Result of Service
The consultant will provide specialized technical support to the G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI) by delivering high quality assistance in web/database development, system maintenance, and digital tool enhancement. This role will contribute directly to strengthening the Initiative’s information infrastructure through the development, upgrading, and maintenance of applications, online tools, and web components essential for effective data management, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. By supporting both routine maintenance and the creation of new digital solutions, the consultant will help ensure the reliability, usability, and continuous improvement of the GLI’s digital platforms in alignment with programmatic and donor requirements.
Expected duration
252 days between April 2026 to March 2027.
Duties and Responsibilities
Background note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www.unccd.int) The G20 (or Group of Twenty) is the annual international forum for the governments of 19 industrialized countries and the European Union (EU). The G20 Leaders' Declaration, issued in November 2020, launched the "Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats" (G20 Global Land Initiative). Building on existing initiatives and on a voluntary basis, the G20 countries share the ambition to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in the amount of degraded land by 2040. The G20 Global Land Initiative, with oversight from UNCCD, will focus on building capacity, engaging the private sector, empowering civil society and showcasing success. Engagement with the private sector, including in relation to mining, agriculture and forestry, will be key to encourage support for land restoration efforts and the adoption of sustainable land management practices. The Initiative Coordination Office seeks a web/database developer consultant to assist the G20 GLI team conduct Geographic Information Science (GIS) activities and maintain and develop web applications. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the guidance of the Information Management Officer, the consultant will: - Maintain and enhance GLI data platforms and geodatabases: Maintain and enhance the GLI data platforms and associated geodatabases by updating and optimizing existing systems, improving map interaction features (zoom, pan, layer controls, measurement and drawing tools, and data export functions), ensuring regular performance tuning and timely server software upgrades, strengthening the overall user experience through clearer page descriptions and improved search functionalities, and reinforcing safeguards to mitigate risks related to hosting third party data. - Configure and administer geospatial platforms and services: Configure and manage MapX, relevant superscript libraries, and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Services, including GeoServer, to support the GLI data platforms. - Develop and maintain geospatial APIs: Design, develop, and maintain geospatial APIs to enable secure data sharing and support interoperability between GLI geospatial platforms and other internal or external data systems. - Prepare and support GIS datasets and analysis workflows: Prepare GIS data layers for GLI platforms, provide assistance with GIS data cleaning and preprocessing for statistical analyses, and contribute to the drafting of related reports, presentations, and training materials. - Development and Design of the GLI KPI Reporting Dashboard – Enhanced Query Engine, Optimized Search Performance, Strengthened Security, and Advanced Feature Upgrade - Conduct a pre‑ and post‑user experience (UX) survey for users of the Geospatial Platforms of GLI (GeoGLI) - Provide additional technical support as needed: Perform any other tasks related to the G20 mission, including those involving improvements or maintenance of the internal GLI Information System.
Qualifications/special skills
- A Master’s degree (MA, MSc, or MBA) in Information Technology, Web GIS Development, or a closely related field is required. A PhD in Information Technology or Web GIS Development is an asset. - Minimum 5 years of experience in web GIS software development is required. - Strong understanding and experience using JavaScript, HTML, CSS, XML, web scripting, and SQL programming is required. - Experience with relational databases such as MySQL and Postgres is required. - Familiarity with source code control tools such as GitHub or Perforce. - Knowledge of digital content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) is desireable. - Familiarity with web and database technologies such as React JS, Angular JS, and NodeJS is desireable. - Knowledge of GIS applications related to agriculture, health, and population data is desireable. - Familiarity with SharePoint Apps (Power Automate, Flow, Forms, Power BI, Lists, Forms)
Languages
- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.
Additional Information
Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 11 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 11 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
