Consultancy - (Individual Contractor) Technology for Development (T4D), Putrajaya/Kuala Lumpur (Malaysian Only)

UNICEF Malaysia is currently looking for Technology for Development (T4D) that can provide technical and operational support on managing RapidPro and U-Report. Furthermore, the consultant will be tasked with carrying out a technology needs assessment for UNICEF Malaysia– in line with the UNICEF Technology for Development framework - in close collaboration with relevant UNICEF sections and partners.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

In a constantly evolving, strongly connected and digital world, UNICEF recognises the need to embrace risk, adopt new technologies and make the investments required to equip its teams and partners to better power change for children and deliver programmatic goals in more impactful ways and while ensuring no child is left behind.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting measures to enforce physical distancing, have made digital technologies ever more critical when communicating with communities in humanitarian, development and public health contexts. And while these technologies have facilitated mass messaging, their use has highlighted severe challenges, including the propagation of misinformation, deepening digital exclusion, issues around data privacy and the struggle to hold technology providers (and those that use such technologies) to account.

Recognising the importance of stakeholder engagement, UNICEF Malaysia has adopted the RapidPro/U-Report platform to engage directly with young people and other community members on issues and services that directly affect them. The platform is used to engage users and collect feedback and data to support UNICEF and partners’ work on topics such as parenting, nutrition, bullying, online safety, inclusion, and climate change. In addition, UNICEF Malaysia is exploring other tools and technologies that will help programme teams and partners extend their digital reach and deliver essential services, particularly to the most vulnerable children in Malaysia.

Within this context, UNICEF Malaysia is seeking a consultant that can provide technical and operational support on managing RapidPro and U-Report. Furthermore, the consultant will be tasked with carrying out a technology needs assessment for UNICEF Malaysia– in line with the UNICEF Technology for Development framework - in close collaboration with relevant UNICEF sections and partners.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work

• Support the Adolescents programme (ADAP) in using U-Report and RapidPro to engage with adolescents and youth through channels such as KitaConnect
• Support the Child Protection programme in using U-Report and RapidPro to inform and engage with youth, parents and other community members on topics concerning parenting, online violence, and online safety
  
  
• Work with the Social Policy and Child Protection programmes, ADAP and vendors to support the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development in using U-Report and RapidPro to engage with youth and other community members in order to inform the development of a Child Policy and Action Plan
  
  
• Work with the Nutrition programme to support the Ministry of Health in using U-Report and RapidPro to gather data and feedback from youth and other community members to inform and strengthen interventions implemented or planned by the Ministry and UNICEF
  
  
• Support the Climate and Environment programme and partners in using U-Report and RapidPro to engage with youth and other community members on topics around climate change, environmental sustainability and DRR
  
  
• Further scale-up of U-Report to strengthen collaboration between young people and their networks, civil society organisations, private sector and decision-makers, in close cooperation with programmes and other UN agencies.
  
  
• Maintain the Malaysia RapidPro platform, including but not limited to the creation and sending of polls, data analysis and sharing of relevant data and findings to relevant stakeholders.
  
  
• Document and share U-Report best practices through presentations and write-ups.
  
  
• Conduct a technology needs assessment for UNICEF Malaysia in close collaboration with programmes, communications, PFP, relevant sections, and partners.
  
  
• Identify and map technologies, digital solutions and systems and potential technology providers that can support the work of UNICEF Malaysia and partners.
  
  
• Support the communications section in maintaining and updating the country office webpage as and when needed 

Mode of Consultancy

• The Individual Contractor will work from the UNICEF Malaysia Country Office in Putrajaya three days per week and telework two days per week, as per official working hours.
    
• The Individual Contractor will work under the supervision of the Chief of Communication and in close cooperation with the Programme Specialist for Innovation & Sustainability
  
  
• The Individual Contractor will be expected to make his/her own arrangement for accommodation and transport to and from the office
  
  
• A monthly work plan will be developed outlining expected deliverables at the beginning of every month
  
  
• Payments in ringgits will be made monthly after review of the work plan and upon completion of the deliverables as certified by the Contract Manager
  
  
• UNICEF will pay for travel costs relevant to the assignment as per the organisational guideline

• Total duration of the contract: the work assignment will require a total duration of eleven and a half (11.5) months starting from the signing date, tentatively from 1 July 2021 to 15 June 2022.

Deliverables

• A work plan with detailed activities, outputs and timelines based on consultations with the Contract Manager and relevant stakeholders (Month 1)
  
  
• Nutrition programme and MOH supported in using U-Report and RapidPro to collect data and engage with the public in support of nutrition interventions and nutrition behaviour campaigns, including the programming of interactions and analysis of data (Month 2)
  
  
• Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development supported in using U-Report and RapidPro to engage with youth and other community members to inform the development of a Child Policy and Action Plan, including the programming of interactions and analysis of data (Continuous)
  
  
• Completed the first round of a technology needs assessment for UNICEF Malaysia, including a report and slides and presentation to key stakeholders (Month 4)
  
  
• Roll-out of the parenting chatbot (ParentText) with the partner UPM under the leadership of Child Protection and in collaboration with Oxford University and Maestral (Continuous)
  
  
• Climate and environment programme and partners supported in using U-Report and RapidPro to engage with youth and other community members on climate change, environmental sustainability and DRR, including the programming of interactions and analysis of data (Month 5)
  
  
• Provide support and guidance to programmes on potential technological solutions that can be used for programme delivery (Continuous)
  
  
• Continuous support to ADAP in using U-Report and RapidPro to engage with adolescents and youth (especially KitaConnect), including the programming of interactions and analysis of data (Continuos)
  
  
• Ongoing management of the RapidPro and U-Report platforms and related channels, including poll development and deployment, content development, data analysis and sharing of results (Continuous)
  
  
• Finalised technology needs assessment, action plan and recommendations for strengthening technology integration at UNICEF Malaysia (Month 10)
  
  
• Monthly reports on key activities conducted, planned and recommendations for moving forward, including content of polls, results, key quotes and participation (Monthly)
  
  
• Support to Communications on website updates and maintenance when and as needed (Continuous)

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Qualifications & Requirements

Education:
Advanced university degree in technology, social science, communication, management or another relevant field

Work Experience:
Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in communication, technology and/or community mobilisation.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Malay is required

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• A Cover Letter
• CV
• Financial proposal
• Signed P11 form (which can be retrieved at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html)

*Kindly attached the above in your application profile

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Professional experience in technology, youth engagement, community mobilisation, social entrepreneurship, communication or other relevant fields
  
  
• A strong understanding of Development and/or Humanitarian programmes, policy, and principles, including knowledge of communication, technology, human-centered design, youth participation and partnership goals, as well as sound interpretation and judgment to present these programmes and policies in a way that enhances UNICEF’s work
  
  
• Knowledge of current trends in youth participation through media, as well as a good understanding of development issues, world technological affairs and current events
  
  
• Knowledge and understanding of international human rights standards and conventions with regards to children
  
  
• Ability to engage with a wide range of partners, such as government, private, technology providers, academia and civil society organisations
  
  
• Strong writing and communication skills
  
  
• Understanding of UNICEF’s work in Malaysia
  
  
• Strong computer and technical skills
  
  
• Strong communication skills
  
  
• Ability to conceptualise and articulate ideas in a clear and concise form
  
  
• Ability to take initiative and to work with minimum supervision

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.