Recruitment of Information Technology Specialist

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.: ……………………

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 Keeping Girls in School (KGS) 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) Keeping Girls in School and Beyond (KGS); (c) Supporting Women’s Livelihoods for Climate-Smart Productive Inclusion (SWL); and (d) Institutional Strengthening and Systems Building for Cash ‘Plus’ Delivery (ISSB).

The KGS 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 – Keeping Girls in School (KGS) and Beyond, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services as below:

• IT 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 KGS 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 KGS 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 KGS MIS development consultants;

• Perform troubleshooting and research toward the resolution of technology related problems;

• Clean computer equipment and tools.

Qualification, Experience and Key Attributes

• BSc. Computer Science/ Information System;

• Master’s Degree in a relevant field is an added advantage;

• 3 or more years of experience in a similar role;

• Proficient in several programming languages;

• Experienced writing code;

• Expert level in Microsoft Office Applications, including Project;

• Excellent written and oral communication skills;

• Familiar with a range of software and hardware;

• Previous technical support role;

• Valid membership with the Information and Communication Technology Association of Zambia (ICTAZ) is a must.

REPORTING LINE: The IT specialist will be reporting to the Project Coordinator

Duration and Location

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

• The consultant will be based at the Ministry of Education Headquarters in Lusaka, with occasional travel to Provincial and district Offices.

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.

The Ministry of Education through the GEWEL 2 – KGS 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:

• 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

• 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 below by 15:00 hours Zambian Time on 20th November 2024.

The Permanent Secretary – Administration

Ministry of Education

89 Corner of Chimanga & Mogadishu Roads

P.O. Box 50093,

LUSAKA-ZAMBIA