Development of National Open-Source Software Policy in Palestine
Organizational Context
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is assisting the Ministry of Telecoms and Digital Economy in Palestine to develop a national Open-Source Software (OSS) policy. This initiative aims to leverage OSS for building affordable, resilient, and sustainable digital government services, addressing fiscal constraints and improving interoperability.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this role is to contribute to the development of Palestine's national Open-Source Software (OSS) policy. This involves researching best practices, analyzing existing digital technology frameworks in Palestine, and drafting a comprehensive policy document. The role will also involve stakeholder consultations to ensure the policy meets diverse needs and aligns with national and international standards. The ultimate goal is to create a policy that enhances national ownership of digital projects, reduces expenditure, and supports the growth of the national digital economy, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals.
Responsibilities
The consultant will propose a detailed report outline, including a review of regional and international OSS policies and strategies. Responsibilities include analyzing Palestine's current digital technology policies, developing the draft National OSS Policy with technical annexes, and conducting stakeholder interviews to gather input from public and private sectors. The consultant will present the draft policy in a consultative workshop, update it based on feedback, and ensure gender and youth dimensions are considered throughout the research and reporting process. The final output will be a comprehensive National OSS Policy with annexes and an implementation roadmap.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of professional experience and research in digital technologies/software engineering is required. Demonstrated professional experience in open-source governance and licensing, digital-government architecture, API governance and interoperability, cloud governance and procurement, cybersecurity, and data protection is desirable.
Skills
Open-source governance and licensing, digital-government architecture, API governance and interoperability, cloud governance and procurement, cybersecurity, data protection, research, policy development, stakeholder consultation, report writing, gender-sensitive language.