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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.

Background: UNICEF is collaborating with the Ministry of Health in Iraq on public financing for primary health care to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity during budgeting and financing of the maternal and child public health interventions.

To facilitate this process, UNICEF seeks the services of a national consultant to provide the required technical support to MoH in health financing including for social health insurance scale up, evidence generation for normative cost analysis of the maternal and child healthcare, capacity enhancement pubic finance management with a future prospective of institutionalization, and conduct budget analysis for the primary and secondary maternal and child healthcare to inform equitable allocation of the public health funds at the subnational level.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to implement the significant updates and new feature implementations for the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) application for the Birth Registration Component. This includes enhancing workflow efficiency, strengthening security, improving the user interface, and boosting overall system performance. This consultancy will help transform the current application into a highly secure, performant, and user-centric platform that meets the evolving needs of stakeholders involved in digital CRVS rollout.:

Scope of Work:

The Health and Nutrition section in UNICEF has been supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Iraq with digital transformation of various health platforms including CRVS and iSCM. One significant component of this transformation is the enhancement of the CRVS (Civil Registration and Vital Statistics) application, which is central to the digitalization of birth registration processes in Iraq. This system plays a critical role in ensuring that children and their caregivers are provided with legal recognition and the realization of universal birth registration. Also, the CRVS application is vital in enhancing immunization coverage by ensuring that all children, especially zero-dose children—those who have not received any vaccinations—are accurately identified and included in immunization programs. By streamlining birth registration and linking it to health services, this initiative facilitates quality improvement in addition to health system strengthening.

The Software Development Specialist consultant will be integral to the successful enhancement and maintenance of the CRVS and related systems. The consultant will be based at the Ministry of Health and responsible for providing ongoing technical support, performing in-depth system analyses, addressing any software issues, and ensuring that all enhancements align with the broader goals of the Ministry of Health and UNICEF’s digital transformation strategy.

Objective of this assignment is to enhance the functionality, performance, and security of the CRVS and iSCM by conducting comprehensive analyses, implementing strategic improvements, and providing technical support to ensure long-term sustainability.

 

Activities and Tasks:

The consultant will work closely with MoH technical digital team under the supervision of UNICEF team to achieve the below:

1. Analysis of Existing Application, Data, and System Design:

• Comprehensive Application Review: Conduct an in-depth analysis of the current application, identifying areas of concern related to performance, security, user experience, and scalability. This review will include code quality assessment, architectural evaluation, and dependency analysis.

• Data Analysis and Integrity Check: Examine the existing data structures, relationships, and integrity constraints to identify any inconsistencies, redundancies, or inefficiencies. This will also involve assessing data migration requirements and ensuring compatibility with the proposed system changes.

• System Design Assessment: Review the current system design to identify any architectural flaws, bottlenecks, or areas that require redesign. This assessment will inform the refactoring and restructuring efforts needed to meet future scalability and performance goals.

• Data Migration: Implement a comprehensive strategy for migrating data, including the refactoring of data models to ensure the new system contains all data.

• User Data Transfer: Migrate existing user roles and permissions to the enhanced application without disruption.

2. Workflow and Authorization Improvements:

• Improve Workflow: Enhance the application's general workflow for seamless transitions between state changes.

• Improve Authorization: Strengthen authorization mechanisms to ensure secure access management.

• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Integrate and enhance MFA, improve workflow, UI, and restructure the database.

3. Birth Records Management:

• Data Model Refactoring: Refactor the existing data models for Birth Certificates, Birth Hoja, and Birth Qayds to establish a normalized database schema. Implement relational integrity with foreign keys, constraints, and indexes to optimize query performance and data integrity.

• UI/UX Overhaul: Redesign the user interface with a focus on enhancing usability and accessibility. This will involve implementing responsive design principles, improving form validation, and adding context-aware help features to guide users through complex data entry processes.

• API Integration: Develop RESTful APIs to expose Birth Records functionalities for integration with external systems, ensuring compliance with REST principles and using OpenAPI specifications for documentation.a Integrity: conduct rigorous checks to maintain consistency during migration

4. Certificates Ledger:

• New UI Implementation: Develop a sophisticated UI for managing certificates that aligns with business logic and operational requirements. The UI will support advanced filtering, sorting, and bulk operations, with an emphasis on enhancing user productivity.

5. User Permissions Management:

• Advanced Permission Engine: Build a granular permissions engine that supports dynamic role definitions, hierarchical roles, and permission inheritance. The engine will include audit logging to track permission changes and their impact on user access.

• Delegated Administration: Implement features that allow designated users to manage permissions for specific groups or departments, reducing the administrative burden on central IT teams.

6. Health Institutions Management:

• Comprehensive Institutions Management UI: Develop a robust UI for managing health institution data, including hierarchical data structures, user associations, and certificate management. The UI will support bulk imports, exports, and synchronization with external systems.

• Data Governance Framework: Establish a data governance framework to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and security of health institution data across the system.

7. Advanced Search Functionality:

• Unified Search Interface: Implement a unified search interface that allows users to search across Birth Certificates, Birth Hoja, and Birth Qayds using advanced search algorithms.

• Matching and NLP Integration: Incorporate matching techniques and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to support approximate string matching, enhancing the search experience for users with incomplete or imprecise queries.

• Search Analytics: Implement search analytics to monitor search patterns, identify frequently searched terms, and optimize search algorithms accordingly.

8. Logs, Tracing, and Matrices / Performance Monitoring:

• Comprehensive Observability Stack: Deploy a comprehensive observability stack using advanced monitoring tools such as Grafana, Kibana, and Prometheus. This will involve setting up metrics collection, distributed tracing, and log aggregation to provide deep insights into system health and performance.

• Anomaly Detection and Alerts: Integrate machine learning-based anomaly detection for proactive identification of performance bottlenecks and security threats. Configure automated alerts for critical events, enabling rapid response to potential issues.

• Custom Dashboards: Create custom dashboards for different stakeholders, allowing real-time monitoring of system performance, user activity, and resource utilization.

9. API Ready Data Sources:

• API Gateway Implementation: Implement an API Gateway to manage and secure access to data sources, providing a unified entry point for all API requests. The gateway will include features like rate limiting, caching, and API versioning.

• Data Enrichment and Transformation: Develop middleware for data enrichment and transformation to ensure that API responses are optimized for client consumption, including format conversions and calculated fields.

10. System Settings Enhancements:

• Dynamic System Configuration: Build a dynamic configuration system that allows administrators to modify system settings, including catchment area definitions, health institution parameters, and authorization rules, without requiring code changes.

• Automated Configuration Management: Implement automated tools for configuration management, ensuring consistent deployment of settings across different environments.

11. Accessibility and UX Improvements:

• WCAG Compliance: Ensure that the application meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards, providing equal access to users with disabilities. This will involve implementing screen reader support, keyboard navigation, and high-contrast themes.

• User-Centered Design: Adopt a user-centered design approach, involving stakeholders in the design process through wireframes, prototypes, and usability testing.

• On-Screen Guide: Develop an interactive on-screen guide that provides contextual help and step-by-step instructions for data entry, reducing the learning curve for new users.

12. Configurations and Performance Optimization:

• Modular Configuration Framework: Implement a modular configuration framework that allows for the seamless addition or removal of features, making the application highly adaptable to changing business needs.

• Multi-layer Caching Strategy: Design and implement a multi-layer caching strategy to optimize performance, including in-memory caching, distributed caching, and client-side caching techniques.

13. Catchment Area Management:

• Geospatial Data Integration: Integrate advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support the management of catchment areas, including the visualization of geographic boundaries and the analysis of spatial data.

• Administrative Tools: Develop administrative tools for managing catchment area data, including tools for importing/exporting geospatial data, and automating updates based on population changes or policy adjustments.

14. QR Code Integration:

• Custom QR Code Generation: Implement a module for generating custom QR codes for various application features, such as certificate verification, user authentication, and data retrieval.

• Security Measures: Ensure that QR code functionalities are secured with encryption and access controls to prevent unauthorized use.

15. Security and Compliance:

• Comprehensive Security Audit: Conduct a thorough security audit based on OWASP Web Application Security Standards. Provide a detailed report to UNICEF, outlining vulnerabilities and recommended remediation steps.

• Attachment Management System: Develop a secure attachment management system that handles IDs and documents with features like file encryption, permission-based access, audit trails, and secure upload/download protocols.

16. Mini Messaging System

• User-to-Administrator Messaging: Implement an internal messaging system that allows users to communicate directly with system administrators and those responsible for managing the application.

• Real-Time Notifications: Enable real-time notifications for both users and administrators when new messages are sent or received.

Summary of Tasks/Milestone, Deliverables and estimated duration:

 

Task/Milestone	Deliverable/Outcome	Estimated # of Days
Comprehensive System Analysis Report	Conduct a thorough analysis of the CRVS application and related systems. • Assess architecture, codebase, and documentation. • Identify areas for improvement and potential vulnerabilities.	10 days commencing from the contract signing date
Implementation of System Enhancements	Implement the identified system enhancements, focusing on workflow efficiency, security, user interface, and performance improvements. • Re-architect key components as needed. • Integrate advanced monitoring solutions. • Address complex workflows to ensure system robustness and scalability.	Full implementation in 3 months, with ongoing adjustments throughout the year
Establishment of Monitoring and Maintenance Procedures	Develop and document comprehensive procedures for ongoing system monitoring and maintenance. • Integrate tools such as Grafana, Kibana, and Prometheus for real-time monitoring and alerting. • Ensure the procedures align with best practices and support long-term sustainability.	Procedures to be finalized by month 6, with ongoing updates as necessary
Embedded Capacity Building During Development	Engaging technical team member/s during development by actively participating in the development process, acquiring skills and knowledge through hands-on involvement and real-time collaboration with the project team	During the implementation phase (3 months)
Regular Progress Reports	Prepare and submit detailed progress reports every quarter. • Summarize system performance metrics, enhancement progress, and issues addressed. • Highlight key milestones achieved and any deviations from the plan. • Provide actionable recommendations for continuous improvement.	Comprehensive reports to be submitted every 3months
Final Comprehensive Report	Compile all findings, enhancements, and outcomes into a final comprehensive report. • Include a summary of the project's impact on the CRVS system and related platforms. • Provide strategic recommendations for future improvements and long-term maintenance. • Present the report to stakeholders for review and feedback.	To be delivered by the end of the 12 months
Ongoing post- Implementation support	Continuous monitoring of system performance, including load testing, security assessments, and identifying any post-deployment issues • Explain the code: transferring knowledge to the internal development team, ensuring they can maintain and further develop the system independently. • Ongoing identification, prioritization, and resolution of system bugs. Implementation of small changes and enhancements requested by stakeholders post-implementation. • Ensure the continued Operation of the current version application during the development of the new version. • Provide support and critical fixes to the current version application to ensure the smooth operation.	9 months, commencing after implementation phase

 

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

Education

• A University degree in Information Technology or related technology field.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Minimum 7 years of extensive experience in software
  development and system analysis
• Extensive experience with programming languages and frameworks, including C#, ASP.NET Core (latest versions), TypeScript, Next.js, CSS, and HTML.
• Proficiency in managing and optimizing databases, particularly MSSQL.
• Proficient in using Power BI for business analytics and reporting, including the integration of geographic maps for advanced data visualization.
• Hands-on experience with real-time system monitoring and alerting using tools such as Grafana, Kibana, and Prometheus.
• Skilled in managing web hosting environments, including experience with Windows Server, IIS, and nginx.
• Competence in designing responsive user interfaces using Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap.
• Familiarity with implementing visualization tools and managing codebases and visual assets using version control systems like Git.
• Experience in ensuring secure communication across services by implementing SSL/TLS certificates.
• Ability to efficiently manage cloud resources using cloud management platforms, ensuring scalability and cost-effectiveness.

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.