REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Consultancy on Africa Information Highway : Technical Experts to support
field work in Lusophone countries.
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Statistics Department (ECST)
Avenue Joseph Anoma
01 B.P. 1387
Abidjan 01
Cote d’ivoire
Email : k.l.kouakou@afdb.org
Background :
The AfDB launched the African Information Highway (AIH) initiative in 2012 (www.afdb.org/statistics) with the objective of increasing public access to official statistics in Africa. Under the program, Open Data Portals with common IT Platforms have been installed in all 54 African countries and 16 African sub-regional and regional organizations. The initiative aims at positioning AfDB as the hub for development data on RMCs by establishing live data links between AfDB, National Statistical Agencies, Central Banks and Line Ministries, on one hand; and RMCs with each other and with other external development partners, on the other.
Objectives of the Assignement :
Besides its other functionalities, the Open Data Portal (ODP) also incorporates a data submission tool that facilitates reporting of country data to the AfDB or any other organization, via the application of Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) standards. The Bank has been partnering with the IMF to install this system in all African countries. The institutions have carried out joint missions to 25 countries so far. The objective of these missions has been to train/assist these countries to use the ODP as a means for the submission of data to the IMF.
Main activities and deliverables :
The consultant is expected to travel extensively within the region, and will be primarily involved in supporting the AIH work in the field.
Activities:
The consultant will be recruited to complete the following activities:
- Undertake missions to RMCs to train and/or support the implementation, update and management of their Open Data and SDGs Portals.
- Ensure that all portals falling under his responsibility contain up to date content.
- Undertake AfDB/IMF joint missions to introduce countries to the Data Submission Tool (DST) and to the ODP.
- Conduct Open Data portals performance assessment and propose new strategies to best support countries to upgrade their portal performances.
- Assist/Guide RMCs in preparing progress reports on the AIH implementation. Together, analyse these reports in terms of problems and actions needed.
- Identify barriers to effective data portal management and work with the AIH focal persons to develop appropriate supportive strategies/solutions.
- Identify equipment needs, delivery systems, personnel requirements that ensure broad country support for the AIH.
- Regularly prepare a storyline for the ECST newsletter after participation on missions.
- Have a mastery of the English, Portuguese languages and some French
- Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Task Manager.
- The Statistics Department (ECST) invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-described services. Interested Consultants shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake this Assignment (documents, reference to similar services, experience in similar assignments, etc.).
- The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Procurement Policy for Recruitment of Corporate Consultants. Please, note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include him/her in the shortlist.
- The estimated duration of services is twelve Months (12) and the estimated starting date is 30th April 2019.
- Interested Individual Consultants may obtain further information at the address below during the Bank’s working hours: from 08:00 to 17:00 Hours, Abidjan Local Time.
Expression of interest must be received at address not later than 10th th April 2019 at 15:00 hours Abidjan local time, and specifically mentioning: Technical Experts to support field work in Lusophone Countries.
For Attention of Mrs. Adingra Bossoma Rose-Marie :
Statistics Department (ECST)
Avenue Joseph Anoma
01 B.P. 1387
Abidjan 01
Côte d’Ivoire
Phone: (+225) 20 26 4634
E-mail : b.adingra @AFDB.ORG
Requests for clarifications may be sent to: C.BARADANDIKANYA@AFDB.ORG
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SHORT LIST
A shortlist of three to six individual consultants will be established at the end the request of expressions of interest. The consultants on the shortlist will be judged on the following criteria on the basis of their updated resume.
| General qualifications and adequacy for the proposed Assignment | 30% |
| Similar experience in the area of expertise of the Assignment as described in | |
| the Terms of Reference (and understanding of the Terms of Reference if required) | 60% |
| Experience with the Bank or other international donors | 10% |
| Language proficiency | 5% |
| Knowledge of the Region (environment of the Assignment) if the Consultant will Undertake the Assignment in a Member Country | 5% |
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy on Africa Information Highway: Technical Experts to support field work in Lusophones
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Statistics Department (ECST)
Avenue Joseph Anoma
01 B.P. 1387
Abidjan 01
Cote d’ivoire
Email : k.l.kouakou@afdb.org;
Background :
The AfDB launched the African Information Highway (AIH) initiative in 2012 (www.afdb.org/statistics) with the objective of increasing public access to official statistics in Africa. Under the program, Open Data Portals with common IT Platforms have been installed in all 54 African countries and 16 African sub-regional and regional organizations. The initiative aims at positioning AfDB as the hub for development data on RMCs by establishing live data links between AfDB, National Statistical Agencies, Central Banks and Line Ministries, on one hand; and RMCs with each other and with other external development partners, on the other.
Objectives of the Assignement
Besides its other functionalities, the Open Data Portal (ODP) also incorporates a data submission tool that facilitates reporting of country data to the AfDB or any other organization, via the application of Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) standards. The Bank has been partnering with the IMF to install this system in all African countries. The institutions have carried out joint missions to 25 countries so far. The objective of these missions has been to train/assist these countries to use the ODP as a means for the submission of data to the IMF.
Main activities and deliverables
The consultant is expected to travel extensively within the region, and will be primarily involved in supporting the AIH work in the field.
Activities:
The consultant will be recruited to complete the following activities:
- Undertake missions to RMCs to train and/or support the implementation, update and management of their Open Data Portals.
- Ensure that all portals falling under his responsibility contain up to date content.
- Undertake AfDB/IMF joint missions to introduce countries to the Data Submission Tool (DST) and to the ODP.
- Conduct Open Data portals performance assessment and propose new strategies to best support countries to upgrade their portal performances.
- Assist/Guide RMCs in preparing progress reports on the AIH implementation. Together, analyze these reports in terms of problems and actions needed.
- Identify barriers to effective data portal management and work with the AIH focal persons to develop appropriate supportive strategies/solutions.
- Identify equipment needs, delivery systems, personnel requirements that ensure broad country support for the AIH.
- Regularly prepare a storyline for the ECST newsletter after participation on missions.
- Have a mastery of the English, Portuguese languages and some French
- Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Task Manager.
Deliverables:
The consultant will be required to submit a written report after each visit to a country implementation outlining key recommendations.
Administration and Reporting :
Under the overall guidance of the Division Managers of ECST.1 and ECST.2 and the general supervision of project’s Task Manager, the consultant will report directly on a day-to-day basis to the Senior Technical Expert.
Duration of the Assignment :
The duration of this contract is twelve (12) months renewable based on performance.
Qualifications and Experience Required :
The successful candidate should have demonstrated superior skills in working effectively with a wide variety of Statistical platforms. He/she needs to be able to provide training to counterparts in RMCs, and build capacity on management of the AIH.
In addition, the successful candidate should have:
- A University Degree in Database Management, IT, Statistics or related field
- A minimum of five (5) years working experience working on the field in RMCs
- Excellent knowledge of Information and Technology Systems especially as used in developing countries for statistical purposes.
- Familiarity with and a supportive attitude towards processes of strengthening local capacities and Statistical agencies.
- Expertise in field data collection, statistical analysis, data dissemination.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
- Ability and willingness to travel regularly within Africa.
Other Competencies :
- Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners;