Software Development Consultant

Result of Service This consultancy aligns with the first phase of ESCAP’s data strategy that focuses initially on improving internal data management, capacities and processes that support ESCAP’s administrative and programmatic work. At the end of the consultancy, ESCAP has developed a new monitoring tool that simplifies reporting processes and enables accurate data entry to reduce the time and effort of programme managers and programme management assistants for the planning, monitoring and reporting of their programme of work. In doing so, the consultancy shall address feedback by end-user to advance the functionalities of the current system and a introduce a more dynamic user-interface. In addition, the consultancy caters for the need to update ESCAP’s current platform to respond to emerging system-wide reporting requirements such as the UN-SWAP, the UNDIS and the Youth Scorecard.

Work Location home-based

Expected duration 1 Mar - 30 Sep 2023

Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager of the Programmatic Monitoring Tool 3.0 (PMT 3.0) project and the technical team lead, the consultant will work with relevant team members from the Strategy and Programme Management Division (SPMD) and the Information Management, Communications and Technology Section (IMCTS) of the Division of Administration to re-create a new Programmatic Monitoring Tool using Drupal 9.0 (or above) platform and MySQL. The new system (aka PMT 3.0) should implement both existing and additional specified functionalities in response to emerging reporting requirements and leverage end-user feedback.

The consultant shall work in an agile manner seeking feedback from the project team in regular and short intervals, as agreed, and document the processes and steps taken in order to increase the functionality of the monitoring tool.

Specifically, the consultant will: - Work with the project team to develop a new monitoring tool (PMT 3.0) in line with identified requirements and develop a detailed project plan with timelines for the implementation of amendments, testing of the adjustments, and develop the training for the project team to maintain backend revisions of the platform; - Based on the review of user feedback and in accordance with guidance by the project team set up the required infrastructure enhancements within prescribed security and access controls; - Set up and ensure a seamless workflow of the system for required user groups of the new system and ensure user provisioning and roles management can be managed by the project team; - Review the current data model; propose a consolidated and comprehensive data model which can flexibly respond to emerging reporting requirements and allow the new system to function efficiently; - Develop the data architecture, data set in MySQL database and corresponding Drupal taxonomies for the new system; - Based on the provided user-interface (UI) design wire frame (using Figma or equivalent tool), implement the new UI design in the PMT 3.0 new system using Drupal, JavaScript, Angular JS and other relevant programming languages; - Using an agile approach, build all the agreed functions and features for the relevant modules as specified and agreed in Functional Specification Document and project development plan; - Coordinate with project team on PIT & UAT tests and based on testing result, analyze, debug and correct codings, when necessary; - Create detailed technical specification documents and provide handover sessions with ESCAP’s internal web development team at each checkpoint/phase throughout the entire project; - Provide technical support and consultation on user training and job aid creation; - Coordinate and assist internal ESCAP web development team on deployment of PMT 3.0 and post-deployment troubleshooting during hyper-care period (~1 month after deployment)

Qualifications/special skills Master’s degree in Information Technology, Data Engineering or related. A minimum of 9 years of professional experience in software development, 4 of which using Drupal for programme and project Management Expert knowledge in HTML, CSS and JavaScript Knowledge of the Drupal 8.0 and 9.0 and/or Word Press Content Management System, particularly with respect to page template design, will be considered an asset Experience with Microsoft Project Server and tools Ability to liaise with web designers, technical staff and programme staff.

Languages Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English (both oral and written) is required.

Additional Information The project will be implemented in phases, as per the below timeline

Phase 1: Project Initiation (1 March to 15 April 2023) a. Design and develop the backend of the system, including infrastructure, data architecture, taxonomies; Define and set up user roles and user role management; Functioning integration with UN security standards; Integration of wireframe for user login; Testing of user login and admin screens; Technical documentation and user documentation; Handover to project team and other related tasks.

Phase 2: Development of Section 19 module (16 April to 15 June 2023) a. Design and develop Section 19 b. Testing and refinement of Section 19 c. Technical documentation and user documentation d. Handover to project team e. Technical documentation and user documentation

Phase 3: Development of Work Month module (16 June to 15 July) a. Design and develop the work month module b. Support the testing and refinement of the work month module c. Technical documentation and user documentation d. Handover to project team

Phase 4: Implementation of search functions and additional features (16 July to 31 August) a. Design and develop search functions and agreed additional functions of the PMT b. Support the testing and refinement of the search and additional functions work month module c. Technical documentation and user documentation d. Handover to project team

Phase 5: UAT (1-30 September 2023) a. Coordinate the user verification testing of the new solution and review testing scripts b. Based on testing result, analyze, debug and correct codings c. Knowledge transfer by training ESCAP Programme Management staff on the administration of the entire platform d. Final documentation

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.