Recruitment of a Consulting firm to provide Technical Assessment of Information flow and data management on early warning systems in Sierra Leone

Date of Issue: 12th June 2024

Country: Republic of Sierra Leone

Name of Project: Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project

Consulting Services: Recruitment of a Consulting firm to provide Technical Assessment of Information flow and data management on early warning systems in Sierra Leone

Reference No: SL-MOFED-420992-CS-QCBS

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• Introduction

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) has committed to transforming its economy based on a more inclusive and human-centric digital growth and development approach. A high-level vision for the digital economy is articulated in the new National Digital Development Policy (NDDP), which was approved by the Cabinet in December 2021 setting the GoSL’s vision to transform Sierra Leone into an inclusive digital economy and society and to leverage digital technology to support the GoSL to deliver on its national development plan effectively and efficiently. The Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP) aims to expand access to broadband internet, increase digital skills and improve government capacity to deliver public services digitally. The project will support the development of a strong enabling environment for the nation’s digital transformation and digital development agenda as articulated in the National Digital Development Strategy.

The Directorate of Risk Reduction and Preparedness manages and coordinates community early warning in parallel with Sierra Leone Meteorology Agency and the National Water Resources Management Agency. It is the desire of National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to collaborate with other institutions to build and institutionalize a robust early warning and response system to effectively respond to disasters through reinforced governance and management architecture for national disaster related issues. This will lead to the establishment of an integrated early warning and related data management system to support the agency and partners.

A fundamental precondition for national disaster risk reduction is availability of well-functioning early warning systems that deliver accurate, reliable, and understandable warnings, in a timely manner, to authorities, operational disaster managers and populations at risk, to enable early actions to reduce the impacts of potential disasters. To achieve this, the NDMA in collaboration with other institutions is determined to establish an early warning mechanism that will provide timely and effective information, through identified institutions, that allows individuals exposed to hazard to take action to avoid or reduce their risk and prepare for effective response. Such systems must fulfill the four components of Early Warning System as prescribed by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and rely on commitment, collaboration, coordination, and information sharing among different stakeholders, at different levels (international, regional, national, local).

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• Objectives

In order to address the above challenges, the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP) is seeking to hire a consulting firm for the NDMA to carry out a study to (1) assess the key digital infrastructure needs for enabling core communication functions (e.g., internet connectivity, servers for data storage and sharing, software) of early warning systems and (2) analyze, map, and assess information flow and data management related to early warning systems in Sierra Leone. The objective of the consultancy is to review the current digital infrastructure and information flow and data management related to early warning systems in Sierra Leone, analyze the business requirements, and design a resilient, fit-for-purpose modern collaborative early warning system for NDMA and partners. The Consultant is expected to develop the Terms of Reference for the procurement of such an early warning system development service, which includes detailed system requirements specifications. Following the award of the contract, the Consultant will be expected to support the NDMA as a business analyst/product owner with the designated implementation team supporting the development of the proposed Early Warning System in an iterative and incremental software development process over the period of assignment. The report should include targeted dissemination, and communication and response capability. The consultant will be required to map all stakeholders, systems, resources, and current data management and information pathways. A technical assessment of the current state and recommendations based on findings and needs will be required.

The Project Coordination Unit of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project now invites eligible consulting firms (“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: core business and years in business, relevant experience, technical and managerial capability of the firm. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section 111 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016 Revised November 2017, August 2018, November 2020, September 2023, and National Public Procurement Act 2016, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Base Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information and detailed Terms of Reference can be obtained at the link below: https://moic.gov.sl/sldtp-job-advert/

Expressions of interest must be delivered in written form to the address below by e-mail on or before 27th June 2024 at 12:00 GMT.

Ag. Project Coordination Unit

Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project

Attn: The Project Coordinator

8th Floor,

Youyi Building

E-mail: [email protected] CC: [email protected]

Please indicate clearly the Name of the Assignment in the email subject heading and attachment as only electronic submissions will be accepted.