There is evidence that the SGCs lack or have inadequate capacity to generate and use evidence in STI policy processes including decision-making. Some Councils for instance have limited staff levels which may limit their opportunity to gather relevant evidence. In addition, they might not have time or capacity to collect and analyze relevant information or data for evidence-based policy processes. It is for this reason that a ‘help desk’ will be established whereby the SGCs can request support for discrete small pieces of work relating to use of evidence in STI decision making and/or the policy process.

Through this platform, the SGCs will manage to solicit and access a broad range of services to improve an evidence based STI policy process including policy review and subsequent decision making. In addition, the experts/consultants will bid for available/submitted services through collection of insights from relevant sources and provide tailor made technical advice and knowledge resources commensurate with the requested service/task.

How the Helpdesk platform will operate:

The service delivery knowledge platform will follow the following steps:

1. Submit a request

An expression of interest (EoI) for a request of a specific service/task is submitted to ACTS/AfricaLics coordinating unit/Secretariat by SGC. The request may be made using a prescribed EoI form or as a guided online process.

2. Internal evaluation of the EoI

The submission is evaluated by the coordinating team/secretariat against a defined assessment criterion (completeness of information; available expert profiles etc). The applicant receives an approval or request for missing/specific information that would help in the implementation of the task.

3. The EOI This is about advertising the EOI and matching the EOI with an interested consultant. It may include the following stages.

• Planning stage by ACTS as the help desk database operator. This entails among other things the preliminary desk review of the application for the purpose of match making; selection of expert/s and recruitment; coordination of TOR including development of a workplan.
• Commissioning of the task after signing of contract (with ACTS or SGC).
• Monitoring and Evaluation. This will entail among other things validating the quality. This will be done jointly by ACTS and SGC.
• Submission of the report to SGC by the consultant for initial review and subsequent adoption of the final report. This could include an aspect of knowledge sharing or capacity building with the SGC and subsequent activity/exercise closure.

Scope of work for the Helpdesk development Consultant

• Purchase and link a domain name with the existing repository on GitHub.
• Front-end and back-end development
• User interface and User Experience design
• Testing

Qualifications

• Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting and communication skills. 
• Good understanding of systems fundamentals in either OS, cloud platforms or distributed systems. 
• Openness to feedback and effectiveness at collaborating with diverse groups of people. 
• Demonstrated independence, bias for action, and tolerance for ambiguity. 
• 3+ Years of engineering experience 
• C#, C++, Java, Python or other object-oriented programming languages; SQL dialects, PowerShell OR automation experience are an advantage. 
• Building and shipping production grade cloud services, including designing and implementing solutions for telemetry and monitoring. 
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering (or equivalent experience).

Duration: 1 Month

How to apply

ACTS invites interested experts to submit the following documents on or before 30^th September 2024, 17:00hrs to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Proposal outlining how the expert meets the selection criteria and their understanding of the ToR.
• Curriculum vitae (CV) outlining relevant qualifications and experience.
• A summarized description of the scope of work and the intended methodology to be used as well as a tentative work plan including activities and time frames.
• Itemized financial proposal.

Deliverables and Payment

• Link domain name with the existing Github repository by 13^th October 2024: 50% pay
• Functioning front-end/back-end by 30^th October 2024: 50% pay