Location: Home based
Deadline: Wednesday, 07 August 2013
Description
SENIOR EXPERT(S) TO LEAD AND DEVELOP THE WIDE ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE OF THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM IN IRAQ
Location : Home based
Application Deadline : 07-Aug-13
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 15-Aug-2013
Duration of Initial Contract : 4 months
Expected Duration of Assignment : 4 months
Background
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a system for creating, storing, sharing, analyzing, manipulating and displaying spatial data and associated attributes. It can be used for creating or capturing and viewing geographic information from various sources in digital form. Geographic Information Systems are used in a wide variety of tasks such as public services management, urban planning, infrastructure management, resource management, environmental impact assessment, emergency response planning. Although these seem to be relatively independent and different areas a common feature of almost all GIS use cases is the need for the system to relate information from different sources for better decision making.
GIS can be a major differentiator for decision-making at all levels of governance and nation building - be it in government, in enterprises or by citizens; be it central, state or local-body levels or be it for long-term planning or for immediate decisions. In fact, GIS must be able address all the hierarchical levels - national, local level and then going down to district level and so on, also covering all government, enterprise and citizen needs.
In Iraq, the concept of a Geographic Information System (GIS) was introduced not less than 10 year ago. On an independent basis, many public institutions, local governments, began to carry out GIS projects. In spite of fairly wide usage of GIS as a technology in Iraq, the potential of GIS has not reached where it can make a major impact -for governance, decision-makers, citizens and many others. Addition to that, with multiple GIS projects being conducted by separate institutions, problems arose such as duplicated data implementation, lack of integrity, compatibility and quality deterioration.
Ultimately, it became evident that well-structured management and planned integration is required to formulate a wide national standards and integrated architecture design for the diverse applications and efforts to:
- Construct and achieve a complete national geospatial data cycle with integrated work and data flow processes
- Enhancing data quality and interoperability;
- Accommodate the diverse needs of an institution, including those of data providers, data managers, GIS users, and customers;
- Maximize system accessibility, and share key spatial data resources that are well maintained;
- Provide access to GIS technology that is efficient, and easy to use.
- Strengthen public organisations capacity and improve institutional effectiveness and efficiency while enhancing productivity and realizing cost savings;
- Improve quality of decision-making at all levels that can satisfy society and improve life quality at all levels.
It's worth to mentioned that, the government of Iraq has defining Government Interoperability and National Enterprise Architecture as one of the key priority projects of e-governance program to realize Iraq's e-Governance vision of harnessing ICT tools to improve basic services to all and to promote all-round good governance, including increased public participation, better social equity and justice as well as a general enhancement of the transparency and effectiveness of public institutions in order to build the necessary platform for a competitive, robust and knowledge-based economy.
A key player for coordinating and working on e-Governance program in Iraq at the federal level is the national e-Governance steering committee. The national e-Governance steering committee- that established by the cabinet order no 46 on February 2009- is chaired by the minister of science and technology and is widely represented by the federal ministries and organisations. Iraq has also created a Strategic Coordination Team, which assembles representatives from all provinces to coordinate e-Governance program at the local level.
Since then Iraq has managed to achieve a comparably good state of e-governance through several further activities, such as the launching of the Iraqi e-Governance Iraq one stop window containing informational and interactive online services ( www.egov.gov.iq), Conducting of a vast Training-of-Trainers program on e-governance which strengthened the capacity of e-governance all over Iraq and resulted in the training of 10,000 professionals.
The Iraqi government has been successful in developing and launching the necessary Government Interoperability Framework and National Enterprise Architecture (GIF/NEA). Iraqi GIF/NEA is a set of policies, guidelines and standards of information and communication technology, which ensures sharing and integration of information and services among the governmental institutions from one side, and between citizens and the business sector and national and global organizations from the other side. The GIF addresses technical, semantic interoperability policies and specifications. The NEA addresses high level nation-level architecture that helps connect public administration information systems across Iraq and facilitates the interoperability of e-services for citizen. This GIF/NEA is based on open standards. The categorization of the standards in this GIF/NEA is based on international best practices.
The objectives of the government's modernisation programme are to improve the service to citizens and business, and at the same time increase the efficiency of public administration, increase returns of ICT investments and enhance the culture of sharing information.
In order to promote the development of a national enterprise architecture, the developed GIF/NEA principles includes:
- Ensure the sustainability of flow of information and data among federal government institutions , local communities and citizens;
- Ensure the use and adaptation of applications and their responses to changing requirements and demand.
- Commitment to develop the necessary standards and contexts that facilitate re-use of data structures and related electronic services;
- Adopt open standards wherever possible in the development of technical specifications to encourage competition of all the sectors;
- Adopt proprietary standards, which are acceptable and approved, supported by major specialized information technology and communications companies;
- Ensure the secure exchange of information and data in accordance with security standards adopted to prevent any penetration, interception or modification;
- Ensure privacy of data and information related to citizens, government institutions and the business sector, in accordance with the Constitution and the laws in force and the imposition of limitations on legal access to information or publication;
- Leverage public-private partnerships to reduce cost, time and effort and to maximize effectiveness and efficiency by combining expertise and experiences in both government and the private sector.
Moving forward, the Iraqi GIF/NEA programme implementation and execution is in the planning phase, GIF/NEA is the strategy that Iraqi government is increasingly looking towards to be used by public organisations.
This year, through another assignment under e-governance project, UNDP will assist Government of Iraq to set the general national enterprise architecture guidelines that define standards and policies to be followed by all government entities in the Iraq.
The government of Iraq decided to follow the industry standard TOGAF for developing the government national enterprise architecture at the same time the Iraqi vision of e-services has been realised through the application of web-service based technology, resulting in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).
Through this assignment, UNDP will assist government of Iraq to lead the development of integrated enterprise geographic information system and standard guidelines at national, enterprise and local government level.
Duties and Responsibilities
Through this assignment, UNDP will assist government of Iraq to lead the development of integrated enterprise geographic information system and develop of the enterprise architecture geographic information system standard guidelines at national, enterprise and local government level.
The government of Iraq decided to follow the industry standard TOGAF for developing the government national enterprise architecture at the same time the Iraqi vision of e-services has been realised through the application of web-service based technology, resulting in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).Taking into account the importance of this event, UNDP is seeking to engage a short term senior specialist(s) with strong experience in enterprise GIS strategy, planning and implementation.
At the core of developing a vision, the government of Iraq strategic goals typically includes the following: Construct and achieve a complete national geospatial data cycle with integrated work and data flow processes:
- Enhancing data quality and interoperability;
- Accommodate the diverse needs of an institution, including those of data providers, data managers, GIS users, and customers;
- Maximize system accessibility, and share key spatial data resources that are well maintained;
- Provide access to GIS technology that is efficient, and easy to use;
- Strengthen public organisations capacity and improve institutional effectiveness and efficiency while enhancing productivity and realizing cost savings.
- Improve quality of decision-making at all levels that can satisfy society and improve life quality at all levels.
The professional senior e-governance enterprise GIS specialists is required to work in close consultation with Government of Iraq counterparts and the UNDP governance team; the specialists will perform the following all tasks or partially tasks related to the specific deliverables assigned to him/here:
Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of needs:
Within the framework of the above strategic goals, the selected consultants should be guide and conduct the needs assessment process.
In this respect, the consultant is request to facilitate a preparatory meeting scheduled to take place in Amman from 25-28 August 2013. The senior expert is requested to provide an overview of the enterprise GIS, critical issues that need to address, and contribute in illustrating of best practices techniques; standards and general guidelines based on international experiences in successfully designing and developing enterprise GIS. During the meeting a survey questionnaire with the direction on how to conduct the survey need to be developed and presented on the meeting to be collected by the Iraqi stakeholders in two weeks after the meeting.
The filled questionnaires will be used by the consultant to perform the comprehensive evaluation of needs and gap analysis, the assessment should evaluate:
Data Base: Iraqi existing GIS databases by reviewing all native GIS layers, GIS-enabled spatial databases, associated location-based databases. The criteria for reviewing the existing GIS data should include completeness and coverage of the data, accuracy and integrity, organisational requirements, intradepartmental requirements, and strictly departmental requirements.
Data resources: reviewing existing geospatial data resources in terms of data completeness, quality, documentation with metadata, data management and secure (through tracking, backup, change control, and archiving) and protected from unauthorized access or modification. As well as efficient process for updates and acquisition of new data.
Workflow processes: reviewing workflow procedures to ensure efficient, standardized means to manage and deliver data.
Personnel resources: Evaluating personnel should include skills, abilities, educational attainment, as well as experience with GIS, databases, and information systems of the current staff to see how these resources align with the goals of an enterprise GIS. A review of existing and potential job descriptions, and the training requirements for the potential implementation should also be included.
Computational resources: including the existing and capacity to support data repository, networking, hardware, CAD data, hard-copy maps or digital maps, etc.
Identification of resources gaps and Create GIS-Based Data Service Levels:
The process of resource evaluation leads to the identification ofgaps in data, workflow, personnel, and computational resources. Similarly, gaps in expertise must be identified and plans made toenhance the capacity of existing staff.
The consultant should draft a rules - based service-level agreement that can be formal or informal agreements between departments, to define the entity relationship and response of each particular data and service, personnel responsibilities, departmental responsibilities, etc.
These agreements can be used for maintenance, production, application development, data sharing, and other areas where the collaboration of one or more departments or intergovernmental agreements is part of the critical path for the data and enterprise GIS.
Developing national enterprise GIS Standards and logical system design:
The consultant is required to develop the Logical system design, including database, metadata and work flow, within the context of data staging, storage, and delivery, and including necessary policies, standards, and procedures, as well as criteria that measure system performance. Ultimately, the consultant is required to develop the National Enterprise GIS guidelines for standardizing data and developing approaches for managing GIS data layers and data sharing. GIS standard guidelines also should be leaded various organisations design and implementation of GIS system.
Knowledge transfer and Develop hand-in-hand with Iraqi Stakeholders the logical enterprise GIS:
To this respect, a workshop will be conducted with the targeted partners in Amman from 3-11 Nov 2013 to transfer the knowledge on the enterprise GIS logical development.
Within the frame of developed national enterprise GIS standard guidelines and logical system, the workshop should provide guidance and help participants build skills and learn methodologies and tools for designing and developing the Iraq enterprise GIS architecture.
To this respect, the consultant needs to specify an open source tools to be used in developing the enterprise architecture of the GIS.
Finalise the standard guidelines, Draft system specification, Implementation plan, communication, outreach and training:
Based on the knowledge transfer workshop findings, the consultants are requested to update the guidelines accordingly and draft the final logical GIS system.
The consultant is required to draft system technical specification, including data layer, business layer, application layer and technology layer.
Implementation plan required to be developed, involving a plan that specifies tasks, schedule, budgeting, and institutional responsibilities. The consultant also needs to conduct communication and training plan.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards.
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
- Strong analytical and writing skills and ability to provide guidance and coordination to the government counterparts and other involved stakeholders;
- Ability to conceptualize analytical frameworks based on available information and resources;
- Ability to identify and address the information gaps in a systematic manner;
- Strong analytical and writing skills and ability to provide guidance and coordination to the government counterparts and other involved stakeholders.
- Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office building the capacity manage rather manage oneself;
- In-depth knowledge on Communication and Access to information;
- Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to build the capacity to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
- Ability to build the capacity to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Communication and access to information;
- Ability to build the capacity to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.
Management and Leadership
- Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
- Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
- Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:- Master degree or Equivalent of Master's Degree in Geographic Information System, or related field [IT Science, Computer Telecommunication Engineering, Public business administration, etc..].
- Minimum 10 years progressively responsible professional and consultative experience in GIS Architecture layers (data, process, technology, application, metadata, security, etc) at medium and large scale organisations, of which 3 years should have been at the international level in the public sector;
- At least 3 years experience in GIS integration architecture;
- At least three years of relevant experience in land, hosing, infrastructure, urban planning and development area.
- Familiar with GIS software (Desktop GIS, database, analysis and visualisation, web map server and related tools).
- Working knowledge of Enterprise Architecture Frameworks (TOGAF or equivalent) and service oriented architecture;
- Experience in the policy development process associated with national enterprise GIS development in developing countries and countries in transformation would be an asset;
- Experience in working and collaborating with governments.
Language:
- Proficiency in English language.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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