UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, right.

The Department of National ID and Civil Registration (DONIDCR), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is responsible for managing digital identity information, civil registration, and social protection schemes in Nepal. These services are accessed through various administrative offices and some diplomatic missions. The department uses the Vital Event Registration and Social Protection Management Information System (VERSP-MIS) to manage civil registration and social protection services, maintaining a central registry of civil registrations and 3.8 million social protection beneficiaries. Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems are crucial for ensuring every citizen’s right to a name and birth registration, as guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal. They facilitate access to education, healthcare, financial systems, and mobility, addressing gender and social barriers, particularly for women and marginalized communities. CRVS systems also align with Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which aims for legal identity for all, including birth registration.

UNICEF, through its two programmes; child protection and social policy, has been providing technical support to DONIDCR at both central and local levels to ensure the sustainability of civil registration and social protection gains. Its support includes the implementation of social protection schemes, particularly the Child Grant, and the development of inclusive CRVS systems. This includes APIs for data transfer, performance monitoring tools, and a National Monitoring Framework. UNICEF also focuses on capacity development by training registrars and providing equipment support, as well as implementing digital CRVS procedures, GIS-enabled reporting modules, and assessing barriers to civil registration access.

With the end of the World Bank partnership in 2024, the government has requested UNICEF to manage the transition to ensure the continuous operation of the CRVS system. Given the urgency and the need to maintain uninterrupted civil registration processes, UNICEF’s Social Policy, Governance and Evidence (SPGE), and Child Protection sections are stepping in to provide consultancy services. This support is crucial to bridge the gap and ensure the minimum operation of the CRVS system across the country. UNICEF’s continued support will help ensure that the gains made in legal identity, access to services, and inclusion are not lost, and that the CRVS system operates smoothly during this transitional period.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: The Department of National ID and Civil Registration (DoNIDCR) requires the consultancy service for supporting daily operation, preparing detail technical documentations of VERSP-MIS, integration of civil registration for identification purpose. The consultant will assist department for smooth daily operation VERSP-MIS, Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) of social protection allowances to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, biometric device integration, and produce detail technical documents related to all the components of the system. This includes preparation and delivery of data dictionary, technical documents, user manual, installation, administration, configuration guides, training materials of the system etc. Also, the consultant shall engage to for enhancement, strengthening and integration of systems as defined in this document.

Scope of Work:

The scope of work of the consultant includes enhancement, strengthening and integration of CRVS systems. The consultant will work on system development and improvement, optimization, integration, technical support, maintenance, documentation, and training. He/she will design and optimize scalable modules for VERSP-MIS, integrate third-party systems, and resolve discrepancies in EFT processing between VERSP-MIS and CGAS systems. He/she will also provide expert-level technical support, implement version control, and analyze root causes for system issues. The consultant will also create and maintain technical documentation, update the MIS user manual, and provide training to DoNIDCR IT staff.

Duties and responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and optimize scalable modules for the Management Information System (MIS) to ensure alignment with business requirements, enhanced performance, and long-term system sustainability.
• Support and implement high-performance, maintainable code base and modules ensuring data integrity and seamless application functionality.
• Contribute to the integration and troubleshooting of third-party systems, ensuring the stability, security, and scalability of system-to-system communications and data exchanges.
•  Support developing new module for Vital Event Registration using latest framework with focus on web API-based architecture.
• Provide technical support for integration of biometric devices (fingerprint, iris scanners) and smart card technologies in the existing system to enhance user identification and authentication processes, ensuring robustness and compliance with security protocols.
• Support implementation of intuitive, responsive, and high-performing user interfaces using ASP.NET, with a focus on delivering a superior user experience across multiple devices and platforms.
• Provide technical support to cross-functional teams, effectively troubleshooting system issues, performance bottlenecks, and integrations across the full stack.
• Support junior developers and technical staff, fostering a collaborative environment and enhancing team capability through technical support, knowledge sharing, and skills development.
• Proactively monitor and optimize system performance to ensure availability, stability, and minimal downtime.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, including system functions, API specifications, code comments, and user guidance to ensure clear knowledge transfer and maintainable software.
• Prepare plans, test cases, and ensure quality deliverables through rigorous testing and continuous improvement cycles.
•  Work with Database Administrators (DBAs) to identify and resolve CRVS data-related issues, ensuring data consistency, integrity, and system-wide performance optimization.
• Maintain and enhance the MIS user manual, ensuring it is consistently updated with new features, system upgrades, and operational changes to provide accurate resources for end users and administrators.
• Provide technical support for continuous improvement of system by staying updated on emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices, and proactively support to improve system efficiency and software development processes.
• Support review process, code reviews, and facilitate discussions to contribute to the application of best practices, scalable architecture, and high-quality standards across the development lifecycle.
• Engage in collaboration to define technical requirements, propose solutions, and deliver successful outcomes while balancing trade-offs related to time, quality, and cost.
• The consultant should develop internal capacity of DONIDCR to run the system independently.

TASK:

Support DoNIDCR administrator in daily operations of VERSP-MIS.

• Provide ongoing support for VERSP-MIS operations.
• Document support activities, issues, resolutions, and solutions.
• Train DoNIDCR IT staff to resolve common issues independently

Documentation of VERS and Social Protection System

• Document functions, procedures, and modules of:
• Vital Event Registration System (VERS)
• Social Protection System
• Describe the purpose of each function/module

Housekeeping Documentation for Vital Event and Social Protection Registry

• Document housekeeping processes for:
• Vital Event Registry (Birth, Marriage, Migration, Death, Divorce, Cancellations, Copies of Certificates)
• Social Protection Registry (Beneficiary Registration, Renewal, EFT Process)

Contribute to the development of a New Module for VERS (Web API-Based Architecture)

• Provide inputs to develop a new module for VERS
• Implement modern web API-based architecture

Audit Trail Development and Version Control Implementation

• Develop scripts/functions/procedures for audit trail functionality in VERSP-MIS.
• Implement a version control system for source code management, maintaining separate branches for development and production.

Implementation of Version Control System for Source Code Management

• Set up a version control system in development and production branches within Department and other offices
• Maintain structured management of source code

Contribute to the development of EFT Distribution and Discrepancy Resolution Modules

• Implement EFT distribution functionalities for Social Protection Scheme
• Implement a developed module to resolve EFT discrepancies between VERSP-MIS and CGAS
• Enable automated discrepancy validation and retry mechanisms

Support implementing Dynamic Configuration of Social Protection Allowance Calculation

• Implement configurable Social Protection Allowance calculations
• Document dynamic configuration based on age, region, category, and rate changes

Support integration of Biometric Devices and Smart Cards

• Prepare business logic for:
• Internal and external system integration
• Permanent fixes for recurring issues
• Support to integrate biometric devices (fingerprint scanner, iris scanner)
• Implement Smart Card integration

Support analyzing root cause & compliance of DoNIDCR Rules and Regulations

• Help identify root cause for system issues and implement permanent fixes
• Support implementation of VERS and Social Protection systems based on DoNIDCR regulations

Collaboration with DoNIDCR IT Administrator for Issue Resolution

• Work with DoNIDCR IT Administrator on issue prioritization and resolution
• Provide fixes and documentation for reported technical issues
• Prepare proper handover of the work at the end contract period

Support drafting statistical reporting for Vital Events and Social Protection

• Develop procedures/functions to generate statistics reports for Vital Events and Social Protection Schemes.

First Deliverable:

• Support Log, Training Reports, User Guides, Performance Dashboard

Second Deliverable:

• Technical Documentation, Module Descriptions Documentation of functions/procedures/modules

Third Deliverable:

• Documentation of registry of Birth, Marriage, Migration, Death, Divorce Registration, produced

Fourth Deliverable:

• Inputs provided to new module developed and successfully tested, Functional Module, API, Documentation, Test Reports, User Guide
• Integration reports demonstrating functionality

Fifth Deliverable

• Audit trail module deployed and functional
• Logs and compliance reports generated successfully

Sixth Deliverable

• Version control system deployed
• Different branches managed and documented
• Git Repository, Code Management Guidelines, Commit History Report produced

Seventh Deliverable

• Successfully distribution of EFT payments
• Reduction in manual intervention for discrepancies
• End-user validation and retry functionality tested
• Functional Modules, Testing Reports, User Guide prepared
• Configuration system implemented
• Successful testing with different government rule sets
• Configurable Module, Configuration Manual, Test Results prepared

Eight Deliverable

• Reduced recurrence of issues
• Implement audit reports confirming adherence to regulations
• RCA Report, Compliance Report, Fixed Issues Log

Nineth Deliverable

• Successful integration with external systems
• Fully functional biometric and smart card authentication
• Working System, API Documentation, Testing Reports produced

Tenth Deliverable

• Issues resolved based on priority
• Documented resolutions for IT administrator reference
• Issue Resolution Reports, Meeting Minutes, Updated Documentation
• Handover document prepared and shared with DoNIDCR

Final Deliverable

• Reports successfully generated
• Validation from DoNIDCR officials on report accuracy
• Functional Reporting Tool, Sample Reports, User Manual

Duration:

The duration of the consultancy is for one year, tentatively starting from last week of April 2025

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in information technology or a relevant field from recognized university/College is preferable.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Should have at least 5 years of professional working experience and 5 years of specific working experience as a software developer in enterprise web-based projects.
• Should have developed at least one enterprise web-based project in Dot Net Framework.
• Mandatory working experience and expertise in Relational Database, Dot Net Framework and Linux.

Skills:

• Should have a sound knowledge of system analysis, RDBMS and project development life cycle, Knowledge of ASP.NET, Windows applications, CSS, HTML, C#.net, MVC framework, Database (Oracle/MS SQL), ASP.NET Core
• WCF, SOA, Restful web service for developing service layer.
• Knowledge of system analysis, system design, security assessment tools
• Strong inter-personal and communication skills
• Experience in working with team and team building spirit
• Ability to analyze business processes quickly and provides technical solutions
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Participate in project discussion/analysis
• Learning and using new technologies research and development

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks: 

female candidates and candidates from the under-represented ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, 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. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.