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 fair chance
UNICEF has been an active partner of the Government of the Philippines and civil society in realizing the rights of every Filipino child, in line with priorities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. UNICEF efforts have been focused on the most vulnerable regions identified by the Government of the Philippines Development Plan, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. To ensure that interventions are sustainable and scaled up, UNICEF will support primarily local government units (LGUs) as the main instruments of delivering services and building systems. The level of engagement with government institutions will take into account capacities, economies of scale and sector issues.
It has a field office in Cotabato City, the second largest city in Mindanao, southern Philippines, with some 300,000 population. The city is the regional administrative centre of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and over 80 percent of the population is Muslim. Mindanao is both conflict-affected and prone to frequent earthquakes and typhoon storms.
Visit this link for more information on Philippine Country Office: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/
Scope of Work:
The consultant will be responsible for the end-to-end digitization and deployment of the enhanced mapping of children tool, including platform design, testing, documentation, and capacity building.
Specifically, the consultant is expected to:
- Review further the excel-based child mapping tool which has been harmonized and expanded by UNICEF. Conduct a technical and functional review of the harmonized and enhanced child mapping tool and associated processes and tools used by DepEd and LGUs (DILG’s RBI, DepEd’s Learners Information System, ECCD Council’s ECCD Information System). Consult with key stakeholders at national and subnational levels to gather insights and user requirements.
- Design and digitize the harmonized and enhanced child mapping tool. Convert the tool into a digital form using appropriate technology (e.g., mobile-friendly forms, survey platform, or custom web interface). Incorporate features such as validation rules, skip logic, and user access levels where relevant. Ensure that the data outputs are in formats compatible with the DILG’s Registry of Barangay Inhabitants (RBI), allowing for future integration.
- Develop or configure a digital platform for data collection and storage. Set up a secure, user-friendly platform that enables online and offline data entry. Ensure data can be accessed and aggregated across key administrative levels. Include basic user and data management functionalities.
- Conduct testing and refinement of the digital tool. Facilitate testing sessions with users (child development workers and teachers. Iterate based on feedback to improve usability and functionality.
- Support data analysis and dashboard development. Develop templates for summary data views and basic visual dashboards. Ensure compatibility with tools commonly used by LGUs, ECCD Council and DepEd (e.g., Excel, Power BI).; ‘
- Develop a data management plan. Recommend protocols for data storage, access, validation, and privacy in alignment with government and UNICEF data responsibility standards. Include metadata definitions and backup protocols.
- Support the Phase 1 implementation of the digitized tool in 21 barangays across 7 municipalities (3 in Northern Samar and 4 in Zamboanga del Norte) modelling the ECE and Primary Education LINK. This phase will serve as the prototype modelling of the digitized tool to test usability, data flow, and platform performance. Based on the results of the prototype modelling, the tool and database management system will be refined for use in second round of data collection in February-March 2026. The refined tool and database should allow for decentralized database management by Municipal/City LGUs, even in the absence of integration with DILG’s Registry of Barangay Inhabitants (RBI).
- Build the capacity of LGU and DepEd users. Provide training sessions and develop user manuals or quick guides. Provide troubleshooting and technical support during initial implementation.
- Recommend the next steps for medium-term integration, scale-up and sustainability measures by the government (within the next 3-5 years). Provide technical advice on potential integration with DILG’s Registry of Barangay Inhabitants, CBMS and other government information system/ platforms. Suggest sustainability measures for hosting, maintenance, and governance.
- Prepare detailed plan, progress reports and documentation. Develop a detailed project plan with timelines, milestones, and deliverables. Regularly update UNICEF on progress and any potential issues. Prepare reports and documentation of methodologies, code used for data collection, visualization and storing data. Provide recommendations based on the data insights to inform decision-making. Include source code, API documentation (if applicable).
Tasks:
- Inception Report - workplan with timeline, methodology, and stakeholder engagement strategy; summary of the consultant’s understanding of the current tool and digitization objectives.
- Harmonized, enhanced and digitized Child Mapping Tool - draft and final paper-based harmonized and enhanced tool; functional digital version of the harmonized and enhanced tool with built-in data validation, skip logic (if applicable), and user access control field tested and revised.
- Data Collection and Storage Platform - working digital platform for data entry (offline and online); storage of data that can be aggregated across key administrative levels and are accessible to LGUs and DepEd personnel; basic user and management functionalities
- Data Management Plan – aligned with the government and UNICEF privacy and responsibility standards, recommend protocols for data collection, storage, validation, access control, and archiving, and recommendations on metadata definition, standards, back-up protocols and interoperability
- Training Materials and Capacity-Building Sessions - training deck and user manuals or quick guides tailored for enumerators, data managers and planners and decision-makers; documentation of training sessions conducted (e.g., attendance, feedback).
- Monitoring and provision of technical support during data collection
- Basic Data Analysis Templates and Dashboards - pre-built templates or dashboards showing summary data, e.g., by school, barangay, grade level. exportable data formats compatible with existing DepEd reporting systems (e.g., Excel.
- Test Report and Revised Version - Documentation of results from pilot testing with feedback from users; finalized and refined version of the digital tool and platform, incorporating user feedback.
- Training on the revised version of the digital tool and database platform
- Monitoring and provision of technical support in second round of data collection using the revised version of the tool.
- Final Version of Digitized Tool and database platform and Final Technical Report – final version of the digitized tool and database platform based on results of second round of data collection and report on summary of all activities, results, challenges, and recommendations for scale-up and integration with other systems, e.g., DILG RBI; includes copies of all key tools, templates, and source files.
Deliverables:
- Draft and final Inception Report
- Paper-based harmonized and enhanced child mapping tool (draft and final versions)
- Digitized child mapping tool – for field testing and revised tool based on results of field testing
- Data collection and storage platform
- Data management plan
- Training materials for enumerators, data managers and users such as planners and decision-makers
- User Manual or quick guides for enumerators, data managers and planners and decision-makers
- Training Reports (documentation of training conducted for enumerators, data managers and decision-makers, attendance, feedback)
- Report on monitoring of the digitized tool implementation and technical assistance provided to LGUs
- Basic Data Analysis and Dashboards based on results of data collection in August
- Report on Prototype Modelling
- Refined version of the digital tool and platform
- Refined User Manual and training materials
- Training Report
- Monitoring and TA report
- Final version of the digitized tools and databased platform for roll-out to all barangays in Northern Samar and Zamboanga del Norte and other provinces in regions 8 and 9
- Final Technical Report
Qualifications and Competencies of Successful Consultant:
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Science, Education Technology, or related field.
Experience:
- Proven at least 5 years’ experience in digitizing survey tools or data collection systems, preferably in the education or public sector. Demonstrated ability to develop user-friendly digital platforms or applications for field-based users. Experience with data analysis and visualization, including dashboards and summary reports. Prior work with government or multilateral organizations, ideally within the Philippine education context, is an advantage.
Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in digital form and platform development (e.g., web-based tools, mobile-responsive forms, offline capabilities). Strong understanding of data management standards, data validation, and privacy protocols. Ability to design visual outputs for non-technical audiences (e.g., dashboards, summary tables).
Soft Skills:
- Strong communication and coordination skills, especially when working with government stakeholders. Capacity to deliver on schedule and iterate based on user feedback. Attention to detail, responsiveness, and adaptability.
Desirable:
- Familiarity with government systems, policies, and workflows (LGUs, DILG, ECCD Council, DepEd). Knowledge of or experience with open-source platforms and digital public goods. Understanding of interoperability standards or government registries (e.g., DILG’s RBI).
Submission of Relevant Work:
- Applicants must submit samples of previous work (e.g., digital tools, platforms, dashboards, or related documentation) that demonstrate their qualifications and suitability for this engagement.
HOW TO APPLY
Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 02 July 2025. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number: 581163 will be considered.
All candidates are requested to submit a COVER LETTER, and the duly filled P11 Form which can be downloaded from our website at P11 Form.docx (sharepoint.com) indicating three (3) previous supervisors. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate and area to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted.
Remarks:
Terms of reference may be shared upon request.
By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.
"UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles."
