Individual National ICT Consultant

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual National ICT Consultant. The duration of this assignment is 11.5 months, starting as soon as possible and the consultant will be based in UNICEF office in Vientiane, Laos.

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual National ICT Consultant. The duration of this assignment is 11.5 months, starting as soon as possible and the consultant will be based in UNICEF office in Vientiane, Laos.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The national IT consultant will provide direct, hands-on support to MoES across several ICT-related areas of UNICEF support. This will require approximately 3 days of each week spent providing hands-on guidance and training to the ICT focal points within key MoES departments. The exact schedule for this support to MoES will be agreed upon commencement of the assignment. Additional days each week can be spent at the UNICEF office providing further technical support and delivering on the tasks listed below.

1. Khang Panya Lao Digital Teaching and Learning Platform:
   • Capacity building in digital content development: Provide at least 5 full days of training to RIES staff on the use of iSpring software for interactive SCORM content and other related Khang Panya Lao technical support.
   • Development of digital learning content: Working with RIES, ensure the interactive design for all at least four official curriculum textbooks is completed and uploaded in Khang Panya Lao. Support the presentation of this content to MoES and partners.
   • Khang Panya Lao teacher training & monitoring: Participate in at least one Khang Panya Lao teacher trainings for monitoring purposes and, with the education specialist, prepare a Khang Panya monitoring report and present the cumulative results of the teacher training to UNICEF and MoES.
   • Back-up IT and technical support: Provide at least 10 days of hand on support to MoES in operating the Khang Panya Lao platform, including managing the backend, utilizing of tablets, mobile devices and related technologies, developing M&E reports on Khang Panya usage and, in coordination with the UNICEF Education Specialist, collaborate with regional and global Learning Passport teams for updates, and provide IT support and platform maintenance. Offer technical support for the integration of APIs and technical systems to enhance platform interoperability. This includes technical support and coordination of software for the youth engagement online learning content and uploading to the Khang Panya Lao backend system.
2. Aligned to the national ICT in Education Strategy, support the strengthening of partnerships with the private sector and development partners in digital infrastructure development and digital learning:
   • Telecommunication Collaboration: Facilitate at least two meetings with internet service providers in follow up to the establishment of the national ICT in Education Strategy. Support includes technical inputs to the establishment of an MoU for zero-rating of Khang Panya / enabling more equitable access to digital learning.
   • ICT in Education Strategy Action Plan: Provide at least 20 days of technical support to the ICT Centre in the development of a 5-year ICT in Education Strategy Action Plan. Support can include contribution to technical discussions with government and development partners, including via workshops and meetings at central and/or sub-national levels, and in review of action plan drafts. Support should help ensure the feasibility and suitability of the Action Plan to the Lao context.
3. Improving Air Quality monitoring in collaboration with the UNICEF Wash team:
   • Implementation and Monitoring: Oversee the installation of internet service provision and air quality monitoring equipment in 150 schools, ensuring proper functioning and connectivity. This involves liaison with mobile network operators and at least 1 field visit to a targeted district for implementation support and monitoring.
   • Educational and Monitoring Support: Provide at least 10 days of direct hands-on support to government in the monitoring of air quality through schools. Based on needs, develop instructional guides including at least one video for users of the Air Quality monitoring tools and ensure MoES has functional air quality monitoring mechanisms within schools.
4. LESMIS (Lao Education and Sports Management Information System):

              Sub Sector Dashboards:

• • LESMIS upgrading: Work closely with the LESMIS system developer on the upgrading of the LESMIS system, specifically ensuring at least three new features are added, functional and used by government.
  • Data import: Design and create a data import tool to allow the five sub-sectors to import additional data into the database and display it within the LESMIS system.
  • Capacity building: Provide hands on support and trainings in LESMIS to line departments from five education sub-sectors (at least 10 days for each of the five-line departments)[1] in data entry procedures, creating dashboards and importing data for upcoming years. Support should enable line departments to each create at least two new dashboards per sub-sector within the LESMIS system. Support may also be required at the sub-national levels.
  • Server Maintenance: Provide training to the ICT Core Team in the management and maintenance of the LESMIS server and database. This includes weekly visits to ensure system reliability and address any issues together with the Core Team.

This work will require at least 20 days of field visits/travel over the course of the assignment including the following:

1. Khang Panya Lao field visits/monitoring support: 5 days
2. ICT Strategy Action Plan sub-national consultations: 5 days
3. LESMIS capacity building: 5 days
4. Air Quality Monitoring Implementation: 5 days

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

Qualification and experience:

 Disciplines:

Experience in: Education, IT, Statistics, Information Management Systems, Digital Learning, ICT in teaching & learning 

Knowledge and skills:

• Advanced degree in education, information technology, statistics, communication, engineering, or other relevant field. In lieu of a specific academic degree, relevant experience may be considered to meet this requirement.
• At least 8 years of professional work experience in Technology for Development (T4D) and/or information system development, including mobile and web-based applications, with manifested capacity to support capacity building in IT with government counterparts.
• Specific experience in ICT in education, including building information management systems, digital learning platforms, blended learning and using ICT for teacher professional development, ideally in Laos.
• Excellent communication abilities, in both written and oral forms in Lao and English. Consultant should be at ease in presentations and meetings with D-level (UN) or C-level (private sector) executives.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost, including travel, accommodation cost and insurance with Medevac for this assignment as per work assignment

Assessment Criteria:

A). Technical Qualification (70 points)

• Advanced degree in education, information technology, statistics, communication, engineering, or other relevant field. In lieu of a specific academic degree, relevant experience may be considered to meet this requirement (10 points)
• At least 8 years of professional work experience in Technology for Development (T4D) and/or information system development in the education sector, including mobile and web-based applications, with manifested capacity to support capacity building in IT with government counterparts (25 points) 
• Specific experience in ICT in education including building information management systems, digital learning platforms, blended learning and using ICT for teacher professional development, ideally in Laos (25 points)
• Excellent communication abilities, in both written and oral forms in Lao and English (10 points)

B).  Financial Proposal (30 points)

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 50 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

The Contract shall be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview, if required.

Please find the TOR here:  TOR- Education IT consultant for VA.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at here

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.

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.

Remarks: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.