creation and customization of data ingestion forms and database integration; 
• Propose structural revisions of the CRD prototype so that it can better accommodate information capture, processing, analysis, visualization and dissemination, including CRD data entry, data and data storing systems; 
• Support UNDP staff training and accompaniment on data and information management practices and processes; 
• Contribute new ideas for improving the CRD design and the data engine, quality, and timeliness of current crisis-related issues. 

Data visualization and dashboard development:

• Develop interactive and user-friendly Tableau-based dashboards that support country-specific or issue-based risk tracking and analysis based on available data by designing and developing visual interfaces based on sound data visualization principles, human-computer interaction modeling, and usability testing; 
• Strengthen and further develop the cartographic / geographic information systems (GIS) capabilities of the CRD platform; 
• Support the development of training and instructional materials on using and applying CRD tools; 
• Produce and update information products such as maps, charts, and infographics by apply online CRD tools for the development of offline data visualization products, including the automation of such processes were feasible; 
• Develop templates for a country, regional, or thematic-specific crisis risk profiles and establish processes for regularly translating CRD data into the risk profile; 
• Keep up with new trends in dashboards and data visualization technologies that can help meet the needs of business intelligence users. 

Training and Technical Support: 

• Provide substantive input on information management toward the development of guidance and training materials; 
• Provide support in the conduct of crisis risk analysis trainings from an information management perspective; 
• Provide maintenance and end user technical support in issues relating to the CRD information management use, including trouble-shooting for data entry and access to the existing database; 
• Provide technical assistance in order to build capacity of staff on how to integrate data visualization approaches into their work as well as how to update and monitor existing dashboards. 

Performs other related duties as may be assigned by the Early Warning Programme Specialist. 

The consultant will undertake the above activities on a continuing basis over the duration of the assignment.

Competencias

Functional Competencies: 

• Ability to undertake data modeling, programming and database design, and data visualization; 
• Application of open source tools and technologies; 
• Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and creatively building them into the design of new approaches; 
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking; 
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor; 
• Designs solutions based on established best practice and emerging; 
• Formulates strategy for the implementation of systems; 
• Review systems performance to support rigorous development of systems standards and modes of operation; 
• Ability to coordinate and conduct trainings, ensure knowledge management, identify and share best practices. 

Core Competencies: 

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents; 
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation; 
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication; 
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization; 
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning; 
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Academic Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent degree) in data science, data and information management, or related disciplines is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in analyzing, processing and managing variable quantitative and qualitative datasets, information management, information systems, geographic information systems (GIS), database development, web management, data visualization, or other related areas is required; 
• Strong knowledge of best practices for data visualization and dashboards, with specific expertise using the Tableau data visualization platform required; 
• Sound knowledge of database management systems and tools, including Microsoft SQL server, Microsoft SharePoint is desirable; 
• Experience managing information in international development or humanitarian context as well as relevant experience within the UN system is desirable; 
• Familiarity with machine learning / artificial intelligences tools and processes, natural language processing, and related big data analytics is desirable; 
• Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to the management of information in an international development or humanitarian context is desirable; 
• Ability to conduct data collection using various methods and tools is desirable; 
• Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases is desirable; 
• Ability to quickly establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different cultural backgrounds and languages is desirable. 

Language:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required; 
• Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an asset. 

Application Procedure:

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• Online application with brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7 hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should 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.
• If the 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 UNDP under a 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 UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation Process:

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical Evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Criteria 1: Demonstrated technical ability to manage variable quantitative, qualitative, and GIS datasets and databases: Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 15;
• Criteria 2: Strong knowledge and experience using data visualization tools and developing interactive user interfaces/dashboards: Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 15; 
• Criteria 3: Experience working with social science data and applications, particularly in development / humanitarian-related contexts: Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 10 and 
• Criteria 4: Interview: Weight = 30%; Maximum Points: 30.

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three shortlisted candidates for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation - Total 30% (30 points):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: 

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award:

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional Arrangement:

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of Under the direct supervision of the Early Warning Programme Specialist, UNDP/CRU, the specialist will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop. 

Payment Modality:

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
• The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7-hours working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily. 

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 - IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 - RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.