Consultant on Web/Mobile Application Administration

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Yangon

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 27-Aug-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

I. BACKGROUND

UNESCO is actively involved in the Global Partnership for Education- Education Sector Program Implementation Grant (GPE-ESPIG) program. The primary objective of the GPE-ESPIG program is to ensure that the most marginalized children, including those who are out-of-school or at risk of dropping out, gain access to quality learning opportunities. These opportunities are crucial for them to acquire relevant skills, build resilience, continue their education, and enhance their overall well-being. The GPE-ESPIG program consists of three key components:
 
•    Access: The program focuses on facilitating safe and equitable access to learning for children and youth in Myanmar.
•    Quality: The program aims to ensure quality teaching and learning experiences for children and youth in Myanmar. This involves strengthening the capacities of education personnel and fostering context-responsive, equity-focused learning resources and modalities that adapt to the evolving situation.
•    System Strengthening: The program places emphasis on strengthening systems, management, coordination, and monitoring related to education in Myanmar.

As one of the Grant Agents (GAs) for this initiative, UNESCO, in collaboration with other national and international partners, will collectively work to ensure that children and youth in Myanmar re-engage in quality and safe online learning and have access to necessary support through digital platforms.

To support the implementation of the GPE-ESPIG program in Myanmar, UNESCO is currently seeking a qualified national consultant based in Yangon. The selected individual will be responsible for providing technical support for the development of ClassMap, a Learning Management System (LMS) as well as technical advice on the ongoing development of Myanmar Teacher Platform (MTP). The role entails offering technical review and suggestions in the design, implementation, and production phases of LMS and ClassMap App development, as well as providing technical inputs on new initiatives and overseeing the progress of development, improvement, and maintenance of MTP. The candidate will also play a vital role in developing and executing high-quality, innovative digital platforms under the ESPIG program.

Long Description

II.    Work Assignment:

The Individual consultant shall perform the tasks under the overall authority of the Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, the direct supervision of the Head of UNESCO Yangon
Antenna Office, and in close collaboration with UNESCO Myanmar Education unit. The Individual Consultant’s responsibilities include the following:

 Performance Optimization and Scalability Testing:

• Optimize the performance of the LMS and SDCSS ClassMap App by identifying and addressing bottlenecks, inefficient algorithms, or resource-intensive processes.
• Conduct scalability testing to evaluate the system’s ability to handle increasing loads and user concurrency.
• Ensure that the software development process aligns with the needs and expectations of the program team and end-users.

Security Assessment and Vulnerability Testing:

• Perform a comprehensive security assessment of the LMS and SDCSS ClassMap App to identify potential vulnerabilities and security risks.
• Implement security best practices and protocols to safeguard sensitive data and protect against cyber threats.

Code Review and Quality Assurance:

• Conduct/ manage code reviews to ensure adherence to coding standards, scalability, and maintainability.
• Perform quality assurance testing to identify and address any bugs, errors, or performance issues.

Project Progress Tracking and Corrective Actions:

•  Implement project management tools to track the progress of activities related to the LMS and ClassMap App.
•  Identify variances from the project plan, analyze their impact, and take corrective actions to keep the project on track.
•  Maintain an up-to-date project risk register, including mitigation strategies for identified risks.
•  Implement and oversee quality assurance processes to ensure the software meets all functional and non-functional requirements of MTP.

Performance Monitoring and Optimization:

• Regularly monitor system performance and usage statistics to identify potential issues before they impact users.
• Conduct/ manage periodic performance reviews and system audits to ensure optimal operation of the LMS,ClassMap App and MTP.
• Provide technical guidance to the improvement of MTP. Develop and apply performance enhancement strategies, such as load balancing and optimization of database queries, to maintain high system efficiency.

Continuous Support and Troubleshooting:

• Implement and manage a ticketing system for tracking and addressing technical issues, ensuring prompt responses and resolutions to minimize downtime and ensure smooth operation of the LMS and ClassMap App.
• Establish a protocol for emergency technical issues, ensuring that critical problems are escalated and resolved promptly.
• Coordinate with developers and IT teams to address any bugs or system failures immediately.
• Document all issues and their resolutions for future reference and continuous improvement.
• Stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies to ensure the team is using the most appropriate tools and methodologies.

Documentation and Knowledge Transfer:

• Document technical specifications, configurations, and implementation details for future reference and troubleshooting.
• Provide knowledge transfer sessions to internal teams, covering key technical aspects of the LMS and ClassMap App architecture, implementation, and maintenance.

Provide Detailed LMS Reports:

• Generate and provide monthly detailed reports from the LMS, including course reports, user activity reports, compliance reports, and performance reports, to track and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of the LMS and ClassMap App.
• Review and provide technical inputs/feedback on the release notesand reports of MTP.

Facilitation and Communication:

• Participating in and facilitating meetings with HQs Digital Business Solutions team, developers, partners as well as stakeholders. This includes facilitation of orientation and feedback sessions in the further roll out of ClassMap.
• Draft relevant project documents (concept notes) as well as support the translation of concept notes and any other relevant project documents from English to Myanmar.
• Undertaking any additional tasks assigned by the UNESCO Myanmar head of office, in line with the scope and objectives of the project.

Long Description

III. Deliverables and Timeline:

All deliverables must be submitted with original, editable files, as well as high-resolution versions of final products (if applicable) to UNESCO. The assigned tasks must be submitted by the following deadlines.

1.    Submit the ClassMap Maintenance Check List – web and app, submit the report for the performance optimization and scalability testing, security Assessment and vulnerability testing with technical suggestions and submit the workplan and strategies for the improvement of MTP by 30 September 2024. 
2.    Submit the report for the code review and quality assurance assessment with technical suggestions and submit the feedback on the standardizing the test plans and test cases document of MTP by 31 October 2024. 
3.    A brief report summarizing discussions with software development company on the Class Map App. The Report should detail schedule of new product releases and maintenance upgrades, submit the project management tool and risks registers including mitigation strategies for all platform and submit a technical assessment including recommendations for the selection of a maintenance provider for the MTP by 30 November 2024. 
4.    Work Plan (including identification of project risks) for ClassMap App covering the period January to December 2025, submit detailed monthly LMS Reports and a report on issue management and trouble shooting and submit the feedback on code review reports and quality assurance assessment with technical suggestions for MTP by 31 December 2024. 
5.    Submit the TORs for code review of ClassMap and Security Audit, submit detailed monthly LMS Reports and a report on issue management and trouble shooting and submit the feedback on the technical specifications document for MTP by 31 January 2025. 
6.    ClassMap Analytics Report, submit detailed monthly LMS Reports and a report on issue management and trouble shooting and submit the risk monitoring plan document for MTP by 18 February 2025. 
7.    A report on performance management, issue management and troubleshooting, submit detailed monthly LMS Reports and a report on issue management and trouble shooting and submit the feedback on the code review and quality assurance assessment with technical suggestions for MTP by 31 March 2025. 
8.    Submit detailed monthly LMS Reports and a report on issue management and troubleshooting, final report including challenges and recommendations for MTP by 30 April 2025. 

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE

IV.    Location and travel:

•    The individual consultant will be partially home-based and required to telework from home with occasional work at the UNESCO Myanmar Project Office. 
 

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

•    Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Computer Sciences (or) Information Technology (or) a related field.
•    Minimum of 5 years of experience in software development, with a focus on LMS and mobile app development.
•    Proven track record of successfully delivering complex technical projects, preferably in the education or e-learning sector.
•    Extensive experience with relevant technologies and programming languages, such as PHP, Python, Java, Swift, Flutter or React Native.
•    Strong understanding of LMS platforms, educational technologies, and mobile app development frameworks.
•    Strong knowledge of software testing methodologies, including unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing.
•    Experience with automated testing frameworks and tools to ensure code quality and reliability.
•    Understanding of cybersecurity principles and best practices for securing web applications and mobile apps.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

•    Strong data analysis and documentation skills, with the ability to collect, analyze, and share data and best practices to facilitate knowledge sharing.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to provide regular progress reports, documentation, and timely updates on project activities.
•    Strong strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
•    Ability to work in a demanding environment, managing multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
•    Ability to work in a multicultural environment, collaborating effectively with colleagues across the organization to achieve outstanding results.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and complete the Employment History form (Word document) in “Employment History Form / My Documents.” Before uploading the document, at the end of the Word document, please insert the extra pages with the following required information. Upload all documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form.

• Technical Proposal clearly referencing “Consultant – Systems Manager”, 1) how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the position, 2)  updated CV with contact detail of three referees and samples projects/ references. 
•Financial proposal indicating the expected consultancy fee.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization the best value for money.

Assessment:
•    Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered.
•    Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Note:   
•    Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process. 
•    Please submit your application through SuccessFactors. 

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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