INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, with the mission to connect the world. To achieve this, ITU manages the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits at the international level, works to improve communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishes global standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communication systems. ITU also organizes global Telecom events bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the private sector to exchange ideas and knowledge for the benefit of all.
Sustainable Public Procurement for School Connectivity Consultant
Vacancy notice no: 2025
Sector: BDT
Department: PPS
Country of contract: Remote
Duty station: Home Based
Position number: [[positionNumber]]
Grade: [[PositionGrade]]
Type of contract: Consultant
Duration of contract: 60 days, between 28 April 2025 and 1 September 2025
Recruitment open to: External
Application deadline (Midnight Geneva Time): 14 April 2025
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT
The Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) is responsible for the organization and coordination of the work of the Telecommunication Development Sector of the Union. BDT deals mainly with development policies, strategies, programming, projects, as well as technical cooperation activities to enable and foster universal access to affordable, high-quality and secure telecommunications/ICTs and Foster equitable and inclusive use of telecommunications/ICTs to empower people and societies for sustainable development. To effectively and efficiently serve the needs of Member States, BDT is organized into four functional areas:
- Operations Coordination Department (Office of the Deputy to the Director) (DDR)
- Projects, Partnerships & Digital Skills Department (PPS)
- Digital Networks & Environment Department (DNE)
- Digital Knowledge Society Department (DKS)
To be successful, BDT must create clear and simple mechanisms to develop partnerships with donors, foundations, and the private sector, and coordinate the delivery of these resources to meet the needs of Member States. The Projects, Partnerships & Digital Skill Department (PPS) provides a forum for Member States to collaborate in our Study Groups. To create the necessary synergy, resource mobilization and project design are combined in this department. The Department is responsible for the strategic planning that will properly position the BDT to accomplish its organizational goals and objectives, fostering partnerships and mobilizing resources. As well, it provides expertise in the areas ICT capacity and digital skills development, essential activity to help to close the Digital Divide. It also undertakes initiatives and activities in the framework of the WTDC Plan of Action and strengthen relations with the ITU-D membership.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The project “Capacity development to accelerate school connectivity in collaboration with the Giga Initiative” (project number 9GLO24140, UBS P.40919.1.01) brings together the ITU General Secretariat (GS) and ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) through the Giga initiative to collaborate on Capacity Development to accelerate school connectivity under the umbrella of the ITU Academy and through the Giga Learning Hub. It aims to strengthen the capacity of ITU Member States and relevant stakeholders to enhance their telecommunication/ICT policy, legal and regulatory knowledge and frameworks to accelerate school connectivity and to connect young people to digital technologies and services in line with Giga’s overall strategy and objectives.
The consultant will develop an online instructor-led training course on procurement for school connectivity projects as one of the main pillars of the Giga Initiative, which will be delivered online through the ITU Academy as the main channel of training delivered for the Giga Learning Hub.
The course will involve learning content to help participants to conceptualise school connectivity as an investment, which needs to be facilitated through the reduction of risks and costs, and which necessitates a business model that:
1. recognises the whole digital and educational ecosystem; and
2. includes diverse partnerships, a broader number of financial, technical, social and community players and a myriad of funding models.
More specifically, the training course will consist of several modules on sustainable procurement in school connectivity programs to ensure successful management and overall sustainability of the project “Capacity development to accelerate school connectivity”, including relevant information such as requests for Information, requests for expression of interest, and requests for proposals.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Under the overall guidance of the Head of the Capacity and Digital Skills Development Division (CSD), and in close coordination with the Senior Project Manager of the project “Capacity development to accelerate school connectivity”, within the Projects, Partnerships and Skills (PPS) Department of the BDT, the Consultant will:
- Develop a course structure blueprint based on agreed, SMART learning objectives for an instructor-led course (both F2F and online), focusing on sustainable public procurement for school connectivity.
- Design and create learning content tailored for national governments and relevant stakeholders, covering procurement strategies that integrate circular economy principles into school connectivity projects. The content will ensure a balance between policy frameworks, practical procurement processes, and implementation strategies.
- Develop detailed session plans for the live sessions to guide the online instructor-led delivery of the learning content.
- Ensure that the course material covers diverse procurement systems by addressing country-specific variations in regulatory and infrastructure contexts, while maintaining core principles that apply to ITU Member States.
- Incorporate in the course key procurement tools and methodologies, including guidance on market engagement, procurement design, calls for tender, and monitoring to support school connectivity projects embed sustainability from inception.
- Address circularity in ICT procurement in the course content, considering lifecycle assessments, product longevity, end-of-life management, and sustainability criteria that align with international best practices.
- Incorporate ITU/UNICEF comments (i.e. project owner(s), ITU Academy team) following the review cycles of the deliverables.
- Create course assessments including assignments, group work, quizzes, forums, individual presentations to reinforce learning outcomes.
- Support integration of course material with the ITU Academy platform and transfer ownership to ITU (i.e. project owner(s), ITU Academy team) upon full and final completion of the assignment.
- Deliver the training course via an online, instructor-led methodology.
- Provide knowledge-sharing opportunities and contribute to capacity development efforts by structuring content for the Giga Learning Hub, supporting both national-level implementation and potential second-stage local-level rollouts.
CONCRETE DELIVERABLES
The consulant will provide the following deliverables:
- Course structure blueprint outlining the course modules, learning objectives, and content flow, ensuring alignment with ITU Academy standards and member country needs – by 9 May 2025.
- Learning content structured for instructor-led online training delivery comprised of fully developed training materials covering sustainable public procurement for school connectivity, incorporating best practices, procurement methodologies (e.g., RFIs, EOIs, RFPs), and circular economy principles – by 30 June 2025.
- Assessment tools and learning activities, including interactive quizzes, assignments, group discussions, and self-assessment exercises to reinforce learning outcomes – by 30 June 2025.
- Final draft of training learning content, assessment tools and learning activities – by 15 August 2025.
- Final handover of course materials with delivery of all content, source files, and assessments to ITU – by 1 September 2025.
COMPETENCIES
• Ability to formulate technical information in an accessible, interesting, and guiding way.
• Thorough knowledge and overview of sustainable public procurement.
• Sound understanding of the circular economy.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Education:
Advanced university degree in management, procurement, information technology and communications, or a related field OR education from a reputed college of advanced education with a diploma of equivalent standard to that of an advanced university degree in one of the fields above.
Experience:
At least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in the field of the Special Service Agreement (SSA). Experience in high-quality technical writing. Experience in public sector procurement. Experience in producing training materials. Experience in training delivery.
Languages:
Knowledge of English at advanced level.
REMUNERATION INFORMATION
USD 350 per working day.
INFORMATION ON RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the ITU career website. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. ITU uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. Messages originating from a non ITU e-mail account - @itu.int - should be disregarded. ITU does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
ITU applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. ITU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Achieving gender balance is a high priority for ITU.
