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, chance
Consultancy Title: IT Consultant for Website Technical Support and Optimization (National, Belarus)
Section/Division/Duty Station: Communication, Partnerships & ECD sections, UNICEF Belarus CO
Duration: November – December 2024 (about 2 months)
Home/ office Based: Remote / Home-based (visits to the office might be required)
About UNICEF
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and abuse. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
The purpose of this assignment is to hire an IT consultant to provide technical support and enhancements for the website that serves UNICEF’s SBC campaign “Просто дети в школе” and collects information on our ECI work. This resource is a critical communication tool created through a grant from the Russian Federation and mentioned in all current distributing materials, and donor reports. The website currently operates on an outdated software platform, posing significant risks to its stability, security, and overall functionality. It has experienced intermittent faults, indicating a need for immediate technical intervention. Additionally, the site uses an insecure protocol and lacks a user data collection notice, which is a legal requirement in Belarus.
Scope of Work:
1) Updating Software Platform (Client and Server):
2) Internal and External Optimization:
3) Compliance with Legislation of the Republic of Belarus:
4) Installation and Configuration of Website Analytics Systems:
5) Security Enhancements:
– Regular security scans.
– Regular backups and disaster recovery plans.
Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables / Delivery Deadline:
Work Assignment Overview | Deliverables/ Outputs | Delivery deadline |
Update the WordPress CMS from version 5.3.2 to 6.5.4, ensuring no disruption to website functionality or data integrity. Identify and assess all installed plugins for compatibility with the new CMS version, updating or replacing them as needed. Coordinate with the hosting provider to upgrade the PHP version to the latest supported version, ensuring it is tested thoroughly to maintain compatibility with existing features. | The WordPress CMS updated to the latest version, plugins assessed and updated or replaced as needed, and the PHP version upgraded and tested for compatibility. | 25.12.2024 |
Remove unnecessary files, data, and outdated content to improve website speed and efficiency. Configure and optimize caching solutions to enhance performance and reduce load times. Optimize CSS, JavaScript, and image files by minimizing and compressing them for faster load times and better responsiveness. Analyze and optimize factors affecting page load times, such as server response time, resource loading, and render-blocking elements. Conduct a thorough SEO audit, implementing best practices to improve search engine visibility. Optimize meta tags, headers, and content structure for better indexing and ranking. | Improved website speed, efficiency, and performance with optimized caching, minimized and compressed files, enhanced page load times, better search engine visibility, and optimized meta tags, headers, and content structure. | 25.12.2024 |
Develop and prominently display a clear notice about data collection practices in accordance with local legislation. Implement a mechanism to obtain user consent for data collection, ensuring it meets legal standards. Review and update the privacy policy to reflect current laws and data protection practices, making it easily accessible and understandable to users. Conduct an audit to identify and address any areas of non-compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus, making necessary adjustments to data handling practices, security measures, and user communication. | A prominently displayed notice about data collection practices with a user consent mechanism, an updated and accessible privacy policy reflecting current laws, and compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus through an audit and necessary adjustments to data handling, security measures, and user communication. | 25.12.2024 |
Set up Google Analytics and Yandex.Metrika to track behavioral factors, traffic sources, and key performance indicators. Implement tracking for key user actions to measure campaign effectiveness, ensuring accurate data collection. Configure automatic generation and distribution of comprehensive, easy-to-understand performance reports to relevant stakeholders. | Google Analytics and Yandex.Metrika set up to track behavioral factors, traffic sources, and key performance indicators; key user actions tracked for campaign effectiveness; and automatic generation and distribution of comprehensive, easy-to-understand performance reports to stakeholders. | 25.12.2024 |
Acquire and install an SSL certificate, enabling HTTPS for the entire site. Perform regular security scans to identify and address vulnerabilities. Set up regular backups and disaster recovery plans to protect data. Enhance security settings at both the server and CMS levels. | An SSL certificate installed with HTTPS enabled site-wide, regular security scans and vulnerability fixes, regular backups and disaster recovery plans, and enhanced security settings at both the server and CMS levels. Mechanism for site local back up implemented. | 1.12.2024 |
Travel (if required as per TOR): No travels required within this assignment
Qualifications
Education:
Work experience/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
Competencies:
Requirements:
Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
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:
Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.