Consultancy: Project Manager Phase 3 of Big Data Innovations Project

Hiring Office:

United Nations Population Fund – Philippines Country Office

Purpose of consultancy extension:

Background

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Philippines Country Office (CO) has started an Innovation Project that focuses on the development of a scraping tool that will gather social media conversations of Filipinos about family planning and a machine learning (ML) algorithm that converts those conversations to insights.

The platform provides insights that will support government planners to collect far-reaching, disaggregated and real-time data on awareness and perception of Filipinos about family planning. Using appropriate keywords and filters, the system is currently trained through a series of iterations to identify levels of awareness and perception of Filipinos on family planning disaggregated across various demographic groups and by geographical (i.e. regional, provincial, municipal/city) segmentation.

Phase 1 of the Project involved the design phase where the initial concept of the platform was developed. UNFPA Philippines then for Phase 2 of the project refined the platform by a) improving the taxonomy, b) integrating more languages, and c) integrating Twitter API, Facebook and Youtube comments data, and d) improving machine learning accuracy with the intention of having a Minimum Viable Product.

Meanwhile, UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office has expressed interest in expanding the scope of the project to include regional languages initially from September 2020 to the end of December 2020, however this was delayed to be implemented in 2021. The UNFPA HQ Innovations Team has also extended the implementation of its funding of the project until 2021

In line with this innovation project, UNFPA seeks to extend the engagement of the Project Manager to continue to oversee and manage the project.

Scope of work: (Description of services, activities, or outputs)

 In pursuance of the purpose of the consultancy, the consultant will be required to:

1. Facilitate and oversee the technology transfer of the platform from the software developer to UNFPA;
2. Continue to work on improving the usefulness and functionality of the big data platform including user testing including other methodologies in analyzing social media data;
3. Initiate the conduct of analysis on the scraped data from the platform and lead the writing of a paper in coordination with the other UNFPA staff analyzing social media sentiments on Family Planning;
4. Continue the coordination with the Department of Health, Commission on Population and Development and other relevant SRHR partners on the training and use of the data platform;
5. Expansion of the platform to include other languages within the Asia Pacific Region.

The detailed activities for each output, are as follows:

Duration and working schedule, fee basis:

The consultancy will be part-time for a total of 165 days over a period of 11 months (average of 15 days per month) commencing on 15 February 2021 until 31 December 2021.

Payment schedule will be at the end of each month depending on the number of days worked and upon submission of the accomplishment report. Accomplishment reports will be submitted at the end of each month detailing: a) Target Deliverables; b) Deliverables Achieved, and c) other Comments/ Remarks.

The engagement will also include monthly reimbursable communications allowance.

Place where services are to be delivered:

The consultant will be home-based and will submit the deliverables to UNFPA Philippines for the duration of the quarantine period. After the traffic restriction due to COVID-19 community quarantine is lifted, the consultant may be requested to be at the UNFPA country office for meetings and collaborative work once a week or as required.

Supervisory arrangement:

The consultant will be under the direct supervision of the UNFPA National Programme Officer - Population and Development, with overall supervision and guidance by UNFPA Country Representative and Assistant Representative. The consultant is expected to work closely with the other units of the UNFPA Country Office for coordination, guidance, and liaison with government counterparts (e.g. Department of Health).

Expected travel:

No travel will be required

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in Information Systems/ Information Technology or any other relevant field of study. Or Bachelor’s degree in the fields mentioned above combined with two years of relevant professional experience in health IT-based project management. *

Knowledge and Experience:

• Strong IT background and experience in managing IT-based projects;
• Strong computer skills including proficiency with database software and data visualization software;
• Substantive knowledge in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights;
• Solid research management and data analysis experience;
• Familiarity with UN policies and principles will be an advantage;
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking and a commitment to results;
• Ability to organize work effectively and to meet planned deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different backgrounds in a multicultural environment;
• Familiarity with government planning processes and systems.

*per UNFPA’s policy on contracting IC (as of August 2017), the lack of an advanced degree may be off-set by a Bachelor’s degree plus two years of relevant experience.

Languages: Fluency in English

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing cultural diversity
• Embracing change

Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise; Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners;
• Building strategic alliances and partnerships;
• Adaptation/application of knowledge in different contexts;
• Job knowledge/technical expertise; and
• Integration in a multidisciplinary environment.