Project Description

Title of consultant assignment

Building an Internet gateway for global social policy and development issues: development of improved Internet services to further implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons; implement outcomes of the World Summit for Social Development; and observe the 1999 International Year of Older Persons.

Consultant designate

Leo VALDES (Canada); resume attached

Requesting party

Division for Social Policy and Development, United Nations Secretariat

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WORK ASSIGNMENT:
[Data for relevant sections of forms P.104 & P.104/A.]

Background. The Division for Social Policy and Development is responsible for the global social development programme of the United Nations. The Division has identified the need for specialised expertise to advise and assist on improving its use of Internet resoures of United Nations so that the Division will be able to offer one-stop Internet-based services to disseminate efficiently and effectively an expanded range of digital content, and undertake systematic outreach and network building among programme constituencies.

The Division attaches priority in the current consultant assignment to design and testing of the architectural for an Internet "gateway" to digital content on global social policy and development issues. This will build upon the current World-Wide Web home page of the Division on the UN Internet server (http://www.un.org).

The digital content framework cum Internet gateway initiative initially will focus on three subject areas:

1. World Summit for Social Development. Emphasis is to be directed to improving the design, organisation and content of the current WSSD presence on the World-Wide Web so that there are effective digital information links for the five substantive chapters of the World Social Summit programme of action, viz. enabling environment, poverty eradication, employment growth and social integration, and follow up action. Work in this area will involve (a) analysis of options and design of a "social policy and development gateway" and (b) drafting an outline of performance specifications for implementation of WSSD-related Web, Gopher and communications services. Development and testing of pilot WSSD Web and Gopher services will be undertaken by Internet specialist(s) financed by resources for WSSD follow up.

2. Policies and programmes concerning people with disabilities. Emphasis is to be directed to making information on the work of the Organisation in the field of disability more accessible to interested constituencies, with emphasis on strengthening communications and information links and establishing priority categories of disability resources to be maintained in digital content to facilitate access by persons with sensorial disabilities. Work related to the "social policy and development gateway" will focus on (a) design of prototype Web and Gopher services on global disability policies and (b) development and testing of pilot efforts in digital content and accessible communications links to facilitate access by persons with sensorial disabilities to information resources on global disability policies.

3. Observation of International Year of Older Persons in 1999. Emphasis is to be directed to establishing an international forum - communications mechanism - to promote, inform and facilitate exchanges of ideas and experiences on the observation in 1999 of the International Year of Older Persons. Work will involve (a) formulating and evaluating options for a 1999-IYOP Web and Gopher presence and (b) preparation of an outline of performance specifications for implementation of 1999-IYOP-related Web, Gopher and communications services. Development and testing of pilot Web and Gopher services will be undertaken by Internet specialist(s) financed by 1999-IYOP resources.

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1. Scope of consultant assignment

(a) Overview. The current consultant assignment is viewed as the first step of a multi-phased effort to improve the digital information and communications capacities of the Organisation in the social development field. The planned set of consultant assignments will involve formulating objectives and identifying strategic options to introduce enabling information capacities in the of social development field, identifying priority steps to achieve improved and more accessible information and communications capacities of the Division for Social Policy and Development, establishing an appropriate institutional framework to provide and support current, reliable and accessible information, and drafting work plans, implementation schedules and budget estimates for these efforts.

(b) Current assignment. The consultant will advise on strategic options to introduce enabling information and communications capacities to the global social policy and development programme of United Nations; he/she will review, assess and identify priority information needs of the constituencies of the Division for Social Policy and Development and design the architecture for an Internet gateway; and he/she will prepare performance specifications and design parameters for Internet-based services, initially related to following three subject areas: (1) WSSD follow up, (2) global policies on persons with disabilities and (3) observation of the International Year of Older Persons in 1999.

The consultant will test and evaluate pilot action to increase digital content and improve accessibility of information resources of the Division on the World-Wide Web for persons with disabilities, sensorial disabilities in particular. This is expected to provide model cases for application to other substantive programmes.

The consultant will monitor, review and evaluate work performed by Internet specialists who will implement information and communications design specifications prepared for WSSD and 1999-IYOP observation.

The consultant will plan and organise in-house training of Division "teams" who are to be responsible for daily use, operation and maintenance of pilot Internet-based services of the Division.

The consultant will submit a report of findings and recommendations for further action as an integral part of the current assignment.

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2. Objectives

The consultant assignment has three project-level objectives:

1. To design the "architecture" for an information and communications gateway on global social policy and development issues accessible through the World-Wide Web, Gopher and e-mail technologies, which covers the principal areas of work of the Division, initially its sub-programmes related to (a) WSSD follow up, (b) global disability policies and (c) observation of the 1999 International Year of Older Persons.

2. To identify options and undertake pilot action to strengthen networking and communication capacities of the Division so that these result in more effective and timely dissemination of information in the social development field in digital format, particularly as this pertains to (a) WSSD follow up and preparations for its year 2000 special session at the General Assembly, (b) practical action in the field of disability, and (c) preparations for observation of the International Year of Older Persons in 1999.

With regard to pilot action to develop network and communication capacities in the field of disability, special attention will be directed to (a) design and testing of pilot Internet-based digital services which inform, engage and empower interested constituencies, those with sensorial disabilities in particular, to further implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, the Standard Rules on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the goal of "a society for all" by 2010; and (b) activating links between digital information resources of the Division to selected disability organizations, integrating selected ones on a pilot basis into the Division home page on the World-Wide Web with a view to instituting list server capacities to facilitate dialogue and feedback.

3. To train Division-level specialist "teams" on daily use, operation and maintenance of the networking and communication capacities introduced to the Division home page during the "gateway architecture" cum pilot phase of Internet services design, testing and development effort.

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3. Project phases: development and testing of Internet services on global social policy and development

(a) Phase 1 (a) - Analysis and definition of information and communication needs related to global social policy and development issues

(i) Assess information and communication needs among selected programme constituencies, with emphasis on WSSD, persons with disabilities and 1999-IYOP; define principal categories of messages and target audiences; identify content, scope and sources of information; create a prototype information architecture in the field of social development.

(ii) Formulate and test sample content which an international social development information and communications system eventually could offer; this might include:

a. Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly, in the year 2000, for an overall review and appraisal of implemenation of the outcomes of the Summit.

b. Information related to priority topics for WSSD follow up, including annual observation of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and promotion of the first International Decade on Poverty Eradication.

c. Coverage of the annual sessions of the Commission on Social Development, including Commission action on follow up to WSSD, to further action of benefit to persons with disabilities persons, and to build interest and awareness of 1999 IYOP observation.

d. Selected experiences and benchmarks in the implementation of outcomes of WSSD, of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and to inform and engage interested parties in preparations for observation in 1999 of the International Year of Older Persons.

e. UN action to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, with reference to Standard Rules on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and relevant international instruments.

f. Data on issues and trends related to WSSD follow up, on issues and trends concerning persons with disabilities, and on the situation of older persons.

g. Links to "national machinery" and related coordinating mechanisms concerned with WSSD follow up, with preparations for 1999-IYOP and organisations of persons with disabilities.

(b) Main outcomes expected from Phase 1 (a):

(i) Assessment report including recommendations based on research undertaken on social development information needs and sources.

(ii) Outline of prototype Web and Gopher content and structure including preliminary organisation of sections.

(iii) Definition of linking strategies.

(c) Phase 1 (b) - Prototype design, development, testing and production of pilot Internet-based resources

(i) Design and develop system prototype for social policy and development cluster - WSSD, persons with disabilities and 1999-IYOP in particular.

(ii) Web data base development, testing and pilot production.

(iii) Transfer final product to server; test and evaluate.

(iv) Practical definition of an enabling communication strategy.

(d) Main outcomes expected from Phase 1 (b):

(i) Web prototype in place. Transfer of (a) WSSD "gateway prototype" and (b) disability "prototype enabling information" system to Internet server; transfer of 1999-International Year of Older Persons Web prototype depends on resources available.

(ii) First product evaluation.

(iii) Document experience in design and testing of an enabling information and communications strategy.

(e) Phase 1 (c) - Implementation, monitoring, adjustments and training

(i) Information system launch; and pilot implementation and testing and enabling communications strategy.

(ii) Train estimated two-to-three Division "teams" on daily use, operations and maintenance of Internet resources of Division.

(iii) Monitor content and system features. Explore options for future development of enabling information services.

(f) Main outcomes expected from Phase 1(c):

(i) User guidelines, and pilot maintenance manual.

(ii) Evaluation of phase 1 (a) to (c), including proposals for future development of Internet-based resources in the social policy and development field.

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4. Estimated Budget

Phase 1 (a). First phase is planned to be completed by end of January 1998, assuming that consultant contract is available for signing on or about 1 December 1997.

Specialized consultant services: Phase 1 (a) - estimated 240 work hours:

US dollars XXXXX.

Phase 1 (b). Second phase will be completed by end April 1998, assuming that the project starts on or about 1 December 1997 and that inputs expected for of phase 1 (a) analysis and assessment are available and produce the results as planned.

Specialized consultant services: Phase 1 (b) - estimated 300 work hours:

US dollars XXXXX.

Phase 1 (c). Third phase will be completed on or end June 1998, assuming that the project starts on or about 1 December 1997 and that inputs expected for of phase 1 (b) development and testing of pilot Internet services are available and produce the results as planned.

Specialized consultant services: Phase 1 (c) - estimated 240 work hours:

US dollars XXXXX.

Total : phases 1 (a) to (c) - estimated 780 work hours:

US dollars XXXXX.

17.11.1997 / 24.11.1997 rev.