Terms of Reference for Dashboard Development for Early Warning and Early Action under CRESS Programme in Somaliland

Terms of Reference for Dashboard Development for Early Warning and Early Action under CRESS Programme in Somaliland

1. Background

Concern Worldwide is a humanitarian organization dedicated to reducing suffering and improving the lives of vulnerable communities. In Somaliland, the CRESS Programme is designed to address the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in rural Somaliland by working to sustain and protect the natural environment, provide livelihood support to the most vulnerable households, and increase the participation and decision-making ability of women at household and community level. The programme has the following three expected outcomes:

1.       Sustained and restored natural environment in Somaliland.

2.       Increased community and government capacity to anticipate, adapt to and absorb climate change induced hazards in Somaliland.

3.       Increased participation and influence of women in leadership and decision-making at household and community level in Somaliland.

Recognizing the critical role of early warning systems in mitigating risks and enhancing community resilience. The Programme aims to develop a comprehensive early warning and early action dashboard to centralize data monitoring and visualization, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of its disaster preparedness and response efforts.

2. Project Objective

To develop a comprehensive, real-time dashboard to support the analysis of field-based data collected from nine villages in the Awdal and Gabiley regions of Somaliland. The dashboard will facilitate timely analysis, enable automatic alerts based on predefined indicators and thresholds, and support timely decision-making processes.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. Design and Development:

a)       Designing a user-friendly interface that caters for the specific needs of the Programme

b)      Developing backend systems to handle data input, processing, and visualization.

c)       Creating alert systems for data thresholds.

1. Integration and data protection:

a)       Ensuring the dashboard integrates seamlessly with existing data collection and management systems in place such as ONA/ODK Platform.

b)      Ensuring data security and compliance with EU General Data Protection Regulation.

1. Testing and Deployment:

a)       Conducting thorough testing of the dashboard to ensure reliability and efficiency.

b)      Deploying the dashboard in a live environment so as to view its status and success especially with live data.

1. Training and Capacity Building:

a)       Providing comprehensive training to Concern Worldwide Programme staff and VDC members.

b)      Developing easy-to-understand training materials.

       v.            Maintenance and Support:

a)       Providing technical support and maintenance for six months period after deployment.

b)      Outlining a clear maintenance strategy for future needs.

c)       Work with 2 Concern staff to trouble shoot the systems and being available when call upon for immediate support within the 6 months

4. Deliverables

Initial Prototype: Due within two weeks of project initiation.

Final Dashboard: Fully functional dashboard deployed within one month.

Training Materials: Training guides and materials for end-users.

Maintenance Plan: Detailed maintenance and technical support plan.

5. Timeline

Project Start Date: The project to start upon signing the contract with the consultant.

Prototype Review: one month after project start.

Final Review and Launch: One month after project start.

6. Consultant Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience in developing dashboards.
• Strong background in software development, especially in Tableau, Power BI (Microsoft), Looker (Google Cloud) etc.
• Experience in handling and visualizing early warning data and demographics.
• Previous experience working in the humanitarian sector, preferably in Somalia or similar contexts.
• Fluent in English, with knowledge of Somali being an added advantage.

7. Budget

Concern will cover the budget for the consultancy services related to dashboard development

The consultant will focus on delivering the technical components, ensuring rigorous adherence to the project specifications and timelines.

8. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Technical expertise and previous experience (40%)
• Approach to project management and feasibility of timeline (20%)
• Cost-effectiveness of the proposal (30%)
• Understanding of the local context and sensitivity to the needs of the target community (10%)

9. Submission Guidelines

• Proposal Deadline: 30th June 2024
• Submission Format: Proposals should be submitted in PDF format via email to [email protected]

10. Terms and Conditions

• Confidentiality: All Dashboard details and data are confidential and should be handled as per the guidelines provided by Concern Worldwide Somaliland Programme.
• Compliance: The consultant must comply with Somaliland laws applicable to Data Protection.