Software developer to the Ministry of Health

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges.  

In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.   

UNDP has been a trusted development partner of the Maldives for more than 40 years, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and exclusion in areas such governance, environment protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation. In each of its thematic areas of work, UNDP at the request of its national partners provides relevant policy advisory support, technical assistance, advocacy, and knowledge to help Maldives achieve its global commitment on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). With Maldives’s transition to Middle Income Country Status, Official Development Assistance from traditional donor sources has been on the continuous decline. UNDP is therefore working with its national partners to identify and tap into alternative and innovative financing mechanisms for development. This process involves broadening outreach and forging wide-ranging partnerships with stakeholders - including other UN agencies, the government, the private sector, philanthropic Foundations, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and International Finance Institutions to advance the country’s development strategies and objectives. 

You are invited to join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support the Maldives to achieve the 2030 Agenda.  As part of the UNDP team your focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders to find the country specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and to ensure no one is left behind - and we reach those furthest behind first.  

Maldives began their Covid 19 response efforts in earnest alarmed by what the pandemic was turning out to be. Understanding the dangers the virus would pose in one of the densest populations, despite the economy being brought to a standstill, a health emergency was declared and a Health Emergency Operations Centre established to shield the country as much as possible from the virus, and to slow the spread and attend to the stricken.  

Such an intervention required an unprecedented level of surveillance control, testing, attending to cases with priority to the vulnerable, control of people movement required digital solutions for it to work. The Maldives was quick to digitize its Covid-19 response operations. Online tools adopted facilitated effective management of Covid-19. HEOC operations use a number of connected digital solutions centered around identification collectively termed ‘Outbreak Systems’ to monitor and attend to those in need.  

Data is key for timely decision making. Dashboards connecting live data are available to decision makers, and technical professionals of the operations. Data on number of samples taken by the hour, test results daily, daily quarantine requests, call centre, positive case types, contacts help team leaders identify issues and respond in a timely manner. 

The Maldives has been the first to jump on the vaccination drive as soon as vaccines were available. The government recognizes that immunizing the majority of the population against the virus as quickly as possible as the best way to return to normal from the raging pandemic. A vaccination platform that centres around person identity is being used at vaccination sites across the country. The push for total immunization from Covid-19 meant hundreds of sites use the system daily.  

Constant support of these digital systems is required to ensure continuity in these uncertain times. Requirements for the use and functions of these systems need to evolve according to the trends and need by the authorities and the general public. As the situation changes, the way these systems are used, the defined policies, data collected, and analysis required across the spectrum of users need to be addressed and delivered in a timely manner. 

UNDP Maldives has been supporting the covid-19 response efforts through multiple agencies. In view of the existing needs, UNDP under its Integrated Governance Programme (IGP) together with the Ministry of Health is seeking the support of an individual to provide the technical assistance to enhance support of Covid-Apps used at the Health Emergency Operations Centre, maintaining the existing systems to ensure the smooth running and intended functioning of the system, develop the existing systems according to the requirement by the end-users to ensure continuity, prepare systems handover with documentation to the Ministry of Health. 

Under the guidance of Ministry of Health, the developer will support the designing, development and maintenance of digital automation tools, apps, and software critical for the continuation of COVID-19 relief effort including but not limited to 

• Call centre and ticketing  
• Contact tracing 
• Lab test, results 
• Document generation 
• Self-health, self-reporting portals 
• Quarantine and movement management 
• Facility management  
• Immunization 
• Data analysis and business intelligence tools 

The tasks to be undertaken by the developer under the Terms of Reference include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following; 

• Coordinate day to day tasks related to the software development and design as assigned; 
• Assist in the development and deployment of applications central to the HEOC COVID-19 relief effort; 
• Design, develop and maintain related software applications, web applications and websites for Ministry of Health; 
• Study existing online systems used in the Covid19 HEOC operations, prepare necessary documentations where they are missing; 
• Familiarise and gain hands on experience on existing systems; 
• Attain a thorough understanding of HEOC operations process models and their data flow and data assessment requirements; 
• Identify gaps between online systems and requirements, propose recommendation to changes to systems and processes and make necessary alterations and upgrades to online systems to improve the efficiency of the Covid19 relief efforts; 
• Train leads in each department and the HEOC support team to use the features in the online systems, monitor and understand usage gaps and make necessary alterations to system or user training where applicable; 
• Assess usage to ensure the systems reflect the truth and make alterations to business processes or systems where necessary to ensure data completeness, integrity and truth. Where necessary escalate the issue to the HEOC and re-train necessary personnel; 
• Ensure all data are secure and can only be accessed by HPA designated personnel on a need to basis per functionality; 
• Ensure a thorough data access log regime is maintained and incorporate a Privilege Access Management PAM protocol into the security system; 
• Handing over of the project(s) related documents including the source code with documentation for the developed software, software executables, project plans, project status reports, test plans, test specifications and results, user manuals, training materials, technical manuals etc to Ministry of Health designated team; 
• Plan and implement procedures for complete handover of all covid-19 systems to Ministry of Health IT; 
• Providing reports on assigned tasks and feedback on how the process can be improved. 

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards. 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.  
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.  
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity.  
• Self-development, initiative-taking.  
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution.  
• Demonstrated ability of timely completion of assignments.  
• Informed and transparent decision making.  
• Ability to work under pressure with several tasks and various deadlines.  
• Ability to actively generate creative, practical approaches and solutions to overcome challenging situations.  
• Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Dhivehi
• Professional Certificates

• Experience working with customers or departments on technical issues including software design and maintenance is desirable
• Be fluent in the following software/ frameworks
  • PHP Laravel framework
  • Dotnet Core 
• Familiarity with SQL and noSQL database systems and Business Intelligence tools
• multi-tier application architecture and APIs
• Experience and prior involvement within the Covid19 relief operations at NEOC or HEOC will be an added advantage.
• Prior experience in working as a Development and Operations (DevOps) personnel

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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For Software Developer for Ministry of Health position approximately the net salary per month is. For more information please contact operations.mv@undp.org