ICT Specialist at Ministry of Education

Job Description

Republic of Zambia

Ministry of Education
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
CONSULTING SERVICES – Individual Consultant Selection (Open; National)
COUNTRY: ZAMBIA
NAME OF PROJECT: GIRLS’ EDUCATION AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND LIVELIHOODS FOR HUMAN CAPITAL PROJECT Credit No: P181391
Assignment Title: Selection of Individual Consultants
Reference No.: MCDSS/SWL/C/2024

The Government of the Republic of Zambia has prioritized social protection as a mechanism to address poverty and vulnerability in the country. This prioritization is demonstrated through increased budgetary allocations, particularly to unconditional social assistance delivered through the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) program. The support for social assistance was furthered through the promotion of human capital initiatives using a “cash plus” approach primarily through the Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood (GEWEL) project by providing secondary school girls opportunities to complete their schooling. This was done through the Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) component of the GEWEL project.

The Project Development Objective (PDO) of GEWEL 2 is “to promote human capital development and productivity among poor and vulnerable girls and women, while strengthening adaptive social protection delivery systems”.

The human capital development aspect of the PDO will be measured through results in three interrelated areas: (a) the SCT as the foundational national social assistance program as an enabler for human capital development, with complementary activities aimed at (b) enhanced educational attainment at the upper primary and secondary school level by vulnerable adolescent girls and (c) improved nutrition outcomes among poor children and women in selected districts. Productivity will be measured through activities aimed at increasing earnings and economic inclusion of adult women to build climate adaptation and shock resilience, while strengthened adaptive SP systems. GEWEL 2 is comprised of four components to achieve the PDO, to be implemented over a four- year period from 2025 to 2028. These are: (a) Foundational Social Cash Transfer (SCT) and Nutrition; (b) Supporting Women’s Livelihoods and Beyond (SWL), (c) Supporting Women’s Livelihoods for Climate-Smart Productive Inclusion (SWL); and (d) Institutional Strengthening and Systems Building for Cash ‘Plus’ Delivery (ISSB).

The SWL component will target poor and vulnerable girls from SCT households to access upper primary (4-6) and secondary schools (7-12) in a cash ‘plus’ approach and provide the girls with financial support to school related costs and fees, while also scaling other support services, to increase access to school, improve retention, progression, and transition to tertiary and/or work.

The Government of the Republic of Zambia has therefore, received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Project under Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods for Human Capital Project – Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) and Beyond, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services as below.

ICT SPECIALIST (1)

Job Summary

The Information Technology specialist is responsible for installing, configuring and maintaining computer systems, software and networks. The specialist will act as a key technical expert, ensuring the smooth operation of computer systems, networks and software and providing support to user under the SWL initiative at HQ, Province and district levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

Design and implement, manage and maintain the Project MIS and other software solutions such a mobile smart application
Through the use of MIS systems, manage the electronic identification of beneficiary girls, enrolment, payment of school fees to schools including payment reconciliation, beneficiary school attendance, case management, grievance procedures and redress as well as management reporting;
Assist with the installation of new hardware and software and help train employees on its use;
Specify and manage a secure computer server room (data centre) as a primary location for the Project MIS and other software solutions;
Define and implement secure data storage & data back-up policies;
Define and implement a Disaster Recovery Policy including the provision of a secondary server hosting facility,
Working together with project district staff, manage emails from District, compile and summarize reports from Districts to make the payment of schools fees more efficient;
Oversee data entry and IT activities at province and district levels and supervise district data entry officers,
Generate periodic reports and analyses using the MIS on data collected from the field;
Support the piloting of innovations in mobile information technologies by the MIS, M&E and the broader SWL team such as the use of tablets, and assist with roll out as deemed feasible by Project Coordinator;
Work together with project staff to design M&E surveys and collection tools;
Maintain historical records by documenting system changes and revisions;
Provide useful advice to SWL MIS development consultants;
Perform troubleshooting and research toward the resolution of technology related problems;
Clean computer equipment and tools.

Qualification, Experience and Key Attributes

Full Grade 12 Certificate or Equivalent.
Bachelor’s Degree in Information System, Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field.
A Master’s degree in Information System, ICT, Computer Science or Information Technology is an added advantage.
Professional Certification in MIS, Database Management or ICT Security is an added advantage
Must be a member of ICTAZ
At least 7 years of experience in managing information systems.
Experience working with Donor funded project or Public Sector Programme is desirable
Strong experience in design, implementation and management of MIS Systems for large scale projects.
Proven ability to work with database management systems, data analysis software and information technology platforms (e.g. SQL, Oracle, or other data base management software).
Familiarity with social protection Programmes particularly in developing countries is highly desirable
Strong knowledge of data protection, information security protocols and best practices in handling sensitive data is desirable
Excellent skills in designing and implementing technical training and capacity building Programmes with proven experience in developing training materials and providing user support
Must possess strong organizational, communication and leadership skills.
Ability to manage teams and work in multidisciplinary teams.

REPORTING LINE:

The ICT specialist will be reporting to the Project Manager

Duration

The assignment is expected to last for an initial period of two years, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and project needs.

Performance Evaluation

Annual performance evaluations will be conducted at the end of each year using established key performance indicators (KPIs) based on targets as set out in the AWPB, Project document and Individual workplans. The consultant will be expected to meet the performance standards as agreed. Failure to meet these standards may result in performance improvement plans or other disciplinary action.

Procurement method

The Consultant will be hired and contracted as per the “Individual Consultant (IC) ” Selection method of World Bank Procurement Regulation (PR), September 2023.

Performance Evaluation

Annual performance evaluations will be conducted at the end of each year using established key performance indicators (KPIs) based on targets as set out in the AWPB, Project document and Individual work plans. The consultant will be expected to meet the performance standards as agreed. Failure to meet these standards may result in performance improvement plans or other disciplinary action.

Procurement method

The Consultant will be hired and contracted as per the “Individual Consultant (IC)” Selection method of World Bank Procurement Regulation (PR), September 2023.

The Ministry of Education through the GEWEL 2-SWL and Beyond, now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: Educational qualification. experience (general & specific) and knowledge in project management of World bank projects.

The Consultants will be selected through the Open Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants’ method in accordance with World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations, Revised September, 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”).

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn in particular to:

(i) Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the Procurement Regulations setting forth the World Bank’s policy on Conflict of Interest, and

(ii) Section III, paragraphs, 3.21-3.24 of the Procurement Regulations setting forth the World
Bank’s policy on Eligibility, including the specific pre-requisite conditions to be met for
the eligibility, on exceptional basis, of Government officials and civil servants of the Borrower’s country under consulting contracts in the Borrower’s country.

Individuals who are currently working as consultants on another World Bank-financed project may also compete in this selection process, but if they are selected they will be required before signing the proposed contract to provide documentary evidence of having satisfactorily complied with their existing contract’s requirements with respect to early termination of the contract by the consultant, including advance notice period, to avoid disruption in implementation of that project.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours [i.e. 08:00 to 17:00 hours].

Expressions of interest must be delivered in hard copy to the address on or before 22 November 2024 17:00 hours to the address below.

The Permanent Secretary- Administration

Ministry of Education

89 Corner of Chimanga & Mogadishu Roads

P.O. Box 50093,

LUSAKA-ZAMBIA