Digital Content Developer (National Consultant), Damascus, Syria, 255 working days within 12 months

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, commitment

BACKGROUND (RATIONALE AND CONTEXT):

The development of quality alternative education modalities is critical to reach all children with learning opportunities, particularly those out of school and other groups to support their reintegration in formal education as well as the retention in school. The Self-Learning Material (SLM) and the Self-Learning Programme (SLP) were developed as one of the few non-formal education programme available in Syria. The SLP enables children with limited or no access to school to continue their learning at home, in NGOs centers or in community learning centers. It helps them prepare for the national exams, ultimately offering a pathway for reintegration to formal education. The SLP adopts a community-based approach to out-of-school children in all areas working directly with NGOs and communities so that ownership and accountability for the education of out-of-school children in very disadvantaged locations is shared between relevant authorities and the communities. The programme focuses on children between 6 and 18 years covering Grades 1 to 9. Key to the SLP is the SLM which covers main subjects such as Arabic, English, mathematics, and science.

In 2023 UNICEF and Ministry of Education are developing new learning materials aligned to the Syrian new curriculum based on instructional design system, this empowered learning material (ELM) will cover grades 1 to 9. UNICEF is supporting digital learning in the non-formal education through various methodologies and approaches that combine online and offline interventions such as Learning passport, online platforms, offline sets of activities, homebased learning via social media and blended learning in the learning centers managed by UNICEF local partners.

How can you make a difference?

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT (PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT):

Through this Consultancy, UNICEF is seeking a Digital Content Consultant to work with a team of Consultants to support the digitalization of ELM. The ELM e-books will consist of 50 books and each book has about 500 interactive activities. The total estimation of the activities is 25,000 different quizzes/exercises distributed across 300 to 350 units/chapters. A team of 3 developers will work collaboratively on digitalizing those activities. The team will consist of 1 web developer who will initiate the design of activities and 2 assistants web developers. The final product for this team is the digitalized ELM e-book.

Additionally, through this Consultancy the Digital Content Consultant is expected to support and facilitate a “Hackathon” event to bring together young people and relevant stakeholders to support fostering digitalization skills.

Specific details of deliverables, estimation of workload and timeline provided below.

1. Developing ELM digital books activities (50 Books) including the below steps:
   1. ELM content mapping for newly designed lessons and identify the best interactive activities for each lesson.
   2. Digital content optimization – optimize the newly reviewed digitalized content based on other country platform and convert them into templates.
   3. Based on the mapping and revision build quizzes and question from textbooks / digitize questions in an interactive way.
   4. Test and validate the uploaded activities to the learning platform by assistant web developers.
2. Develop additional edutainment material and education games.
3. Proactively provide admin and technical support/facilitate hackathon event.
4. Provide monthly reporting on status of implementation

LOCATION (GEOGRAPHIC AREA/ DUTY STATION): Damascus, Syria

Off-site working days: 255 workdays

DURATION:

The selected consultant will work for the period of (255) workdays within (12) months period on remote basis.

SUPERVISOR:

Education officer -digital learning NOA

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT (TASKS, SMART DELIVERABLES, DEADLINES):

PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

By Deliverables.

The consultant will be paid upon the receipt of agreed deliverables/products against accepted monthly implementation report and invoice, as follows:

• For books – the installments will be paid per unit delivery: Digitalized, uploaded and sampled tested units and report delivered
• For games – the installments will be paid per game: Fully developed, uploaded and tested games and report delivered.
• For event: upon finalization the event and report delivered.

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

1. Academic qualifications:

Bacheller degree in one of the following fields: Information technology, computer science, electronic engineering, multimedia or any other related technical field.

2. Work experience / Technical competencies:

• Two years of experience in web development, digitalization, troubleshooting is required.
• Experience in HTML development and programing is required.
• Experience in coding and subroutines troubleshooting and software testing is required.
• Experience in digital learning content is desirable.
• Excellent computer skills including familiarity with search engines, educational platforms, browser extensions, drawing software and emails is desirable.

3. Competencies:

• Ability to work independently and in a group to ensure high-quality deliverables
• Good communication skills
• Demonstrates capacity to carry out the assignment within allocated timeframe.
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Active, dedicated, and self-driven personality.

4. Language requirement:

Fluency in Arabic and English (both written and verbal) is required

EVALUATION PROCESS (OF APPLICATIONS):

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Applications through UNICEF’s Talent Management System (TMS)

2. Cover Letter

3. CV.

4. Financial quote as lump sum for professional fees only.

5. At least 3 Referees from Direct Supervisors

Shortlisted applicants may be invited for further technical assessment. Final recommendation will be made based on “best value for money”, i.e. the hiring section/office shall normally select the individual who quoted the lowest fee from among the candidates who are assessed as suitable for achieving all tasks on time, as per the criteria stipulated in this ToR, and based on the outcome of the evaluation/assessment conducted.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure the health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.