Web/Data Portal Consultant

UN-Water: UN-Water is the entity that coordinates the work of the United Nations on water and sanitation. It was formally established in 2003, building on a long history of collaboration within the United Nations. UN-Water is comprised of the United Nations bodies that have a focus on, or interest in, water-related issues as Members and other international organizations as Partners. The main purpose of UN-Water is to complement and add value to existing programmes and projects by facilitating synergies and joint efforts, so as to maximize United Nations family-wide coordinated action and coherence, and to reduce overlap and duplication. By doing so, UN-Water seeks to increase the effectiveness of support provided to Member States in their efforts towards achieving international agreements on water. This is done along the following three main lines of work: informing policy processes and addressing emerging issues; supporting monitoring and reporting on water and sanitation; and building knowledge and inspiring people to take action. For further information: www.unwater.org.

SDG 6 monitoring and reporting: In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, countries have committed to engage in systematic follow-up and review of progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which calls for robust and credible monitoring and reporting systems. To this end, the country-led Inter-agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDG) has developed a global indicator framework, including 11 indicators to track global progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal on Water and Sanitation (SDG 6). Countries are in charge of their national monitoring, and, through their national statistical systems, their responsibility is to collect and make available data and metadata for the purpose of global reporting. For each global indicator, one or more custodian agencies have been designated to develop and maintain a standardized methodology for monitoring the indicator, to support countries in their monitoring efforts, to compile and verify country data and metadata, and to submit the data to the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). The SDG 6 indicators are looked after by 9 different custodian agencies. The UN-Water Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 brings together the custodian agencies for all SDG 6 indicators and coordinates their efforts, to better support countries monitoring SDG 6 in an integrated manner, with a strong focus on the institutional aspects and the intersectoral nature of water and sanitation. For further information: www.sdg6monitoring.org.

SDG data portal: The custodian agencies maintain their own databases and will publish data on their respective indicator. However, to evaluate progress towards SDG 6 in its entirety, it is critical to make available country data and metadata on all the SDG 6 indicators on one platform, and offer appropriate analytical and visualization tools to allow for an integrated analysis of how well the world is ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Against this backdrop, UN-Water has decided to create a joint SDG 6 data portal, gathering data from the custodian agencies’ databases as well as other relevant international databases (with acknowledgements and links as appropriate). The portal will build on the experience from the UN-Water Key Water Indicator Portal and be implemented step-wise, with the first step to be launched in time for the SDG 6 baseline and synthesis report in early 2018.

The work on the data portal is led by a specific working group (WG) drawn from the Integrated Monitoring Initiative, commissioned by its Steering Committee (SC). The WG has developed a concept note that summarizes the background and context of the data portal, identifies the target audience and the associated needs and wants for the data portal, as well as outlines the way forward including workplan and budget.

The consultant’s overall task is to independently recommend a technical option for implementing the SDG 6 data portal, and to write the associated request for quotation (RFQ) following UNOPS guidelines. The work shall be carried out in close collaboration with the WG. Results shall be documented in a well-written report (language English), with sub chapters and time frames as specified below; the WG shall have the opportunity to review and provide input to each sub chapter as well as the full report before finalization.

More specifically, the consultant’s functional responsibilities include the following:

1.       Technically describe and assess the individual databases from which data will be gathered

To be based on the concept note and interviews with database owners. Preliminary results shall be shared with the WG no more than 3 weeks after the start of the contract; final results to be submitted no more than 8 weeks after the start of contract.

2.       Consult with selected representatives of the target audience to further specify desired uses and functions

Together with the WG, establish links with selected representatives of the target audience, and carry out consultations (survey/interviews) to gather input on and further specify desired uses and functions of the SDG 6 data portal. Preliminary results shall be shared with the WG no more than 4 weeks after the start of the contract; final results to be submitted no more than 8 weeks after the start of contract.

3.       Independently review different technical options for implementing the SDG 6 data portal, with an indepth review of a set of shortlisted options

The review is to be based on the concept note, the assessment of individual databases and the inputs gathered from the forseen target audience, and to include (but not be limited to) considerations of the following:

-          innovative methods for harvesting data from the individual databases as well as other data streams,

-          database and website development and management,

-          data visualization and analysis, including user experience design,

-          geographical information systems,

-          technology providers including open source options,

-          costs/requirements for development, operations and maintenance.

The decision on a set of shortlisted options to be reviewed in detail shall be taken together with the WG, no more than 3 weeks after the start of contract. Preliminary results of the review shall be shared with the WG no more than 6 weeks after the start of the contract; final results to be submitted no more than 8 weeks after the start of contract together with the recommendation.

The consultant should inform the WG of any past working experience he/she has had in any of the reviewed technical options, to flag a possible conflict of interest.

4.       Recommend to the WG/Steering Committee the most suitable technical option for implementing the SDG 6 data portal

The recommendation including justification shall be presented (in written as well as orally) to the WG/SC no more than 8 weeks after the start of contract. 

5.       Write a RFQ for the implementation of the first step of the SDG 6 data portal, adhereing to relevant UNOPS rules and regulations, identify potential suppliers able to technically develop and implement the SDG 6 portal, and support the WG as necessary in the subsequent contracting process as well as initial discussions with the contractor

A draft RFQ shall be shared with the WG for comments no more than 1 week after the WG/SC decision on a technical solution for the data portal. The final RFQ should be ready no more than 2 week after the submission of the draft RFQ, together with a list of the potential suppliers identified (to be recommended to UNOPS for inclusion in their list of suppliers that will received the RFQ). 

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in full stack web development and digital data collection and analysis, including experience in data visualization and user experience design. 
• Experience in statistics as well as monitoring and reporting are considered an advantage.

Skills in the following areas are essential:

-          Full stack web development, including database development/management

-          Digital data collection methods and data analysis and segmentation practices

-          Geographic information systems

-          Data visualization and communication principles, user experience design

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

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