Application Developer (Frontend & Backend)

Mission and objectives

WHO, as the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations system, adheres to the UN values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. The values of the WHO workforce furthermore reflect the principles of human rights, universality and equity established in WHO’s Constitution as well as the ethical standards of the Organization. These values are inspired by the WHO vision of a world in which all peoples attain the highest possible level of health, and our mission to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable, with measurable impact for people at country level. We are individually and collectively committed to put these values into practice.

Context

The UN Volunteer will be embedded within the Immunization and Vaccine Development (IVD) Unit of the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Bangladesh and will work closely with the Management Information System (MIS), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The assignment supports the ongoing digital transformation of the Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Surveillance System, with a particular focus on the development and operationalization of a digital Measles Outbreak and Case-Based Reporting System. The project aims to strengthen real-time disease surveillance, case notification, investigation, laboratory data integration, outbreak monitoring, and reporting through an integrated online platform. Key stakeholders include MIS-DGHS, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), National Public Health Laboratories, WHO, and other development partners. The Application Developer will contribute to the design, development, integration, testing, and maintenance of frontend and backend components of the surveillance platform, ensuring interoperability with national health information systems and supporting data-driven public health decision-making. The expected outcomes include improved timeliness and quality of surveillance data, enhanced outbreak detection and response, streamlined reporting processes, strengthened data integration across systems, and increased availability of real-time dashboards and analytics to support Bangladesh's measles elimination and VPD control objectives.

Task Description

The incumbent will be stationed in Dhaka to perform following activities: • Develop responsive web applications using React.js and TypeScript/JavaScript. • Build reusable UI components using React Context API or Redux. • Develop secure RESTful APIs using FastAPI. • Integrate frontend applications with backend APIs and PostgreSQL databases. • Develop dashboards, reports, charts, maps, and data visualization modules. • Implement authentication and authorization using JWT/OAuth2. • Design and maintain PostgreSQL databases and ORM models. • Experience in developing and deploying full-stack applications, implementing authentication mechanisms, integrating APIs, and designing relational databases; • Support the implementation of caching, message queuing, and scalable system architecture where applicable • Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code. • Perform unit testing, debugging, and issue resolution. • Use Git for version control and collaborative development. • Assist in application deployment, maintenance, and performance optimization. • Collaborate with the Full Stack Application Developer on feature development, integration, testing, and bug fixing. • Any other relevant task assigned by supervisor.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh along the Buriganga River. Not only is it the capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. It is the centre of political, cultural, and economic life in Bangladesh. The official language is Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen the modernization of services, communications, and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Dhaka is connected to other cities by rail, road, and by air and internationals can move easily from one city to another. Dhaka has venerable green spaces, including many gardens and parks, historical places, and nice restaurants. The weather is tropical - hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season (April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March). Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals so far. While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station, the volunteer should be prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport, and to certain locations. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos