Re-advertisement: Consultant to support the Giga and DPG work in Kazakhstan

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Type of contract: Consultant, full-time Duration: from March 2022 to February 2023, 240 working days (the actual duration of the assignment and schedule of activities will be agreed with consultant based on the proposed implementation plan) Workplace: home-based

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, a fair chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E1xkXZs0cAQ

Background On the way to achieving “Digital Kazakhstan 2017-2022” state programme goal and responding to the emerging challenges in digital development during COVID-19, the new DigitEL 2025 concept was developed and adopted by the Ministry of digital development, innovations and aerospace industry (MDDIAI). One of the main directions of the concept is to create enabling learning environment by ensuring availability of up-to-date computer technologies, broadband internet connectivity for all schools and households including villages with more than 250 habitants, with unlimited traffic for comfortable use. The development of cloud technologies will provide many opportunities for building integrated online platforms to assist in learning, adapting textbooks into digital format, and deliver online lessons, digital skills from primary to tertiary level students. A key direction for transforming the approaches to the provision of services and interaction of the state with citizens and business will be the transition to the principles of open architecture (Open API), in which a qualitatively new level of cooperation with the commercial sector will be built. This will allow the efficient use of resources, concentrating on digital infrastructure, giving the "last mile" for the provision of public services to the non-governmental and business community. As a result of UNICEF’s work on DPG promotion and scale up, the DigitEL’s main principle for creation of new digital solutions is in use of open information storage technologies (open source). This will help reducing license costs and have the flexibility to develop systems and protect the individual storage of data. UNICEF Kazakhstan was a leading organization in the Giga initiative in Central Asia. A national level Giga steering committee was established in 2021 and a total of 7,400 schools were mapped for Project Connect to show their connectivity status. Under the joint UNICEF and Turkestan region workplan, 38 rural schools were connected to broadband internet covering some 20,000 children. The country office also initiated a feasibility study to find the best technical and economically sustainable solutions for school connectivity in Kazakhstan. In support of the Giga project roll out in Kazakhstan further, UNICEF Kazakhstan is interested to develop or improve using frontier technologies’ the existing a technical solution for redistribution of internet connection and test it using the regulatory “sandbox” within the Astana International Financial Centre.

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy will bring the Necessary specific technical knowledge and competencies in the area of work where they are not currently available

Purpose of the Assignment

UNICEF Kazakhstan is looking for a consultant to support technically the implementation of Giga initiative and Digital public goods scale up. UNICEF Kazakhstan was a leading organization in the Giga initiative in Central Asia. A national level Giga steering committee was established in 2021 and a total of 7,400 schools were mapped for Project Connect to show their connectivity status. Under the joint UNICEF and Turkestan region workplan, 38 rural schools were connected to broadband internet covering some 20,000 children. The country office also initiated a feasibility study to find the best technical and economically sustainable solutions for school connectivity in Kazakhstan. In support of the Giga initiative roll out in Kazakhstan further, UNICEF Kazakhstan is interested to hire a consultant who will technically support the implementation of Giga activities in accordance with 5 year plan, this includes the support to further scale connectivity, Digital public goods in the country ensuring that any technology solution (or data), that is being developed and/or piloted with investment from the Digital Public Goods Alliance will be published as a DPG and therefore should meet the DPG technical and functional criteria such as Openness, Decentralization, Privacy and Security, Digital Inclusion, Product Quality, Utility and Scalability. Detailed guidance on these criteria will be provided. Another important aspect will be to ensure speed of school connectivity is regularly monitored and real time monitoring systems are operationalized.

The objective and major tasks of the consultancy: - Act as primary focal point for Giga coordination with the participating central and national level state and private sector representatives, International Telecommunication Unit, local authorities and UNICEF Kazakhstan. - Provide technical knowledge in adopting and testing methodology and software on real time monitoring of connectivity - Lead UNICEF support to and provide critical input in design for major Giga activities in 2022 in close collaboration with Giga Country Engagement team and DPG Alliance in New York. - Develop relationships with counterparts in relevant government bodies such as MDAI, local level authorities and private sector such as Kazakhtelecom, Transtelecom and other corporates

Deliverables: 1. Support Giga and DPG implementation throughout the workplan with Information Analytical Centre under MOES, workplan with Turkestan region, Programme Document with Astana Hub and other agreements with Implementing partners governed by 5-year workplan for Giga activities in Kazakhstan and MOU with Ministry of innovation, digital development and aerospace industry. 2. Support and facilitate the process of preparation of technical documentation required for vetting of newly published DPGs for validation by Digital Public Goods Alliance in accordance with technical and functional criteria. 3. Guide the development of technical solution for redistribution of internet connection by schools or organizations and accompany the testing of several options within the regulatory sandbox of Astana International Financial Centre. 4. Validate within the Steering committee meeting and pilot the sustainable business models of connectivity and map the potential business opportunities that attract private sector investment to fill the remaining financial gap. 5. Document Kazakhstan’s experience on Giga initiative and DPG work, using Country Office’s communication channels to promote Kazakhstan’s initiatives and contributions as a pathfinder country as well as engage UNICEF’s audience to support the creation and use of Digital Public Goods All the deliverables are implemented under close collaboration with Education Specialist and relevant programme officers (Innovations Officer).

Work Assignment Overview

The actual duration of the assignment and schedule of activities will be agreed with consultant based on the proposed implementation plan.

1. Tasks/Milestones: Support Giga and DPG implementation throughout the WP with Information Analytical Centre (IAC) under Ministry of Education and Science workplan with Turkestan region, Programme Document with Astana Hub and other agreements with Implementing Partners governed by 5-year workplan for Giga activities in Kazakhstan and MOU with Ministry of innovation, digital development and aerospace industry. Deliverables/Outputs: • Browser extension (M-Lab measure) and software deployed for real time internet connectivity monitoring in 10 pilot connected schools in Turkestan region in partnership with IAC DPG toolkit is presented to the relevant department in MDAI and serve as a baseline for the development of the national road map on DPGs . • Support to at least two steering committee meetings and ensuring maximum transparency around the committee’s work, including goals, procedures, members and timeline • Operationalize within the Giga steering committee the monitoring and evaluation component within the 5-year country plan. • Maintain contacts with the local authorities for the timely implementation and reporting on progress. Date: March-December 2022

2. Tasks/Milestones: Support and facilitate the process of preparation of technical documentation required for vetting of newly published DPGs for validation by DPGA in accordance with technical and functional criteria. Deliverables/Outputs: • 2 local DPGs are vetted and validated by DPGA in line with technical and functional criteria • Identify solutions (e.g., Child Online safety) from other contexts that can be scaled • Support to launch of the assessment of barriers and levers for digital literacy and on-line safety • Self-submission guidance developed for potential DPG candidates Date: October 2022

3. Tasks/Milestones: Oversee the implementation and use of open-source stack for technical solution on redistribution of internet connection by schools or organizations and accompany the testing of several options within the regulatory sandbox of Astana International Financial Centre to ensure it aligns with DPG standards and UNICEF business needs and conforms to UNICEF’s overall IT business strategy. Deliverables/Outputs: • Develop the product roadmap and scale up strategy, alternative vision for smart contract • Provide monthly reports describing the lessons learned and challenges of the smart contract development Date: February 2023

4. Tasks/Milestones: Validate within the Steering committee meeting and pilot the sustainable business models of connectivity and map the potential business opportunities that attract private sector investment to fill the remaining financial gap. Deliverables/Outputs: • The sustainable models presented to Steering committee and the recommendations and comments from members are addressed and at least 1 business model is proposed for testing. • Provide quarterly reports Date: March-December 2022

5. Tasks/Milestones: Document Kazakhstan’s experience on Giga initiative and DPG work, using Country Office’s communication channels to promote Kazakhstan’s initiatives and contributions as a pathfinder country as well as engage UNICEF’s audience to support the creation and use of Digital Public Goods Deliverables/Outputs: • Report describing the work of Giga Steering committee at country level with lessons learned and recommendation’s part. • Report sharing lessons learned from the DPG implementation in Kazakhstan. Date: March 2022-February 2023

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in ICT, social sciences, development sciences, public relations, business administration and management or related field. • 4 years progressively responsible professional work experience in start-ups, private sector, research and management consulting or a relevant field. • Experience in monitoring, reporting, analytics, development, and coordination in either public or private sector organizations is asset. • Experience with successfully pitching new ideas and business models to a variety of stakeholders with varying interests. • Strong writing and communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing messages and priorities with multiple audiences. • Proven experience of working (at least 1 year) in the area of digital products development, data, blockchain, fintech and public policy. • Experience engaging with senior government, NGOs and private sector stakeholders in the country. • Experience in project management is an asset. • Fluency in English and Russian is required. Knowledge of Kazakh language is an asset. • Previous experience with UNICEF or the UN is an advantage. • Good familiarity and comfort with failure. • Strong familiarity with the cultural and political context of the region, including policy and regulatory in the area of ICT and digitalization • Proven capacity to work with collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills. • Competencies: - Communication; - Drive for results; - Understanding on monitoring, reporting, analytics, development, and coordination in either public or private sector organizations; - Strong familiarity with the cultural and political context of the region, including policy and regulatory in the area of ICT, digitalization and connectivity; - working in the area of digital products development, data, blockchain, fintech and public policy. - Analyzing; - Learning and Researching; - Adapting and Responding to Change.

For every Child, you demonstrate… UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture) View our functional competencies framework Functional Competencies.pdf

Remarks: • Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract. • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. • 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. • 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. • All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. • The Individual contractor or Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures. • The successful candidate will be required to have medical insurance (at his/her own cost), covering the whole period of contract, including travel. • 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. • Payment upon completion of each deliverable according to schedule. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.