Terms of Reference: M&E Platform Development Consultancy
Introduction: The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a leading Africa-based, African-led, international research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with a regional office in Dakar, Senegal.
Our researchers are contributing to the body of evidence about the critical issues in population health and wellbeing impeding Africa’s development in order to provide strong direction and recommendations to policy- and decision-makers at all levels.
Our priority research areas are Human Development, Health and well-being, Data Science and Evaluation, and Population Dynamics and Urbanization in Africa.
In addition to the research component, APHRC has other programmatic areas in Research and Related Capacity Strengthening, Policy Engagement and Communications, and International programs.
APHRC is seeking firms/ individual consultants to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Platform for the Center (including the West Africa Regional Office), to use across its divisions, programmatic and project levels. The M&E platform will be customizable and adaptable to the corporate Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan 2022-2026.
It will standardize and streamline processes for data collection, importing, integration, reporting, monitoring, and tracking progress against set indicators and targets.
It will provide an interactive dynamic visualization dashboard, GIS, and data management platform and generate holistic M&E reports that support decision-making process and contribute to transparency and accountability.
The main objective of the consultancy is to establish a web-based M&E Platform by building a custom platform using web development technologies or frameworks and aligning the system to APHRC processes and procedures.
Scope of Work
The firm/ individual consultant will work to carry out the following tasks:
- Develop an M&E platform and align it to APHRC’s processes and procedures.
- Integrate the platform with Microsoft Dynamics365 ERP and REDCap Software so as to pull relevant project-related data into the platform using web services for analysis and producing necessary reports.
- Configure the hierarchy of APHRC by its divisions, units, regional office, and level of intervention.
- Integrate Multi-Source Data Analytic and Triangulation resource through interoperability.
- Set up the performance-tracking module that flags KPIs that are non-performing through tracking and monitoring the KPIs set target against the planned within the specified project timeline.
- Set up live and test instances – configure security controls on the server, secure domain, and backup utilities, server monitoring tools on the server;
- Customize all the APHRC data collection tools into the custom database through mobile apps.
- Design data entry forms and customize the database with the geographic reach, indicators, organization units, user roles.
- Develop dashboards with frequently used favorites and standard reports based on the user-determined information products.
- Configure the GIS module to visualize the progress of activities and trends of different project interventions across units on GIS maps.
- Develop a data import module in the system for the existing excel database.
- Set quality assurance parameters (e.g., approval and acceptance of data) and data validation rules.
- Develop an automated program for reports and dashboards, with the possibility of linking to the data reporting tool in Excel.
- Determine and develop various types of reporting content, formats, and frequency based on indicator plan and donor requirements.
- Configure the data visualizer for the database to generate the required reports.
- Configure mobile (light and smartphone) data entry modules to ensure data entry via mobile devices.
- Configure SMS reminders as required.
- Configure the user rights module which can later be used to assign the access of database to the users as per their role in the organization.
- Configure the data administration module to ensure the proper administration of the database.
- Develop training materials for the core team and also train the core team on customization, system management, and administration.
Other Requirements for Consultant
Testing and security
- Vulnerability testing of all software code must be performed before going live. A comprehensive back-up system must be included in the end product, such that data resources are secure and replicated at regular intervals.
Review and testing
- Facilitate alpha-testing with APHRC Corporate M&E team.
- Conduct beta-testing with a group of Center researchers to assess the user-experience and improve the concept.
- If needed, send complex issues back to step 2 in order to be assessed in future sprints
Hosting options
- Explore and present feasible and reliable hosting options. Support APHRC to host the database on one of the selected hosting solutions.
Staff training and capacity building
- Train and mentor key staff to properly develop, use, update and make changes to the database system. Create User Manual.
Source code / design
- Complete source code, design of the final application and database will be the property of APHRC. The consultant will hand over all required materials to APHRC.
Confidentiality
- Due to the sensitivity of programming, the Consultant must sign a confidentiality agreement.
Ownership and Intellectual Property
APHRC shall acquire the ownership of all assignment deliverables in their tangible form (both hard and soft copies, including the customized source code) and the right to use them as required.
The deliverables in any circumstances should not be published or used by the consultant without the permission of APHRC.
Required Qualifications
- A degree in related disciplines e.g. software engineering, computer science, computer engineering or any relevant field. Understanding of statistical analysis using such tools as STATA, R etc. is an added advantage.
- Proven work experience as a Data/System Analyst and Developer including use of web enabled systems.
- Strong experience in Software Development (i.e web development in JS, PHP and HTML); MS SQL development, 5 years (Preferred), Production Support, 3 years (Preferred), Azure DB, 2 years (Preferred), Stored Procedures, 5 years (Preferred)
- Proven skills in writing SQL code, designing new systems, understanding front-end-users’ requirements and have a problem-solving attitude.
- Experience with major enterprise database programs, such as Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services, NoSQL databases. Net Framework, JavaScript, HTML, PHP, and Oracle.
- Knowledge and understanding of object oriented programming using any scripting language frameworks or at least one of the .NET languages (e.g. C#, Visual Basic .NET MVC and understanding of its entity frameworks) and HTML5/CSS3.
- Hands-on experience with architecture styles/APIs (REST, RPC).
- Ability to create web pages to show online reports to application users using pivot reports, detailed data pages, grid views and tables.
- Experience with jQuery to bring dynamic behavior to the web page and also perform AJAX calls to the MVC controllers.
- Understanding of agile methodologies.
- Excellent skills in debugging and troubleshooting user sessions and solving bugs.
- Ability to analyze and critique requirements and make recommendations on possible solution designs.
- Ability to create complex functions, scripts, stored procedures and triggers to support application development.
- Ability to complete work independently, incorporate client feedback, and deliver on time.
- Experience in training facilitation, mentoring and capacity development.
- Good oral and written communication skills, including presentations.
- Prior experience in development of an information management system for humanitarian organization will be an added advantage.
Deliverables
- APHRC expects the consultant to complete and submit the following deliverables:
- A comprehensive strategy along with the work plan at the start of the consultancy indicating the major milestones for the completion of the assignment.
- Report of the requirement specifications including the list of organizational units, KPIs, data sets, data entry forms, reporting formats, and other modules as required.
- Complete structure of database containing the organization structure, data sets, indicators, data entry forms, data visualization, and any other data points as required.
- Configured data administration, data quality and uses modules.
- Data entry set up for online and offline modules as well as for mobile data collection plans and technological approaches.
- Reporting modules.
- Custom platform database testing and deployment plan, including hosting options both on APHRC servers or other hosting options.
- Initial maintenance plan after final deployment.
- Training plan for staff users.
- Final presentation/workshop for relevant staff.
- Completed User Manual for the database system.
Technical Proposal
APHRC expects not more than 15 pages of a technical proposal that must include the following points:
- A description of your experience customizing and deploying custom dashboards by consuming endpoints/web services;
- A description of your proposed method for completing the project, to include planning sessions, the outline of the key steps and the sequence of the work, etc.;
- A clear and detailed timeframe to complete the tasks, with an indication of timelines against individual deliverables;
- A detailed description of integration with the Microsoft Dynamics 365 through OData web services to allow the custom platform to fetch project-related data for analysis and producing necessary reports.
- A complete list of references of clients with demo links to previous work that the consultant has worked with on a similar assignment.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send the technical proposal to consultancies@aphrc.org and copy procurement@aphrc.org with the subject “APHRC M&E Platform Developer” by 4th November 2022.
APHRC will contact the shortlisted candidates only.
Cover letters should be addressed to:
The Human Resources Officer
African Population and Health Research Center, Inc
APHRC Campus, Manga Close, off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru
P. O. Box 10787-GPO, Nairobi
Website: www.aphrc.org
APHRC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the protection of vulnerable persons.