Result of ServiceThe implementation of this task will support the proper implementation and monitoring of UN-Habitat projects in Aleppo and Lattakia Governorates following the earthquake disaster of 6 February 2023. This activity is designed to help the community and local authorities to strengthen resilience capacities. It will ensure the validation of technical reports and software content of the developed municipal information systems application and training material. Work LocationDamascus, Syria Expected duration3 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. In October 2016, at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Habitat III – member states signed the New Urban Agenda. This is an action-oriented document which sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development, rethinking the way we build, manage, and live in cities. Through drawing together cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors, including at all levels of government as well as the private sector, UN-Habitat is applying its technical expertise, normative work and capacity development to implement the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1978 to address the issues of urban growth, UN-Habitat is a knowledge institution on urban development processes and understands the aspirations of cities and their residents. For forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. Because of these four decades of extensive experience, from the highest levels of policy to a range of specific technical issues, UN-Habitat has gained unique and universally acknowledged expertise in all things urban. This has placed UN-Habitat in the best position to develop achievable solutions to the current challenges faced by our cities. UN-Habitat is capitalizing on its experience and position to work with partners to formulate urban visions of tomorrow. It strives to ensure that cities become affordable living spaces of inclusive economic growth and social development for all citizens. Since 2015, UN-Habitat Syria Programme has worked closely with Syrian cities and communities to develop an urban resilience and recovery approach. UN-Habitat supports local authorities and communities (1) to collect better urban data to reach a common understanding on urban recovery needs; (2) to jointly identify neighborhood and municipal area response priorities – from humanitarian, to resilience, to recovery; and (3) to design and implement housing, infrastructure and basic services, urban environment, and urban cultural heritage projects that directly respond to these local priorities. UN- Habitat Syria currently has offices in Damascus, Homs and Aleppo and plans to open an office in Deir Azzor, The UN-Habitat Syria programme operationalizes projects across Syria. Duties and Responsibilities: Based on an application developed by a software development company which will be in the post-installation phase and prior to the project closure, the IC will be responsible for the following activities: • Communicate with the software development company (a company that is contracted by UN-Habitat) to develop Urban Information System is an integrated framework designed to collect, process, analyze, and manage data related to urban areas (cities, towns, and metropolitan regions). It supports urban planning, decision-making, and efficient resource management through GIS for the Aleppo City Council part of integrated Post-Earthquake Early Recovery and Resilience Building in Aleppo and Latakia project) team (project manager, technical staff and technical support staff), as well as certain key stakeholders and others as advised by the UN-Habitat project coordinator to elicit the existing expectations of the target application. All communications will be via email. This includes reviewing the software development workflow to ensure the contractor is using the agreed open-source technologies (e.g., Python, Django, Vue.js, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, OpenLayers), and verifying that the adopted Client-Server architecture meets the necessary performance, scalability, and flexibility standards. • Follow up the workplan by communicating with all parties. As part of this, the consultant will assess the integration progress of system modules, confirm the presence of proper configuration mechanisms, and ensure alignment with the overall project timeline and technical requirements. • Supervise the training sessions (if applicable) and provide technical input where needed to ensure effective knowledge transfer. This also includes reviewing training materials and supporting documentation to ensure they are clear, accurate, and aligned with the developed system. • Participate in all the meetings with the software development company and the other stakeholders when needed. A report or MoU of each meeting will be shared with the project coordinator. • Study any difficulties or challenges encountered throughout the project and propose appropriate solutions or define necessary requirements to resolve them. The consultant will evaluate issues in both the software and database structures, recommending changes or improvements to application architecture, code quality, UI/UX design, and security features such as Role-Based Access Control. • Application testing: do the functional tests and share the testing report with UN-Habitat. If case of any bugs, communicate with the software development company to resolve it. Testing shall include validation of integrated system modules, and compliance with field usability needs (simplicity, responsiveness, clarity). • Acceptance report: the consultant will issue the acceptance report after ensuring the application is fully comply with the ToR and contract. • Preparing minutes of technical meetings and related technical reports. • As part of duties, the IC will: Supervise Issue Tracking and Bug Fixing • Oversee Change Requests and Enhancements • Perform Code and Architecture Reviews • Monitor System Performance and Reliability • Validate Documentation Updates • Coordinate with Stakeholders • Recommend Technical Improvements Qualifications/special skillsHigh school degree with specialized training in computer science or software programming is required. o At least 10 years of working experience in software programming and digital technology application is required. o Experience in developing related web projects is required. o Experience working with international organizations is desired. o Proficiency in data base management, SQL, software development languages such as python or C++, Open-source environment programming is required. o Additional experience in project management, quality assurance is desired. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency/proficiency in oral and written Arabic and knowledge in oral and written English are required. Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.