Roster of consultants - Learning Game Developer (Re-advertisement)

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will produce online games to support existing learning programmes within the WHO Academy. He/she will deliver gamified activities as per the established game design documents.

Background

The WHO Academy is a priority special initiative of the WHO transformation agenda and supports accelerated learning and capacity building towards achievement of the 13th General Programme of Work targets. On 11 June 2019 the President of France and the Director-General of WHO signed a Declaration of Intent to establish the WHO Academy that will revolutionize lifelong learning in health.

The Academy brings together adult learning science, behavioural science and cutting-edge learning technologies such as artificial intelligence and extended reality with WHO’s norms, standards and evidence to deliver high impact accredited and tailored multilingual learning to meet diverse needs.

The Academy is open to a wide range of multisectoral stakeholders that can influence health, including leaders, educators, researchers, health workers, WHO staff and the broader public. The overall goal is to support the learning and development needs of WHO staff and stakeholders to progress towards WHO’s “triple billion” goal: ensuring that by 2023, an additional 1 billion people benefit from universal health coverage; 1 billion more are afforded better protection in health emergencies, and 1 billion more enjoy improved health and wellbeing. More information about the Academy is available at academy.who.int.

Deliverables

Deliverable 1: Game development.
The consultant will develop game activities for 8 learning programmes. The supporting learning games will not have the same size or complexity, depending on each programme.

• Objective 1: Develop impactful games to support learning experience.
  • Output 1.1: Produce Program games and playful interactions that support learning programmes. Effectively utilise various game development software, game engines, and other learning development tools to implement game experiences. These platforms may include: a proprietary game engine, Unity, Unreal, Evolve, Camtasia, Adapt Learning, Articulate Storyline, a Learning Content Management System, and other authoring software. The games may be part of the learning programme design (including on-site, digital, and learning lab courses), or they may be standalone games.
  • Output 1.2: Collect, technically adjust and integrate game assets from external providers.

• Objective 2: Record game assets in a structured location.
  • Output 2.1: Collaborate with designers, artists, developers, or audio professionals to gather any necessary assets as per the game design documents. Ensure that all art and audio assets are produced, collected, implemented, searchable and retrievable. Work with game designer to ensure that all script/ dialogue components, exposition/text needs, character profiles, and other design assets are completed and implemented.
  • Output 2.2: Organize all assets and/or asset needs in a database or spreadsheet. Communicate schedules and timelines for all necessary components of each game project.

• Objective 3: Prototype, test, evaluate and improve Serious Educational Games (SEG) activities.
  • Output 3.1: Prototype, test, evaluate and improve SEG solutions based on feedback and data both pre- and post- program launch.
  • Output 3.2: Augment efficiency of SEG solutions through continuous improvement loop, by measuring learner experience and by checking quality requirements.

Deliverable 2: Technical guidance.

• Objective 4: Advise on digital technologies for learning games.
  • Output 4.1: Deliver a report with direction and best practices on implementing the games into the learning programmes. There will be a variety of game types, including digital, analog, mixed reality games, playful activities, and simulations for medical, health, and patient needs. Provide strategic direction on platforms, authoring software, engines, and techniques to use.
  • Output 4.2: Coordinate workshops and training sessions on the value of gaming for other units across the WHO Academy. Work alongside a team of game designers and share best practices, challenges, and solutions. Co-deliver these workshops or sessions with game designers.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• University degree in one of the following fields:
  • Technology, innovation or computerized systems.
  • Learning or instructional design.
  • Learning game development, advanced multimedia, 3D animation or video game production.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in the development of games, including the use of game engines such as Unity or Unreal.
• Experience in designing serious games.
• At least 1 year of experience in programming interactive activities in Articulate Storyline and/or Adapt Learning.

Desirable:

• Experience in creating at least one game for serious or educational purposes.
• At least 2 years of experience of iOS/Android game development.
• At least 1 year of experience in coordinating game assets and/or using learning management systems.
• Experience with augmented reality.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Knowledge of Game Development Sofware like h Unity or Unreal Game Engines.
• Knowledge of Javascript, Java, C# scripting.
• Knowledge of Articulate Storyline and/or Adapt Learning.
• Knowledge of Photoshop, Canvas, Illustrator or similar software.
• Knowledge of iOS/Android (Objective C, Swift), augmented Reality technologies, 3D animations.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of any other WHO language.

Location

Off-site – Home based.

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B - USD 7,000 - 9,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

6 months.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html

For roster VNs:

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.