Technical Expert for Mobile Applications

Background:

To address the large spectrum of gender inequality encompassing women’s empowerment, economic dimensions and gaps in fulfilment of women’s reproductive rights, UNFPA, UN WOMEN and UNICEF designed a joint programme - “Empowering and Protecting Pakistan’s Women, Youth, Girls and Boys for a Developed Tomorrow” (aka Aawaz II Programme). The Aawaz II Programme, funded by DFID, aims to promote the rights of children, women, youth, religious minorities, people with disabilities, and other excluded groups in Pakistan. The programme aims to enhance institutional capacities with effective policies, action plans and accountability mechanism for protection, promotion and realization of rights of marginalized groups; and strengthen evidence base for action.

Protection and response services are also under pressure. Punjab police responding to protection issues specially faced by women launched ‘Punjab Police Women Safety App’ to improve safety of women. Using women safety App during any emergency, women can get the services of Police Helpline 15, Rescue 1122, highway police and motorway police in just one click. The vision of Punjab Police is to make cities and public spaces safe for everyone especially women so they can participate in public life and benefit from economic opportunities. In this time of crisis, UNFPA Pakistan has also increased investment in online protection services and joined hands with Punjab police and Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) to upgrade the PSCA Women Safety Application that is a milestone for Punjab Police towards achieving the vision of safe cities for all especially for women. This smart app is an innovative solution to the challenges of mobility and violence women are facing every day.

As part of the technical support to Punjab Safe City Women Safety App UNFPA is seeking to hire technical expert to best performance and user experience of the Women Safety App by the user.

Purpose:

The technical expert will provide the necessary back up support to PSCA to ensure that the Women Safety App is functioning smoothly and the data received is properly analyzed and used for improving prevention and response services for gender based violence.

Scope of work:

• Understand business requirements and provide designs and software to meet business expectations;

• Developing new features and user interfaces from wireframe models;

• Ensuring the best performance and user experience of the application;

• Application coding, testing, debugging, documenting and monitoring;

• Recommending changes and enhancements to software applications;

• Monitor user feedback and generate ideas to patch or improve the

• Perform detailed quality testing of application;

• Optimizing conversion rates for app download pages by utilizing various content and visual tools;

• Monitoring and tracking app store rankings using the latest analytic tracking tools;

• Actively seek new programming knowledge;

• Demonstrate experience in marketing and on use of digital platforms; and

• Any other task assigned by employer in this regard.

Duration:

One month June 15, 2023 – May 14, 2024 (with a possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and successful programme delivery)

Place where services are to be delivered: The position is based in Lahore to support Punjab Safe City Authority, Lahore.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: The expected deliverables will be approved by Deputy Representative UNFPA

The consultant to prepare a monthly progress report and to submit PSCA and PSCA will submit approved report to UNFPA.

The UNFPA will process the payment upon submission of claim based on the services / deliverables.

Supervisory arrangements: The Individual Consultant on GBV, will report to Program Analyst Gender S/he will maintain close coordination with Gender team.

Expected travel: Islamabad and provinces as needed.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements: JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advance degree of computer sciences with mobile application development.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in mobile application development both Apple iOS and android platform;

• Knowledge and some experience of relational databases like MS-SQL;

• Knowledge and experience of writing APIs;

• Application coding, testing, debugging, documenting and monitoring;

• A good knowledge in programming languages such as JAVA, XML, C++ etc.;

• Proven knowledge of mobile platforms and technologies;

• Ability to work autonomously and in a self-directed manner;

• A strong ability in communication skills;

• Experience in capacity building, coaching and mentoring in digital marketing

• A good understanding of the media landscape in Punjab Pakistan, especially similar activities with online marketing of apps in Pakistan;

• Detail oriented, and multitasker.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g., support services, office space, equipment), if applicable: Individual Consultant on GBV will use own computer; office space and logistical support for events and meetings will be provided by PSCA, Lahore.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Urdu is required.