Consultant for Developing an Advanced Early Warning System (EWS) at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant for Developing an Advanced Early Warning System (EWS)

Ref No: 220008VN
Location: Abuja
Employee Status: Contingent

Background 

• In Nigeria, Save the Children has supported over one million children and families in 2022 by providing child protection, livelihoods, education programming, and through the distribution of non-food items in both humanitarian and development programs.
• Save the Children International currently works in 14 states across Nigeria. As the current situation remains in flux, we may well scale up in new additional areas as required.
• The main program sectors that SCI Nigeria is working in are Child Protection, Nutrition, Education, Food Security, and Livelihood and WASH.
• Save the Children aims to support a transformation in the aid system towards preventing and/or reducing the humanitarian impact of predictable crises on children and communities.
• This will include scaling up and integrating Anticipatory Action across operations and approaches; partnering strategically; contributing to learning and innovation on how Anticipatory Action can work best for children and influencing governments and donors to create an enabling environment for risk informed action.
• While SCI is currently monitoring early warning indicators in its current areas of operation, SCI is currently exploring the feasibility of establishing an online early warning system database where volunteers from hard-to-reach areas in NE and NW Nigeria would be trained in monitoring key social, political, security, and conflict developments.
• This will also include monitoring natural crises such as floods and disease outbreaks.
• Therefore, SCI Nigeria is seeking the services of a consultant(s)to develop and create an online system to manage early warning information of humanitarian crisis and disasters in Nigeria.

Objective

• The overall objective of the assignment is: to develop and create an online system to manage early warning information of humanitarian crisis and disasters in Nigeria.

Deliverables and Content
As a result of the engagement, SCI Nigeria will expect to receive the following deliverables from the consultant. These deliverables will be considered the measures of success for the assignment:

Development and creation of EWS:

• Lead the creation of the Early Warning System (web and mobile app), ensuring it meets Save the Children’s business requirement and design.
• Work closely with EWS PM and relevant staff to develop and validate the business requirements of EWS to ensure it meets the aims/ objectives of the project
• The indicators that the EWS platform would include would mainly focus on child rights violations, conflict escalation, natural disasters, and fundamentally the displacement and movement of those affected by the conflict.
• Develop harmonized system for warning and information dissemination
• Supports the management of the system after post go-live to deliver SCI’s objectives, making effective and efficient use of resources in the process.
• Producing detailed specifications and writing program codes.
• Promptly producing well-organized, optimized, and documented source code.
• Documentation of software tools and user manual

Testing and roll-out/ launch of EWS:

• Lead the testing of the system in a controlled situation before going live; creates testing plans for the system to ensure that they deliver the required results, reliably, safely and consistently.
• Presenting ideas for system improvements.

Training and capacity building:

• Assists in developing and managing the provision of training for staff, partners and volunteers in using the EWS
• Working closely with EWS to create system manuals and training documents, data sharing policies.

Key Stakeholders:
Internal:

• SCI Nigeria country office:
  • The focal point for this consultancy will be SCI EWS Project Manager and Programme Operations Director.  
  • Other key SCI Nigeria staff that will provide guidance and information will be SCI Nigeria’s Country Director, Head of Safety and Security, PDQ Director and other SCI SMT members and Field Managers. SCI staff will facilitate logistical support; arrange/attend meetings; provide interpretation if necessary; and provide background information concerning SCI Nigeria’s capabilities in EWS; and give feedback on the feasibility/appropriateness of proposed strategies.  
• SCI Regional Office:
  • Operations team.
  • Regional Strategic Analyst. 

External:

• Local authorities
• UN agencies
• INGOs
• Existing partners
• Potential partners, etc. 

Tentative Time Frame:

• This consultancy should not last more than 3 months. Start date: January 2023 arriving in Abuja, end date: 24th March 2023 departing from Abuja. 

Requirements
The consultants should have the following experience and skills:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in the analysis and design of early warning systems.
• Extensive experience in designing early warning systems for INGOs
• Strong understanding, knowledge, and experience in conducting national early warning review, design and technical support.
• Ability to write and communicate complex messages and ideas clearly and effectively.
• Experience in working with NGO’s/INGOs/Donors and Government
• Understanding and commitment to Save the Children ’s vision, mission, and values  

Selection Criteria:
Essential Criteria: (Mandatory Requirement)

• Evidence of business registration from the country of residence is required for a firm.
• Evidence of Tax in country of residence should be provided.
• Conformity to SCI Mandatory Polices. (Child safeguarding, Human trafficking and modern slavery, Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse; Anti-harassment, intimidation, and bullying) Applicant should sign SCI bidder response form.

Capability (50):

• Extensive experience in designing early warning systems for INGOs/ NGOs/ Donors and Government (Sample of work on early warning should be provided)
• Strong understanding, knowledge, and experience in conducting national early warning review, design, and technical support. Evidence to be provided
• Experience in training on similar job (Evidence to be provided)
• Detailed CV of the proposed team (Evidence to be provided,
• Interview: Bidder demonstrates understanding of the required services during the interview.

Sustainability (10):

• The bidder demonstrates experience and understanding of local context and community
• Bidder demonstrates a strong understanding of local context and community.
• Bidder should provide evidence in whatever form to proof this.

Financial 40 Marks:

• This entails financial estimation of the bidder for the consultancy.

Eligibility:

• This consultancy is open to both individuals and firms to participate.

Working Conditions:

• SCI Nigeria will provide the consultants with transportation, per diem and office space while in Nigeria.
• SCI Nigeria will provide accommodations for overnight stays.
• SCI Nigeria will also introduce the consultants to the key contacts for this work.
• Extensive fieldwork will be required during the first few days.
• Security induction will be provided with clear instructions about the movements within northeast and northwest Nigeria.   

Code of Conduct:

• Save the Children's work is based on deeply held values and principles of child safeguarding and it is essential that our commitment to children's rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff and other people working for and with Save the Children.
• Save the Children 's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members and consultants must adhere to.
• All consultants are bound by the principles and conditions of Save the Children ’s Code of Conduct and will need to sign it before commencing the assignment.

Payment Details

• Payment will be in accordance with a detailed budget breakdown as submitted through the proposal, and invoices will be expected from the consultant prior to payment. 
• Save the Children Nigeria will pay the consultant according to Save the Children’s guidelines on procurement of services.
• A contract will be signed by the consultant before commencement of the action.
• The contract will detail terms and conditions of service, aspects on inputs and deliverables.

Application Closing Date
21st December, 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified consultants should send their Proposals to: [email protected] using "RFP220769 (CONSULTANCY FOR DEVELOPING AN ADVANCED EARLY WARNING SYSTEM (EWS) FOR SCI NIGERIA)" as the subject of the email.

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Application Requirements
Candidates interested in the position will be expected to provide the following documentation:

• Cover Letter
• Detailed technical and financial proposal
• CVs of consultants with a minimum of 3 traceable and recent referees
• Company profile if relevant
• Initial work plan and availability of the consultant
• Sample of previous work done. This could be tools, guidelines or approved assignment reports.