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Introduction

Name of Service: National Consultant - ICT Expert for LEAP Project

Country: LAOS  

Period of assignment/services: 387 working days.

 

Description of the Assignment: 

Under the guidance of the UNDP Governance Unit, the ICT Expert will be responsible for:

•      Providing inputs toward the deliverables outlined below

•      Providing interpretation and translation between Lao and English during meetings and as required.

The ICT expert is expected to produce the following outputs: 

Task 1: Smart ODSC Digital Platform Development Oversight

·       Collaborate with the software development company to lead the design and validation of the Smart ODSC platform’s system architecture, workflows, wireframes, and mockups.

·       Oversee development of all platform components: citizen-facing web portal, mobile application, government staff dashboard, and administrative backend system.

·       Ensure the platform is user-friendly, scalable, secure, and aligned with project objectives and government ICT standards.

·       Develop technical design documents and vendor deliverables to ensure quality and performance benchmarks are met.

·       Define and document functional and technical requirements in collaboration with users, stakeholders, and developers.

·       Coordinate platform development timelines and ensure delivery is in line with the project implementation schedule.

·       Support the creation and refinement of platform features based on initial user feedback, usability testing, and real-world application.

·       Ensure multilingual support and accessibility features are incorporated.

·       Monitor the performance of the various digital components and recommend enhancements to improve user experience and system efficiency.

·       Ensure that the platform is designed with sustainability in mind, enabling easy handover, ongoing maintenance, and future expansion by government counterparts.

Task 2: Cross-Ministry System Integration

• Coordinate integration of the Smart ODSC platform with existing government systems such as TaxRIS, EBRS, LaoLandReg, and eCRVS.
• Conduct technical assessments of application-programming interface (APIs), hosting infrastructure, and data flows across ministries.
• Serve as the main liaison with ICT departments of MoHA, MOIC, MONRE, MOF, and other relevant government agencies to ensure smooth technical coordination and interoperability.
• Ensure integration activities comply with national ICT standards and data security protocols.

Task 3: Training and Capacity Building Support

• Provide technical input into the design and delivery of digital-literacy and business-operations training for government staff, considering government specific workflows in their development.
• Review training content of the respective programmes to ensure technical accuracy and alignment with platform functions.
• Support the delivery of the respective trainings, both locally and regionally, where appropriate.
• Support the development of user guides, system administration manuals, and video-based e-learning materials.
• Help design and deploy learning materials and videos into a future government learning-management portal to facilitate ongoing staff training and knowledge retention in support of future-proofing efforts, as well as provide support for a train-the-trainer programme.

Task 4: Quality Assurance, Testing & Pilot

• Support software-development contractor with the development of quality assurance frameworks and testing protocols for system functionality, performance optimisation, security, and accessibility
• Oversee user acceptance testing (UAT), pilot implementations in selected provinces, and technical troubleshooting of the SMART ODSC software.
• Monitor system updates, compliance verification, and ensure that all changes are properly tested and documented for system optimisation.

Task 5: Software Deployment & System Optimisation

·       Oversee the staggered deployment of the SMART ODSC software nationwide.

·       Conduct integrated testing at a provincial, inter-provincial, and later country-wide scale and continue to troubleshoot technical problems based on service expansion.

·       Support system optimisation according to usage patterns, and user feedback.

Task 6: Vendor, Government, and Private Sector Engagement

• Participate in the procurement and technical evaluation of vendors for software development, ICT infrastructure, and training services.
• Monitor vendor performance and ensure deliverables meet contractual obligations and technical specifications, encompassing the distribution, installation, and maintenance of software and hardware
• Facilitate a durable knowledge transfer and technical handover processes to the government to ensure sustainability beyond vendor contracts, including the establishment of procedures for preventive maintenance, warranty management, and technical support across all sites
• Ensure that all vendor deliverables are transferred and documented and that capacity-building training programmes are maintained and brought into government ownership.
• Engage with public and private sector partners to explore collaboration opportunities for digital service delivery, infrastructure support, and system maintenance.

Task 7: ICT Infrastructure and Security Oversight

• Oversee the planning and setup of cloud infrastructure to ensure high availability, reliability, and scalability.
• Ensure robust implementation of cybersecurity measures, including encryption, access controls, and data protection protocols.
• Support the development of disaster recovery, backup systems, and business continuity planning.
• Monitor infrastructure performance and ensure compliance with national ICT security standards.

Task 8: Stakeholder Coordination and Technical Reporting

• Facilitate regular technical coordination meetings with government counterparts, project partners, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Address technical implementation challenges and provide expert guidance to ensure project objectives are met.
• Prepare and submit detailed technical reports, including system-design documentation, integration protocols, QA results, training updates, and equipment deployment reports.
• Serve as the focal point for all ICT-related implementation activities under the LEAP Project.

Task 9: Monitoring and Evaluation Support at Central and Provincial Level

·       Participate in provincial-level monitoring and evaluation (M&E) missions to assess the implementation and performance of digital systems under the LEAP Project.

·       Provide technical inputs during field visits to ensure that the Smart ODSC platform, ICT equipment, and digital services are functioning effectively in real-world settings.

·       Identify technical challenges, gaps in system usage, or areas requiring additional support or training at the local level.

·       Contribute to the development of sustainability strategies by assessing local capacity for system maintenance, user adoption, and service delivery.

·       Collaborate with provincial authorities and ODSC staff to collect feedback, document lessons learned and recommend technical improvements.

Proposal should be submitted directly in the portal no later than indicated deadline.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing via messaging functionality in the portal. UNDP will respond in writing including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry.

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Documents :

Negotiation Document(s) (Before Accessing other negotiations Document(s), please click on this link)