Online Volunteer

Job Posting Organization:
The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) was established in 2011 in partnership with the Government of Turkey. It is one of the six Global Policy Centres of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The mission of IICPSD is to support the private sector and foundations in becoming transformative partners in development through various means such as research, advocacy for inclusive business, facilitation of public-private dialogue, and brokering partnerships. The center leads UNDP’s global work on private sector engagement and supports UNDP offices worldwide. IICPSD focuses on four thematic areas: Inclusive Business, Private Sector Engagement in Skills Development, Impact Investing, and Resilience and Crisis Response. Additionally, it hosts four global initiatives: Business Call to Action, SDG Philanthropy Platform, Global Islamic Finance and Impact Investing Platform, and Connecting Business Initiative.

Job Overview:
As an Online Volunteer, you will play a crucial role in supporting the development of mobile gamified training modules aimed at children in frontline regions of Ukraine. These children are currently facing significant challenges, including air raid alerts and the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO), which makes access to safe and engaging educational resources critical. The project aims to provide structured training that is both psychologically safe and engaging, utilizing two complementary learning modes: gamified training modules that feature interactive, choice-based scenarios, and a non-gamified augmented reality (AR) simulation mode designed for younger and neurodiverse children. Your work will involve collaborating with a diverse team, including visual designers, child education specialists, therapists, and localization volunteers, to ensure that the training modules are effective, accessible, and trauma-sensitive. You will be involved in an agile implementation cycle, contributing to the iterative development and refinement of the training content.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your primary responsibilities will include developing the core functionality of the mobile gamified training modules, which involves creating interactive scenarios, branching logic, and navigation flows. You will also support the implementation of the AR simulation mode, ensuring that it utilizes lightweight and accessible technologies suitable for mobile deployment. A key aspect of your role will be to ensure mobile responsiveness and optimization for low-bandwidth and offline use, making the training accessible to children in challenging environments. You will integrate visual assets, animations, narration, subtitles, and localization components into the training modules. Additionally, you will implement accessibility features to enhance user experience, such as clear navigation and readable interface design. Collaboration with the Psychological Safety Team will be essential to ensure that the interaction design is safe and non-stressful for children. You will participate in agile sprint reviews and contribute to the iterative refinement cycles, preparing final deliverables that include the APK package, structured source code, and technical documentation for open-source handover.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess a strong understanding of mobile application development, particularly in creating interactive and gamified content. Familiarity with augmented reality technologies and their implementation in educational contexts is highly desirable. You should have experience in designing user interfaces that prioritize accessibility and user experience, especially for children. Knowledge of trauma-sensitive design principles will be beneficial. Strong collaboration skills are essential, as you will be working closely with a multidisciplinary team.

Educational Background:
A background in computer science, software engineering, or a related field is preferred. Candidates with experience in educational technology or child development may also be considered. Relevant certifications in mobile app development or UX/UI design will be advantageous.

Experience:
The position requires a moderate level of experience in mobile application development, ideally with a focus on educational tools or gamified learning environments. Previous experience working in agile development teams or on projects aimed at children or vulnerable populations will be a significant asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as all documentation and communication will be conducted in this language. Knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian would be considered a strong advantage, given the context of the project and the target audience.

Additional Notes:
This is a volunteer position with a structured one-month agile implementation cycle. The role is designed to be flexible, allowing for remote work. The position is part-time, and candidates should be prepared to commit to the project for the duration of the implementation cycle. There are no specified compensation details, as this is a volunteer role.