Consultant – Open Source Engagement

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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to contribute to frameworks, guidance, and research on engaging Open-Source communities. The consultant will provide expertise in Open-Source community building and management within the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.

Background

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence (the Hub) is working on empowering countries and communities to minimise the impact of pandemic and epidemic threats through collaborative surveillance. Collaborative surveillance facilitates the systematic strengthening of capacity and collaboration among diverse stakeholders globally to enhance public health intelligence and improve evidence for decision making. Open-Source practices and principles contribute to this effort by providing proven successful models to collaborate in the creation of tools for pandemic and epidemic intelligence.

The Open-Source Programme Office (OSPO), a team and function within the Hub, is a centre of competency for Open-Source related efforts. It promotes collaboration and open innovation practices by defining Open-Source strategies, policies, and best practices for the Hub and its partners. The OSPO requires an Open-Source engagement expert who will develop and improve frameworks and guidance to help engage Open-Source communities that will contribute to the improvement of these models for collaboration and open innovation.

Deliverables

• Develop and maintain guidance and best practices for creating engaged, inclusive, and respectful Open-Source communities.
  Expected by June 30, 2025.
• Facilitate monthly coaching and training for Open-Source community managers.
  Expected by June 30, 2025.
• Develop concepts and contribute to content for country and regional cross-learning on the adoption, development, maintenance, and sustainability of Open-Source digital public goods for pandemic and epidemic intelligence.
  Expected by June 30, 2025.
• Develop a framework that will guide project teams in setting up governance structures for their Open-Source work and make it available within WHO.
  Expected by June 30, 2025.
• Analyze and share gaps and opportunities for WHO Open-Source projects that can be addressed by contributions from Open-Source communities.
  Expected by June 30, 2025.
• Manage and coordinate networks of contributors from partner institutions for Open-Source innovations for pandemic and epidemic intelligence.
  Expected by June 30, 2025.
• Develop and maintain an opportunity pipeline to explore collaborations with public and private sector entities and institutions working on relevant Open-Source projects.
  Expected by June 30, 2025.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Minimum first university degree in Computer Science, or related fields.

Experience:

Essential:

• 5 – 10 years of relevant experience working in Open-Source technology.
• Experience managing Open-Source contributor communities.

Skills:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of Open-Source communities and expertise building communities.
• Ability to plan both online and in-person community events and engagements.
• Good understanding of software developers, architects, and other technologists and how they work.
• Knowledge of public health technologies and communities or practice around global health.
• Proactive identification, reporting and resolution/mitigation of issues and risks.
• Political acumen and ability to drive change and improvements in challenging, inter-cultural and complex environments.
• Excellent communication skills.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Expert knowledge of another official language of the United Nations.

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B – USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html