Software Developer – HNMIS at UNDP

The Government of Malawi faces significant challenges due to the absence of a harmonized national management information system (HMIS) that integrates Management Information Systems (MIS) across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Currently, these systems operate independently, leading to fragmented data management and coordination issues. This fragmentation hinders the aggregation and effective management of data, posing obstacles to evidence-based decision-making at national, local council, and community levels.

Several key reports, including the Demand for and Supply of Evaluations in Malawi (2013), the Malawi M&E Master Plan (2012), and the State of M&E in Malawi (2014), underscore the critical need to strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) frameworks. These documents highlight the benefits of establishing a centralized data repository to enhance data aggregation, storage, and sharing capabilities. Without such a system, many interventions are implemented without sufficient evidence, and where evidence exists, its quality is often compromised due to outdated or insufficient data.

The absence of a central M&E system exacerbates various challenges:

• Weak knowledge management within MDAs.
• Reliance on paper-based data collection leading to poor data quality and reporting delays.
• Multiple projects with independent M&E systems complicating result monitoring and lesson-learning.
• Fragmented databases contributing to disjointed Management Information Systems (MIS).
• Inconsistent evaluation systems hindering the tracking and potential duplication of evaluation efforts.

To address these issues, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is planning to recruit three Software Developers to spearhead the development of the Harmonized National Management Information System (HNMIS) for the Government of Malawi. This initiative aims to unify disparate MIS into a cohesive platform that supports efficient data management, facilitates informed decision-making, and enhances program effectiveness across the country. By establishing the HNMIS, Malawi seeks to streamline data processes, improve data quality, and foster a more integrated approach to monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management across all sectors and levels of governance.

Scope of work

Full stack open-source software development plays a crucial role as the detailed bridge between enterprise architecture and technical implementation, focusing on specific technologies to address targeted business challenges. By seamlessly combining enterprise goals, solution design, and technical implementation, this role ensures a holistic and effective approach to technological solutions across Android, iOS, web, Linux, and Windows platforms.

Solution Architect Role Description and Responsibilities:

High-Level Responsibilities: The Full Stack Open-Source Software Developer focuses on solution-level decisions, analyzing their impact on overall business goals. Responsibilities include developing a strategic technical vision, architecting scalable solutions, and overseeing the entire development process from conception to deployment across multiple platforms.

1. Analyzing the Technology Environment:

• Assess the existing technology ecosystem across mobile, web, and desktop platforms;
• Propose open-source solutions aligned with business goals and industry best practices;
• Stay informed about emerging trends and technologies in open-source development.

2. Analyzing Enterprise Specifics:

• Collaborate with product owners and stakeholders to understand unique project needs;
• Align technical solutions with the specific aspects of each project or product;
• Ensure scalability and maintainability of solutions across different platforms.

3. Analyzing and Documenting Requirements:

• Work closely with stakeholders to gather, analyze, and document project requirements;
• Create detailed technical specifications for Android, iOS, web, Linux, and Windows applications;
• Ensure requirements are clear, feasible, and aligned with open-source principles.

4. Setting the Collaboration Framework:

• Set up version control systems and define branching strategies for collaborative development;
• Implement coding standards and best practices for cross-platform development;
• Establish code review processes to maintain code quality across all platforms.

5. Creating a Solution Prototype:

• Develop rapid prototypes or proof of concepts to validate technical approaches;
• Use tools like React Native for cross-platform mobile prototypes;
• Create wireframes or mock-ups for web and desktop applications to gather early feedback.

6. Participating in Technology Selection:

• Evaluate and select appropriate open-source technologies for each platform (Android, iOS, web, Linux, Windows);
• Ensure compatibility and integration between different technologies in the stack;
• Consider factors such as performance, community support, and long-term viability of chosen technologies.

7. Controlling Solution Development:

• Lead the development efforts across all platforms, ensuring consistency and code re-usability where possible;
• Implement back-end services that can support multiple front-end applications;
• Ensure proper implementation of security measures across all layers of the application stack.

8. Supporting Project Management:

• Provide accurate time and resource estimates for development tasks;
• Collaborate with project managers to plan sprints and allocate resources effectively;
• Identify and mitigate technical risks throughout the development lifecycle.

Institutional Arrangement:

This position will be based in Inclusive Digital Transformation for Malawi (IDT4M) project office, Lilongwe and will be reporting to the ICT Specialist.