Data Systems Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

As part of the extensive work in improving food security and nutrition as well strengthening resilience of livelihoods within the country, FAO South Sudan is implementing a resilience program funded by Africa Development Bank. The overall goal of the program to build resilience for food and nutrition security in the Horn of Africa (HoA) is to contribute to improving living conditions including for women and the youth, food, and nutrition security, increasing resilience, as well as peace and security in the Horn of Africa by building resilience to climate change.

To achieve objectivities of the program, FAO South Sudan acknowledges the use of innovations and information technologies during the project implementation. FAO South Sudan intends to hire a Data System Specialist to develop e-extension, weather, and climate advisory platform to facilitate dissemination of extension services as well as weather updates with the objective of improving production.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the FAOR in South Sudan and the direct supervision of the Information and Knowledge Management Specialist.

Technical Focus

The Data Systems Specialist will take lead in development and management of e-extension, weather, and climate advisory platform to facilitate dissemination of extension services as well as weather updates with the objective of improving production. The Data Systems Specialist will review existing applications, identify gaps, design and develop of new features. The specialist will also take lead in training and handing over the platform to the Government.

Tasks And Objectives To Be Achieved

• Conduct meetings with the key stakeholders - including Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, management of Aweil Rice Scheme and FAO field staff on existing extension and climate advisory platforms. During this process, the consultant will also be given access to the various existing data sets and tools to understand the kind of information that needs to be collected.
• Develop system requirements analysis and design document detailing how the proposed system will apply to the current context in disseminating extension, weather and climate advisory services. The technologies to be used to implement the solution will also be documented at this stage. Requirements in terms of software and hardware that are needed to acquire will also be detailed here.
• Design and develop e-extension, weather, and climate advisory platform to facilitate dissemination of extension services as well as weather updates.
• Support selected stakeholders in testing the platform as per the use cases designed in the requirements analysis and design document. Compliance to the use cases will be verified and used to mark off milestones.
• Pilot the system and provide training to key users to equip them with the knowledge of how to use different features in the platform
• Develop both user and technical manuals for regular users, administrators and make recommendations on further enhancements
  

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in software engineering, computer science or related fields with solid foundation in application development.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in building and managing scalable applications.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other official FAO languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian) for COF. Working knowledge of English for PSA.
  

FAO Core Competencies

• Results focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
  

Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to own, plan and lead full Software development cycle.
• Hands on experience in research and gathering of critical information
• Proficiency with fundamental front-end languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Familiarity with JavaScript frameworks such as Angular JS, React, and Amber.
• Proficiency with server-side languages such as Python, Ruby, Java, PHP, and .Net.
• Proficiency with development of USSD and bulk SMS platforms.
• Familiarity with database technology such as MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL and MongoDB.
• Hands on experience in setting up and managing cloud technologies
• Proficiency with fundamental mobile development on platform such as android, IOS and Ionic.
• Good problem-solving skills.
  

Call For Expressions Of Interest - Vacancy Announcement

Job Posting

13/Mar/2023

Closure Date

27/Mar/2023, 6:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit

FRSSD

Job Type

Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition

Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level

N/A

Primary Location

Home-Based

Duration

6 moths with possibility of renewal

Post Number

N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality