UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to education

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will work under the supervision of the UNICEF, Programme Specialist (Social transfer) and under the overall oversight of the UNICEF Chief of Social Policy and Inclusion. UNICEF and the LEAP (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) Management Secretariat, of the MoGCSP (Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection), will provide regular technical support to the consultant and facilitate the engagement and collaboration with relevant MoGCSP directorates, social protection partners, and sector stakeholders.

The scope of this assignment is to provide tailored technical backstopping to the LEAP Management Secretariat over eleven-months throughout the LEAP reassessment period and enhance the capacity of the LEAP MIS staff to effectively utilize the LEAP MIS to ensure that no one is left behind as the LEAP database is transitioned to GNHR as part of the LEAP.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: External ToR TMC0006948.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:
An advanced university degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Data Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
Degrees in Statistics, Economics, or Data Analytics may be accepted where accompanied by substantial, demonstrable professional software-engineering and systems-integration experience.
Work Experience:
At least 10 years of experience in the design, development of large-scale Management Information Systems, computer programming and integration of complex data management systems.
Experience working with national social cash transfer programmes is an asset.
Professional qualification in software Development or computer science is an advantage
Demonstrated experience working closely with government partners and systems is required.
Excellent analytical, communication, facilitation and capacity building skills are required.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Skills:
Extensive experience (minimum 10 years preferred) in designing and developing production information systems.
Demonstrated experience delivering rolebased web MIS / transaction systems (preferably large-scale, multi-district or nationwide).
Proven experience with API integration, relational databases, secure authentication/authorisation, and operational deployment.
Demonstrated understanding of Social Protection systems (cash transfers, beneficiary registries, targeting/PMT, payment service providers, payroll/reconciliation, or closely related domains). Experience on comparable programmes in Ghana or the African region is a strong advantage.
Excellent facilitation, consultation and stakeholder coordination skills, including the ability to engage government agencies, Development Partners, and IFIs.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks within agreed timelines and produce high-quality deliverables.
Language Requirements: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required.
Desirables:
Solution architecture Experience designing modular, scalable, transaction-intensive information systems
Ability to produce architecture diagrams, data models, interface specifications, and deployment designs,Experience assessing and modernizing legacy systems
Software engineering Demonstrated experience delivering production web applications Version control, peer review, automated testing, and build/release practices Configuration and environment management,Maintainable and documented source code

Database and data engineering Relational data modelling and optimization. Data migration, quality validation, deduplication, and lineage.Handling high-volume batch processes, Transaction integrity and reconciliation
Systems integration RESTful APIs and secure batch exchanges,OAuth 2.0, mutual TLS, API keys, digital signatures, or equivalent authentication patterns,Asynchronous processing, webhooks, retries, idempotency, replay protection, and error queues,API and data-contract versioning

Cybersecurity and privacy Secure software-development lifecycle,Threat modelling,Role-based access and segregation of duties, Encryption, key and secrets management,Security testing and remediation,Privacy-by-design and protection of sensitive personal information

Digital payments Payment enrolment and KYC validation, Payroll or bulk-payment processing,Transaction-status management, Payment exception handling Financial reconciliation and audit controls Maker-checker approvals

Offline field systems Offline-first application architecture Local encrypted storage Synchronization, conflict resolution, and recovery, Device and user authentication, Low-bandwidth optimization

DevOps and production operations Automated deployment or controlled release practices, Environment separation. Monitoring, logging, alerting, backup, and recovery,Incident and problem management,Performance and capacity testing

Quality assurance Test planning and traceability,Unit, integration, regression, UAT, performance, and security testing,Defect prioritization and resolution, Production-readiness validation,
Knowledge transferTechnical documentation,Administrator and operator manuals, Training delivery,Coaching government counterpart teams, Structured handover and sustainability planning
Ability to engage government programme and ICT stakeholders.

Ability to document algorithms and financial controls clearly for non-software audiences.
Integrity and discretion when handling sensitive beneficiary data

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal template TMC0006948.docx
A detailed technical proposal
Applicants should submit a concise technical proposal demonstrating their understanding of the assignment and explaining how they will Support the Management Information System of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) in line with the TOR. The proposal should include:
1. Understanding of the assignment: including the purpose of the Support to the Management Information System of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), its alignment with international and national standards, and the expected outputs.
2. Proposed methodology and approach: including desk review, evidence synthesis, stakeholder consultations, validation processes, and preparation of decision-oriented deliverables.
3. Workplan and timeline; showing how the consultant will complete the assignment within the proposed timeframe and deliverable schedule.
4. Relevant experience and expertise: demonstrating experience in software development, Socialprotection landscape, stakeholder engagement, manual development, capacity building and strategic writing.
5. Maintenance support assurance approach: explaining how the consultant will ensure accuracy, support maintenance and handover system operation the LEAP MIS staff with timely incorporation of feedback

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

National Consultant to Support the Management Information System of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty with MoGCSP,11,months, Accra, remote, # 596430