Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) - (Consulting & Retainership Services) at Oxfam

Summary

• Oxfam is currently implementing various numbers of projects which includes PRO_ACT Resilient livelihood and food security Gender, Advocacy and campaign and WASH & Village Savings and Loan Association projects. In all these projects data collection is critical for different types of surveys that will be embarked upon in the lifetime of these projects, hence the need for employing the services of a Consultant on retainer-ship for ICT4D solutions for real time data collection as well as having a safe database sources for all quantitative data collected on the above mentioned projects.

Specific Objectives

• To ensure safe data sources for all Oxfam projects.
• To ensure real time data collection for all Oxfam projects.
• To guarantee effective and efficient database management of all Oxfam projects.
• To enhance the capacity of field agents, project and M&E unit’s officers on ICT4D solutions for real time data collection in all Oxfam projects.
• To create a platform for easy analysis and visual display of data collected with interpretations.
• To support documentation of data collected on genuine evidence based stories of change.

Purpose

• To establish ICT4D consulting and retainer ship agreements with a reputable Information Technology organization that have the expertise to deliver on different types of ICT4D solutions for real time data collections, management, analysis, interpretation and reporting on all Oxfam- projects.

Scope of Work

• Coding quantitative and qualitative data collection tools on Open Data Kit for surveys conducted by Oxfam projects.
• Develop a platform for collecting, managing and updating project specific monitoring data agreed on with Oxfam.
• Training of enumerators on newly design (ODK, Kobotoolbox, or survey CTO) data collection tools and supervising of field data collection for any assigned survey
• Developing of necessary portal links for platforms developed for all ODK tools design for data collection.
• Clean and submit all field data collected to Oxfam M&E Unit
• Linking existing databases and blogs to the Oxfam data.org platform.
• Linking and managing mobile IT based platform for information sharing with targeted Oxfam project beneficiaries.
• Creation of view of data using visualization tools.
• Provide access to field data through a secured channel.
• Provide first line Last Mile Mobile Service (LMMS) support to cash transfer programming
• Any other ad-hoc or continuous support service required on ICT solutions.
• Inclusion of any new ICT4D solution innovations that maybe necessary to support Oxfam projects data collection, management, analysis and interpretation in the scope of work framework agreement as maybe required.

Methodology:

• The Consultant will work in dose consultation with the Oxfam MELSA Unit, Project and partner staff and Community stakeholders.

Responsibilities of the Consultant

• The Consultant holds the overall responsibility of conducting and producing a final report of any assigned ICT4D solutions task.
• The Consultant will lead in all technical facilitation.
• The consultant will train all Oxfam, partner staff and field enumerators on application of systems and tools for any I(DT4D solutions task.
• The Consultant will adhere to the timelines of the Consultancy
• The Consultant will ensure adherences to Oxfam ethical policies and guidelines.

Responsibilities of Oxfam

• Support the coordination and implementation of data collection processes with approved Consultant(s).
• Review methodology, tools, sample design and reports generated from ICT solution platforms.
• OXFAM will organize logistics and provide devices and accessories for mobile data collection for any consultancy.
• Have proprietary rights over all data generated from any survey study.
• Fund the activity budget
• Final approval of any submitted survey data report
• Provide all required background material to the Consultant in a timely manner.
• Oversee the service provided by managing the Consultancy contract, monitor adherence to specified deadlines and facilitating access to required information.
• Provide guidance throughout and facilitating access to any documentation deemed relevant to the process.
• Perform quality control checks, as is required of all deliverables.

Consulting and Retainership Duration:

• The services to be provided by the ICT solution organization is to run for the period
• Task: Designing and deploying of Oxfam projects ICT4D solutions for any assigned task.
• Time Frame: April 2017 to April 2018 renewable annually after satisfactory review
• Responsible: Consultant
• Supervisor: Oxfam MEAL Unit

Management, Ownership and Disclosure of Data/Information

• All tool designs data and information collected and documentation shall be treated as confidential and be made available to any third party with Oxfam approval.
• All materials support given my Oxfam including mobile data collection devices and other accessories shall be returned to Oxfam upon completion of any exercise with ICT components.
• All documentation and reports of survey result or otherwise related to it, shall remain the property of OXFAM and no part of the report shall be reproduced except with the prior, expressed and specific written permission of OXFAM.

Management Team:

• The management team of any contracted ICT assigned exercise will be composed of the following Consultants (IT and Technical experts with statistical and analytical skills) with the support of partners’ field officers and enumerators, and MELSA Officers to support Consultants and field officers on data collection.
• Also the MELSA coordinator and other Technical Staff involved in critical decisions making on the data collected before submissions for clearance and approval to the Head of Programs for pivotal decisions.

Qualification or Specialised Knowledge/Experience Required

• The Consultant must have a demonstrated ability to conceptualise approaches of designing a system, tools and processes for all ICT4D responsibilities.
• The lead consultant must have an Advanced University degree (Master Level minimum) in Information, Communication and Technology Computer Science or any other related field. Additional experience on program thematic areas such as food security and poverty reduction, gender, advocacy and campaign water/village savings and loan association data collection tools and processes.
• Minimum of 5 years relevant practical field experience in applying ICT4D solutions in programs development work, especially relevant experiences in designing tools and processes for agricultural food security and livelihood, , Gender, Advocacy and campaign, Water and Village savings and loan associations. etc.
• Fluency in English and Hausa is required.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills in both languages
• Experience m conducting surveys on project evaluation, monitoring, researches, case study stories of change in target communities.
• High level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high.pressure situations under tight datelines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• The consultant must be proficient in statistics and familiar with suitable statistical software e.g. cxcel/SPSS for data management.
• Firm must have experience in using mobile phone technology (ODK) for data collection, monitoring and reporting
• The ICT4D consultant must have strong analytical skills and ability to dearly synthesize and present reports with findings, from data collected and make recommendations in a timely manner.
• Availability of the Consultant

Payment Milestones

• The consultant will he paid for any of the ICT4D responsibility as designed for in the terms of reference and approved budget for such task.
• Oxfam in Nigeria invites bids from organizations or individuals, with experience and skills described above. Joint bids are also welcome. Tenders should include:
  • A cover letter introducing the Information Technology organization and how the skills and competencies described above arc met, with concrete examples;
  • A 2-page outline of the proposed including: Proposed outline methodology; and management arrangement
  • A total budget/cost proposal
• One example of a previous ICT4D solutions job done (one each for joint bids, if applicable)