POST:Programme Associate

APCICT-ESCAP
Location: Incheon, Republic of Korea
Last Date: January 26, 2010
Email: nipha@unapcict.org

VA Number: 10-002-APCICT-SSA-INCHEON (KOREA)
Title: Programme Associate (Consultant)
Duration: 6 months (renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funds
availability)
Deadline for Applications: 26 January 2010
Date of Issuance: 11 January 2010
Organizational Unit: Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication
Technology for Development (APCICT-ESCAP)
Duty Station: Incheon, Republic of Korea

BACKGROUND:
In order to fill the existing gap, the Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT) developed and launched (on 16 June 2008) a flagship initiative entitled ‘Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders’ (Academy) comprising 8 specific modules, which are based on a well-structured Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) curriculum framework that begins with ICT basics and builds up to more advanced ICT4D topics in a coherent pedagogical manner.

Via this programme, APCICT aims to equip policy makers and government leaders at the central, provincial and local levels with the knowledge and skills they need to fully leverage opportunities presented by ICTs to achieve national development goals. The Academy is also targeted at managers in the public sector seeking to employ ICT tools for project management and ICT trainers and educators in public ICT training institutes.

APCICT has entered into agreements with several government agencies, international organizations and academic institutions following which the Academy has been rolled out in a number of countries and subregions. It is planned to continue to expand the programme and initiate more regional, sub-regional and national roll outs in the coming days.

APCICT has also developed and launched (in June 2009) an online version of the Academy as a distance learning platform entitled APCICT Virtual Academy (AVA) that is bringing the content of the Academy to a wider audience in the region. AVA is intended to be expanded significantly in the near future. Moreover, APCICT has created an online knowledge sharing platform called e-Collaborative Hub (e-Co Hub) to enable greater interaction and peer-learning on a range of topics relating to ICT4D.

PURPOSE:
The roll out of the Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders training programme at the national and sub-regional levels, and its online version AVA, aims to ensure the following:

• Provide a comprehensive ICT training programme catered to policy makers and government leaders while ensuring the content will be mostly non-technical in nature and localized to domestic needs and realities,
• Develop the content in an extensible modular design (including its periodic updation) to maximize flexibility to meet the needs of context-specific learning situations based on organizational mandates and existing skills and capacities of available human resources within partnering organizations,
• Ensure wide coverage and outreach of AVA by ensuring the course materials are developed as open courseware and encourage the development of local content by national partners to be made available on AVA, and
• Encourage South-South cooperation by promoting the utilization of the developed open courseware for ICT sensitization and training of policy makers and government officials in other developing regions, including Africa and Latin America.

In line with this, APCICT seeks to engage a consultant to provide substantive support to the overall planning, implementation and localization of the Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders training programme at the national and sub-regional levels, as assigned by the Director of APCICT.

The consultancy is expected to last for 6 months (renewable), starting as soon as possible.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the overall supervision of the Director of APCICT, the consultant is responsible for the following duties:
1. Analyze and keep abreast of the latest developments and trends of information and communications technology (ICT) for capacity building; identify and propose specific activities and related resource requirement to meet specific country needs.
2. Provide substantive support to the implementation and national roll out of the Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders, in collaboration with the relevant national and subregional training institutions and other partner organizations within the Asia Pacific region, and incorporate appropriate and relevant monitoring and evaluation methodologies on the roll out of each Academy with each partnering institution.
3. Foster cooperation between national focal points, partner institutions, universities, research institutions in the development of ICT for human capacity building training programmes and exchange/disseminate best practices.
4. Prepare, organize and implement national, sub-regional, and regional workshops, training courses and carry out eventual follow-up activities. When appropriate, prepare and deliver presentations at the workshops/trainings.
5. Provide substantive support for the preparation of project profiles and documents and assist in the implementation of those projects. Also, plan and implement meetings and conferences, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of background documents and presentations, and handling logistics.
6. Provide substantive support to the management of APCICT’s online distance learning platform, AVA, and knowledge sharing platforms like e-Co Hub.
7. Performs such other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS: Keen understanding of technical aspects of ICT for Development issues; project management skills, strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy and tact to effectively communicate with senior level officials, multiple stakeholders and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

EDUCATION: Minimum of university degree in political science, public administration, social sciences, human resource management, or related fields.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 4 years of experience in training, human resource development, or management of development projects, preferably acquired in ICT-related organizations, universities, or
recognized private agencies. Technical knowledge of and experience with a wide variety of ICT for Development issues at policy or institutional levels is desirable.

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Ability to manage multiple issues and tasks in a complex organizational environment and to re-prioritize actions
on short notice; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; - Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with clients and partners; Demonstrates ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines; Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment in the spirit of collaborating and cooperating with others.

LANGUAGES: Fluency in oral and written English.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). English and French are the two official working languages of the United Nations.

External applicants must submit a detailed personal history form using the United Nations Personal History Form (P.11) available at the United Nations offices or the UNESCAP internet website: www.unescap.org/jobs, together with a copy each of any academic achievement certificate/diploma/degree.

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications (P.11 form) reference to VA No: 10-002-APCICT-SSA-INCHEON (KOREA), by deadline and email to nipha@unapcict.org. Only shortlisted
candidates will be contacted. The deadline for submission is COB 26 January 2010.