The National Registration Bureau (NRB) of Malawi is legally mandated to implement and maintain a National Registration and Identification System (NRIS) to register and issue identity cards to all citizens 16 years of age and older. UNDP has provided technical assistance to the NRB in the design and development of critical software and operational procedures for a fully supported National Registration and Identification System for Malawi. The UNDP led Project directly implemented the registration and issuing of biometrically–secure identity smart cards to approximately 10.3 million citizens from 2017 – 2021. A national registry to process and store individuals’ records in a central database was also established. Following the mass registration exercise, the project transitioned to supporting a continuous registration system which was progressively transferred to NRB during the course of 2018, to register half-a-million new registrants each year as well as updating existing registrants’ information. As institutional and capacity development was an integral component of the Project, NRB was well positioned to independently administer, manage, and operate the NRIS from 2019 onward. The NRIS Project has already delivered transformative benefits for e-governance in Malawi, redressing fundamental obstacles in satisfying the right to identity and to progress the ambition of Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, to ensure a legal identity for all. A whole of government approach towards the adoption of use of the system is pivotal to both maximize the benefits of the system and to achieve these goals, as well as a return on investment. The NRIS Project was designed around two principal phases: direct implementation of the mass registration exercise in 2017 with preparatory institutional and capacity development; and a transitional process to fully capacitate and transfer the management and administration of a continuous registration process to the NRB in the course of 2018 -2019. In December 2019, the Project extension was signed to close the gap of unregistered Children in Malawi under the age of 16 years, but due to COVID-19 the children’s registration could not be implemented, and the project was extended till Dec 2023.

Integral to delivering on these operational goals is a close partnership with NRB, engagement with a broad spectrum of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the adoption of the technology and modeling of their business processes, engagement with civil society and other stakeholders, the UN Country Team, and a close partnership with donors engaged in the Project and contributing to the Basket Fund. Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the ICT Specialist is responsible for leading the technical support in the maintenance and implementation of the information management systems (IMS) for NRB. The incumbent will supervise daily technical support in the operations and execution of the NRIS system architecture, in close association with enterprise systems, Government, and other stakeholders. The ICT Specialist will lead the technical support team which includes UNDP appointed Software Developer and network systems administrator. Support services to NRB include the planning, design, implementation and coordination of the acquisition, development, maintenance and use of the government’s computer and telecommunication systems. The ICT Specialist will ensure the smooth operations and business continuity of the NRIS, with particular focus on the maintenance of biometric registration kits (BKRs), data center systems (hardware and software), disaster recovery sites, data transmission and interoperability with other systems.

1. Provide technical leadership on the plans, design and strategies on the NRIS, focusing on the following:

• Lead the consultations of users, management, vendors and technicians to assess computing needs and system requirements and specifying technologies to meet those needs;
•  Advise and make recommendations to the Project Manager on the ICT budget formulation processes for the NRIS and other associated organizational units;
• Lead the formulation of systems requirements, processes and procedures for the implementation of the NRIS in consultation with NRB;
• Advice on the formulation processes of ICT systems, in compliance with relevant laws, regulations and procedures;
•  Coordinate and provide technical input into contract specifications and subsequent management;
•  Supervise the transformation processes of the pilots into mass registration of Children and continuous registration of the ICT systems for the NRIS Project;
•  Lead in the development and implementation of various ICT software and hardware systems required in the mass and continuous registration of children;
• As required, lead in technical meetings and workshops;
• Participate in the complete lifecycle of delivery including architecture, design, development, tests, and document integration solutions, custom development, and data migration elements of business applications across technical domains;
• Research, review and make recommendations on any new software applications or innovations from a perspective of design, integration, and technical fit with other systems;
•  Lead efforts for standardizing, integrating, and centralizing multi-system systems. Define and clearly communicate the requirements to all relevant stakeholders;
• Plan, design and oversee the implementation of complex government business solutions in collaboration with functional solution vendors;
• Participate in the refinement of technology and architecture roadmaps as needed and oversee the adherence to these roadmap/s;
•  Evaluate the existing systems to determine integration requirements for NRB systems and other stakeholders.

2. Provide substantive support and high-level advice on the execution and management of ICT Infrastructure for the NRIS, focusing on the following:

•  Supervise and mentor the work of Systems Administrators, Software Developers and contracted vendors;
•  Take the lead in the selection, installation and management of ICT resources such as PKI infrastructure and Biometric servers;
• Supervise and approve the development and drafting of training materials for ICT staff and operational staff involved in the NRIS process in conjunction with the Project Manager;
• Manage the ICT operations, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines, as well as risk issues and mitigating measures;
• Provide technical advice to the ICT capacity-building efforts of the NRB;
• Provide administrative supervision of the logistics of computers, registration equipment and security of ICT systems of the NRIS Project;
• Develop, test, debug and review computer code for database systems (e.g. SQL queries) and specialized modules;
•  Provide sound technical advice as well as hands on support for the NRB systems integration and interoperability strategies and interface with other systems;
• Liaise with other stakeholders such as CDC/EGPAF on NRB systems development in relation to systems integration efforts, including maintaining a close working relationship and rapport with Government ICT staff and departments;
• Lead in the development and implementation of a disaster recovery and business continuity plan for NRB.

3.  Ensures efficient network administration and NRIS ICT operations, focusing on the following: 

• Provide oversight in monitoring and tracking the progress and performance of the NRIS against established objectives, policies and identified risks;
• Maximize network performance between NRB HQ, DROs, Post Offices and other registration centers by monitoring network performance, troubleshooting network problems and outages;
• scheduling upgrades and collaborating with network architects from GWAN, NRIS/NRB on network optimization;
•  Monitor, report, and fix the WAN and LAN NRIS production and DR site for any potential threats, issues, or upcoming maintenance;
•  Implement strategies for NRBs systems cyber security.

3. Contribute to knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on the following:

• Develop and provide reports to the Project Manager on the progress and performance of the ICT networks and hardware infrastructure;
• Support and share best practices on the national registration systems that promote efficiency and effectiveness, and value for money;
• Leads the development and drafting of ICT documentation for the NRB systems;
• Documents innovative strategies and new approaches in the execution of the ICT project, and
• Transfer knowledge and skills to NRB staff on various areas such as PKI management, systems integration and network management.

4.      Institutional Arrangement

The ICT Specialist will be reporting to the NRIS Project Manager. S/he will be leading the ICT team for all activities related to the ICT aspect of the project. S/he will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi with visit to the field as required.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross Functional and Technical Competencies

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks, and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions

Business Development: Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management: Working with Evidence and Data

• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Information Management and Technology: IT Security Management

• Knowledge of Cyber Security technologies, processes, techniques, and tools. Apply practical innovations to solve cybersecurity problems. Capability to keep systems and data safe. Knowledge of ISO 27001 principles. CSSIP, CSIM, CISA or equivalent certification desirable

Information Management and Technology: Solutions Architecture

• Ability to design and manage the Information system architecture supporting corporate business processes. Design integration strategies and approaches to integrate of one or more applications or services to maintain a coherent and effective IT architecture. Knowledge of ISO 20000 and IT operations. The Open Group TOGAF9 or Open CA, ITIL Master certification, or DevOps or similar certification desirable

Information Management and Technology: Data Management & Analytics

• Knowledge in data management, data sciences, ability to structure data, develop dashboard and visualization. Design data warehouses, data lakes or data platforms concepts. Familiarity with Machine leaning natural language processing or generation and the use of artificial intelligence to support predictive analytics. CDMP or TOGAF9 or equivalent certification desirable

Information Management and Technology: Project Management

• Capacity to manage ICT projects, using IT methodologies and approaches such as agile deployment and/or waterfall system development methods. PMP and PRINCE2 certification or equivalent desirable

• Master of Science Degree in Computer Science or related fields from a recognized institution coupled with relevant ICT certifications.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field with additional two (2) years of qualifying relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree.

• Minimum seven (7) years (Master’s degree) holders or nine (9) years (Bachelor’s degree) experience in ICT projects involving the design and development of both hardware and software systems, network configuration and management, preferably in an international development context;
• A minimum of three years experience in international technical assistance and capacity building roles is essential;
• Prior experience working on ICT development projects involving biometric registration systems (e.g. voter, census or national identity) is desirable;
• Good understanding and working knowledge of applicable international standards pertaining to Smartcards is highly desirable. First-hand knowledge of encryption and programming of Smart Cards, preferably Open Platform on the Java Card OS is highly desirable;
• Prior experience in developing and implementing system architectures, data center facilities, and knowledge of data transmission protocols and systems, is desirable;
• Demonstrable experience in working with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in smart card management, Smart Card Personalization, using Megamatcher ABIS (Automated Biometrics Identification System) or related technology is desirable;
• In-depth knowledge of Linux: RedHat, CentOS, Ubuntu, etc. Especially user permissions/rights management, firewalled, systemd/systemctl, ftp/file shares;
• Demonstrable experience is desirable in the use and application of software development tools, including: Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 and C# programming language; Experience in Microsoft SQL Server, preferably MS SQL 2014, Crystal Reports or similar package for customized reporting; prior development experience for Web Based Systems is an advantage, preferably using ASP.NET (ASPX) and IIS.

Language

• Proficiency in English. Working knowledge of other UN language desirable.