International Consultant (Development of Grievance Redress Mechanism App), Freetown, Sierra Leone, 50 days over 3 months

UNICEF Sierra Leone is seeking a qualified international consultant to develop a mobile app which will interface with the web-based grievance redress system and to manage the grievance resolution workflow.

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, a champion 

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference? 

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) is currently implementing several social protection (SP) programmes. The World Bank-financed Social Safety Net Project (SSNP) provides support to the GoSL in its efforts to build a Social Protection system and to provide timely income support to an increased number of poor households via a consolidated approach. The Project also finances measures to prevent corruption and to establish an independent grievance redress mechanism (GRM) as a channel for beneficiaries and other stakeholders to raise grievances, complaints, or corruption reports about the project. This consultancy is aimed to develop a mobile app to interface with the web-based grievance redress system to manage the grievance resolution workflow.

Objectives and Purpose of the Consultancy

• Develop a cross-platform Windows, iOS and Android mobile application to facilitate grievance submission, tracking, and resolution.
• Provide users with an intuitive interface for submitting grievances, attaching relevant documents or media if necessary.
• Enable real-time tracking of grievance status and progress.
• Implement mechanisms for administrators to manage grievances, assign tasks, and communicate with stakeholders.
• Ensure data security and privacy in accordance with relevant regulations.
• Release application in the App Stores

Scope of Work:

The consultancy covers the following areas of responsibility:

• Conduct requirements gathering and analysis to understand stakeholder needs and preferences.
• Design user interfaces (UI) and user experience (UX) prototypes for the mobile application.
• Develop the mobile application, including front-end and back-end components.
• Implement features for user authentication, role-based access control, and data encryption.
• Integrate notification systems to keep users informed about the status of their grievances.
• Conduct testing and debugging to ensure the app functions smoothly across different devices and operating systems.
• Provide documentation and training materials for end-users and administrators.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in computer sciences, software engineering or related field with eight years of relevant professional experience in software development.
• Experience and expertise in developing mobile applications, particularly in the area of grievance management.
• Understanding of the project requirements and ability to meet them within the specified timeline.
• Direct involvement or significant experience in developing the current web-based grievance redress system or similar systems in the field of social protection or governance.
• Quality of proposed solution, including UI/UX design, security measures, and scalability.
• Possesses experience collaborating with development partners, international organizations, or government agencies involved in social protection programs or similar initiatives.
• Prior experience working in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) or similar contexts, with a proven track record of successfully implementing projects in resource-constrained environments.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

Please access the full TOR here:  VA TOR - Grievances Reporting Mechanism App Consultant.pdf

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.