Replacement of Data Entry Clerk

KINGDOM OF LESOTHO

MINISTRY OF GENDER, YOUTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROJECT (PSLP)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES- INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS SELECTION METHOD)

LOAN NO: P177814

CREDIT NO: IDA -71480 -LS

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: DATA ENTRY CLERK

REFERENCE NO: LS-MOSD-480181-CS-INDV

DURATION: SIX (6) MONTHS

• OVERALL CONTEXT

Lesotho ranks highest amongst the countries which spend significant resources on social assistance programs in Africa. Lesotho’s social assistance programs tackle vulnerabilities throughout the life cycle from children to the elderly. The Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development (MGYSD) is administering four key social assistance programs, namely the Child Grant Program (CGP), the Public Assistance (PA), the Disability Grant (DG), the Old Age Pensions (OAP) and the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Bursary program (OVC-Bursary, for secondary students). The CGP programs supports around 50,000 poor households with children under the age of 18 with a quarterly transfer. The PA program supports 15,000 poor and destitute adults with quarterly transfers. The DG program supports 2500 persons with disability from the poor and destitute households with quarterly transfers as well. The OAP program pays a monthly social pension to 82,000 elderly Basotho over the age of seventy (70). OVC-Bursaries are transferred directly to schools to cover tuition and other expenses for over 24,000 vulnerable children. Several other social assistance programs also exist but the CGP, PA, DG and OAP programs are the flagship cash transfer programs implemented by MGYSD and make up a large share of the Government to People (G2P) payments in Lesotho.

The current social assistance payment delivery mechanisms of the cash transfer program -- CGP, PA, DG and OAP -- are largely through in-person cash delivery via a Cash-In-Transit agency or by social assistance payment officers directly. Beneficiaries gather and queue at hundreds of pay points throughout the country quarterly or monthly to receive their cash payments (in pre-packed envelopes or lose cash bills) which is driven there by car or via other modes of transportation. This methodology is inefficient, risky, and expensive. And the information systems that are administering the payments and reconciliations are not fully automated allowing space for errors. Beneficiaries, many of which are elderly or vulnerable, have to walk long distances and wait for a long time to receive their cash. Cash payments also do not contribute to financial inclusion and access to other banking or digital payment services such as savings and borrowing. To date, the Ministry has achieved some milestones to register some of the beneficiaries of these grants to move from cash to digital payments.

THE PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROJECT (PSLP).

The Project (Pathways to Sustainable Livelihoods Project – PSLP - P177184) is composed by the following components:

• Component 1 will support the introduction of an economic inclusion package designed to strengthen beneficiary livelihoods and support people living with disabilities;

• Component 2 will pre-position contingent finance to enable the timely delivery of shock responsive cash transfers, using those same delivery systems, for more efficient shock responses;

• Component 3 will strengthen core delivery systems in order to improve the efficiency and equity of the selected social assistance programs; and

• Component 4 includes project management and supports components 1-3.

Specifically, Component 3 of PSLP will invest in strengthening the delivery systems for the main social assistance programs in order to improve its equity and efficiency. Accordingly, this component will strengthen delivery systems with an emphasis on improving equity by (i) enhancing the ability of programs to target the poor, including not only the CGP, PA, DG and OVC-B program but also the tertiary bursary program, which is both costly and not targeted at the poor; and (ii) improve efficiency by reducing administrative costs, non-transparent and costly processes, and leakages. At the same time, as a subsidiary objective, the investments made with this component are expected to increase the MGYSD’s preparedness to respond to shocks by (i) supporting the wider adoption of digital payments which can facilitate the faster delivery of post-shock cash transfers; and (ii) strengthening the social registry (NISSA) and management information systems as the primary operational tools used when increasing coverage in response to shocks.

The Ministry intends to use part of the proceeds of this credit for an individual consultant to act as a Data Clerk Supervisor to support the implementation of component 3 of the Pathways to Sustainable Livelihoods Project in order to realize its impact.

• BACKGROUND FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.

The main objective of this assignment is to capture and enter data from various sources such as beneficiary interviews, questionnaires, focused group discussions etc. into the computer system for processing and management. This requires efficiency in managing large amounts of data that is often sensitive and confidential.

3.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DATA CLERK SUPERVISOR

• Data clerk gathers/collects digital payment data, on assigned pay point or council and report monthly/quarterly on all digital payment activities and the reports.

• Prepare beneficiary source data for entry by compiling and sorting relevant source documents.

• Maintains data entry requirements by following data program techniques and procedures.

• Maintaining a database by entering new and updated beneficiary information regarding digital payments

• Verifies entered beneficiary data by reviewing, correcting, deleting, and re-entering data to address case management issues.

• Data verification with MISSA and GOLSABS data against payment service providers engaged by the Ministry for digital payments.

• Purge files to eliminate duplicate data.

• Assist during payments with follow-ups with MGYSD Auxiliary Social Workers for failed payments.

• Generate list of failed payments and pending bank or mobile money accounts and share with assigned pay point or Auxiliary Social Workers for follow up.

• Secure information by completing database backups.

• Maintain operations by following policies and procedures and reporting needed changes to the supervisor.

• Maintain customer confidence and protect operations by keeping beneficiary information confidential.

• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

4.0 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Diploma in IT or Business information technology or computer studies – 2-3 years of experience with any data processing applications.

• Knowledge of English and local language(s) is essential.

• Good computer skills

• Accuracy and thoroughness in data collection and cleaning

• Ability to work under pressure according to tight deadlines.

• Ability to work long hours and to remain focused.

• Ability to analyze data.

• Demonstrated ability to work with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, different gender and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity

• Excellent customer service

• Information processed into electronic database & Management of Records & Files.

• Thorough knowledge of data cycle processes.

5.0 DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The assignment will be done over a period of Six (6) Months.

6.0 SUBMISSION

A consultant will be selected in accordance with selection of Individual Consultants Method set out in Procurement Regulations. Expressions of interest accompanied by detailed CV must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person or by email by 16:00 hrs local time on the 17th April 2025 clearly marked ‘’Expression of Interest for Consulting Services – Data Entry Clerk (LS-MOSD-480181-CS-INDV).

To: The Project Coordinator

1010 Building

Bust Stop, Opposite Pitso Ground

Pathways to Sustainable Livelihoods Project (PSLP)

Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development

P/Bag A222

Maseru 100 Lesotho.

Email: [email protected] with a copy to [email protected]

Qualified persons with disabilities and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications can be hand delivered or emailed and applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.