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, access to information
In Namibia, only 31 percent of schools are utilizing School Link for administrative purposes and 77 percent do not have access to ICTs. The basic education sector was negatively impacted in terms of continuity of learning when schools were closed for face-to-face learning in 2020 to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. Only 13,000 learners (1.6%) out of the 804,079 (2020 15th School Day Report), could access online teaching and learning. According to data from the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC), in 2022, of the 67 public libraries in the country, 56 have internet and 11 libraries have no internet connectivity, while 62 have computers, and 5 do not have or are under construction; and of the 1954 schools in 2022, 257 (13%) predominantly rural schools have no electricity. In total, 614 schools are connected to internet using either Wi-Fi, 3G and 1, 340 (68.6%) are not connected to internet. Limited access to connectivity, bet it at home, school or in the community has thus negative impacts on children and youth from poor and vulnerable communities, who will remain disadvantaged.
The Government of Namibia in collaboration with UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have launched “Giga” in Namibia, an initiative to connect every school to the internet, and every young person to information, opportunity and choice. Giga is anchored in finding 1A of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, which states that by \"2030 every adult should have affordable access to digital networks\". In addition, the Namibian government committed at the Transforming Education Summit held along the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly to commit to transforming education through enhancing access to digital technologies in education. The same commitments are also reflected in 2022 National Conference on Education recommendations.
Giga has 4 pillars – Map, Model, Finance, and Contract. Under the “Map” pillar, Giga partners with governments, to map connectivity demand, using schools as a base point, and identifying where there are connectivity gaps. This information is combined with infrastructure mapping data under the “Model” pillar, which allows countries to take stock of their existing infrastructure and assess appropriate solutions for connecting schools. Under “Finance” Giga supports governments to design appropriate financing models for school connectivity and through “Contract” Giga supports governments to roll out efficient and effective procurement processes for school connectivity.
How can you make a difference?
Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
Coordinate and support the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology to complete mapping, financing and data work related to access to connectivity in schools.
Purpose
The consultant is expected to provide extensive support to the MoEAC and will act as the focal point and project coordinator for the mapping and data work.
S/he will play an integral role in contextualizing and integrating Giga in Namibia and will interact with the different programmatic sections and local stakeholders (government actors, partner private sector, CRAN, NGOs) in the country, with the objective of ensuring the required data is obtained from all local partners and government divisions and coordinate and execute the required activities to help complete the mapping work under Giga in Namibia.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
An advanced university degree (Master’s) in education, ICT or related field.
A university degree in information technology management, business administration, international relations, public policy management, international development, community development or other related social science field and education technology.At minimum of five (5) years professional experience in data or ICT technologies.
Experience with ICT hardware or software tools, mobile phones and web-based technologies, particularly designing or deploying tools appropriate to low-bandwidth environments, or in the phases of adoption and user requirements (user testing, user interaction, user acceptance, etc.).
Familiarity working with quantitative and qualitative statistics and government data is desired: census, EMIS, location data (Geographic Information System), etc.
Familiarity working with big data is desired: telcos, Twitter, satellite imagery.
Experience working with or managing relationships with MNOs and ISPs is desirable.
Experience working with software tools, ideally in the phases of adoption and user requirements (user testing, user interaction, etc.).
Ability to communicate data insights and to translate into programmatic impact.
Development or government experience; familiarity with the UN system and UNICEF.
Demonstrated ability to work with people of various professional, academic and cultural backgrounds.
Strong analytical ability.
Dynamic interpersonal and communication skills, energetic, creative, and pragmatic.
Ability to prepare and implement high quality workplans and take initiative
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.Administrative issues:
The selection and conditions of service of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s Policies and General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants/contractors.
No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant/contractor.
Consultant/Contractor will be required to complete mandatory online courses (e.g. Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security) upon receipt of offer and before the signature of contract.
Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. 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.
How to Apply
Qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to submit an online application before the closing date.
Please submit expression of interest together with:
• A cover letter, no longer than 1 page, and curriculum vitae showing how the consultant meets the required qualifications, experience and expertise.
• Technical Proposal demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the Terms of Reference, the proposed methodology/approach and timelines for the respective deliverables; and
• A financial proposal/budget, which must include all expenses related to the assignment.
Incomplete applications e.g., without financial/budget proposal will not be considered. If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's 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.
Remarks:
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 that the visa (applicable) and 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.
This vacancy is archived.