Post Title:International consultancy on Strengthening the DevInfo Data Management and Utilisation capacity in Tajikistan

Duration of contract: 15 Sep.2013 – 31 Dec.2013 (20 w/d)

Office location: Dushanbe

Closing date: 27 August 2013

Terms of Reference

Background

There is an acknowledged need to improve access to quality up-to-date information and strengthen national capacity of Government partners and UN agencies in monitoring, analysing, disseminating and reporting of progress and results on national human development indicators, particularly on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and theLiving Standards Improvement Strategy (LSIS) to enhance evidence-based policy and decision making in Tajikistan.

DevInfo is the software recommended by the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) to help monitor and report on MDGs. It can be used far beyond MDG monitoring at the national level by responding to a demand-driven process for a database system with the ability to capture data from various sectors and with options to harmonise multiple databases on human development at national and decentralised levels.DevInfo has been introduced first in Tajikistan through a series of trainings and workshops for national and international partners including ministries, international NGOs, officials from the regional administrations and UN agencies themselves from 2004 onwards.

The Agency on Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan (AS) hosts the DevInfo initiative and holds the responsibility of implementing the TojikInfo database within its mandate to collect, process and publish national statistical data. Based on the lessons learned in the past years, UNICEF is now providing support to the AS to implement the new TojikInfo database with emphasis on its sustainability and additionally to the existing and nascent systems.In June 2013 AS has established the formal Working Group (WG) on implementation of TojikInfo to enhance the sustainability of TojikInfo implementation. The WG consists of a Database Coordination Team which guides the process of developing and implementing the database and the Database Administration Team responsible for setting up the databases. Two Database Administrators and 3 Database operators make up a Database Administration Team. In addition to the capacity building activities that have been conducted in previous years, and taking into account the staff turnover in national institutions there is still a need to enhance the national institutional capacity in managing and using TojikInfo as a tool to support the evidence-based decision making to the benefit of children.

Goal

To provide high quality technical support to the Agency on Statistics and relevant national partners in preparation and finalization of the new TojikInfo/DevInfo database and conduct needs-based trainings on the DevInfo data administration and user applications in order to promote the use of high quality data and the evidence-based decision making.

Scope of work

  • Assessment of the existing DevInfo data administration capacity: Review and assess the existing staff capacity, quality and completeness of the databases, system structures, identified gaps in systems and processes (3 days)
  • Verification: Guide DAT in (a) carrying out data verification; (b) verifying the archive (backup) of data and maps uploaded into the database; (c) verifying the digital map library linked to data (2 day)
  • DevInfo Web Enabling: Provide technical support to the Data Administration Team in migratingthe TojikInfo database to the web and to provide advanced technical training on how to establish a web version of a DevInfo database, including the registration of the web site, hosting, creation of database on line, web database administration and data entry (2 days)
  • Provide on-site (advanced)Database Administration training and technical assistance on the DevInfo database model and development of automatic methods to convert/upload existing electronic databases,entering metadata, merging multiple data sets and uploading them into the database (at least 5 days inc. preparation)
  • Provide technical support and training in development of the DevInfo district profiles using the data collected for 3 priority districts (4 days inc. preparation)
  • Provide technical support in developing a DevInfo data dissemination (web) gallery of key data for use by all stakeholders, including UNICEF professionals using the new TojikInfo database (2 day)
  • Conduct a training on the DevInfo User Application for participants to be able to use the DevInfo database system to access data, query it and use the built-in wizards to create table, graph and map presentations (2 days inc. preparation)

Deliverables:

  1. Technical support is provided in data management and verification process (8 days):
  1. The quality of randomly selected indicators fromTojikInfo database (with data values, sources, maps and metadata),as well as availability of a hard copy and electronic archive is verified and recommendations on improving quality of the database are provided.
  2. District profiles are developed with the use of available data for 3 priority districts.
  3. The new verified TojikInfo database, as well as sample DI district profiles, are uploaded on the TojikInfo website.
  1. Capacity of national partners is improved (10 days):
  1. Needs-based(advanced) four-day data administration training is conducted.
  2. Three-day training on the development of district profiles is conducted.
  3. Needs-based one-day training on the use of the new TojikInfo database, as well as sample district profiles, is conducted.
  1. Final Report with narratives on (2 days):
  • Overall assessment of the existing DevInfo data administration capacity and system structures,including identified gaps in systems and processes
  • Recommendations to further strengthen the TojikInfo system

Requirements for implementing partner

  • Availability of expertise in data management, including data collection, data processing, data analysis and data dissemination
  • Availability of expertise in DevInfo data management techniques
  • Experience in providing DevInfo training and technical support
  • Previous experience with similar technical work with UNICEF or any other UN agency would be desirable
  • Fluency in English; knowledge of Russian or Tajik would be desirable

Duration of the assignment:

The estimated duration (15 Sep.-31 Dec.2013) of the technical support is 20 working days including two country visits. Two trainings should take place at the beginning of October and end of November 2013.

Payment Terms and Conditions:

Consultancy fee is negotiated based on the market price for the mentioned tasks. LS fee will be paid upon satisfactory completion of assignments and certification by the supervisor through bank transfer.

Travel cost and location:

The consultant is expected to visit Tajikistan. UNICEF will cover cost of round trip flights from/to the country of origin of the consultant to Dushanbe in economy class via the most direct and economical route. The consultant will receive UN-approved DSA while in Tajikistan. The consultant is responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visa, travel insurance and medical/ health insurance.

The consultant will be stationed in Dushanbe with travel to any region and district of Tajikistan as required. Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be paid as per UN rules.

Supervision

The Consultant will work under supervision of the UNICEF M&E Officer in close coordination with the Agency on Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan (RT) and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan.

Application:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a Letter of interest, CV, UN Personal History Form (P11)( at and references from previous consultancies to by the deadline of 27 August 2013.

In their Letter of Interest, candidates should highlight previous work experience relevant to the assignment, the attributes that make them suitable, their proposed approach to the assignment and their anticipated daily rate or all-inclusive lump-sum fee for the assignment, including time for preparation and the final report.

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