Ministry of labour and social affairs

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THE UNIFIED SOCIAL REGISTRY (USR) NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE ADMINISTRATOR

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TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

Introduction

This Terms of Reference describes the scope of work required for the management and coordination of the Unified Social Registry (USR) Management Information System (MIS). The scope of this work builds on successful design and establishment of the USR as one way of ensuring a well-functioning integrated and comprehensive social protection system in Somalia.

Background

The Federal Government of Somalia, through the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) is seeking a project Network and Infrastructure Administrator to help operationalize and implement the Unified Social Registry and ensure its functionality as per the defined objective and purpose.

The USR Network and Infrastructure Administrator will be expected to provide a high level of consultative and technical support on USR systems network and infrastructure planning, development, and management to ensure the government can provide a well-functioning integrated and comprehensive social protection system in Somalia.

The Unified Social Registry (USR) aims to establish a data repository of poor and vulnerable households. The USR is meant to collect socio-economic data of households, manage information (addition, editing, update) and provide a platform for dynamic data sharing for potential stakeholders to access the information of their needs for their targeting.

 

The USR will provide a gateway for individuals and households to be considered for inclusion in various social programmes and serve to bring efficiency and transparency in the system through better coordination and the reduction of administrative costs. The USR will be used to select beneficiaries and plan new interventions, aiming to mainstream programs to the most vulnerable by effectively offering coordinated bundles of transfers and services.

 

Component 1 provides unconditional cash transfers (CT) to households that are chronically poor and vulnerable to drought and malnutrition and link them to complementary nutritional support programs. The objectives of the component are: (i) support households to strengthen their resilience and avoid negative coping mechanisms (e.g. selling off existing households’ assets) to meet escalating needs as a result of the drought in the short term; and (ii) promote human capital investment in the medium to long term by linking beneficiary households to complimentary nutrition services (where they exist) and continuing to smooth consumption gaps through the predictable and reliable provision of cash transfer, even after drought risks are no longer present. Around 200,000 beneficiary households (approximately 1.2 million individuals) with children under five years of age will receive a monthly payment of US$ 20 delivered quarterly, initially for a one-year duration. Mothers or female caregivers of the children would be the direct recipients of the transfer. It is currently being implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) on behalf of MoLSA. MoLSA will take over the implementation of the CT once the necessary systems have been put in place.

 

Component 2 aims to establish the critical building blocks of an SP delivery system and advance policy development, as well as strengthen the institutional capacity of relevant government ministries to manage and implement it. The objective of the component is to build the capacity of FGS/MoLSA to gradually take over full management and implementation of a safety net program and form the foundation for a more comprehensive social protection system in Somalia. The component  provides policy support and technical assistance for the development of safety net delivery systems, including a unified social registry (USR); Baxnaano Management Information System (MIS); operational procedures for registration, enrolment, targeting, grievance redress, payment delivery, monitoring, community outreach, and information campaign; and capacity building activities. UNICEF is supporting MoLSA through technical assistance to implement this component, and as such, is contracting firms to undertake USR design and software development as well as the design of Baxnaano delivery systems.

 

Component 3 established a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for the day to day management and supervision of the Baxnaano. It will also strengthen MoLSA’s coordination arrangements, promote learning and knowledge management through robust M&E and explore a design of a pilot PSN targeted at youth. Specifically, the PIU has been established at the federal level at MoLSA with Project Liaison Officers serving as focal points in each of the member states. This component will also focus on strengthening MoLSA’s coordination arrangements within other ministries and stakeholders at the federal level, and between the Federal level and the Member States at the local level.

 

The scope of the assignment

The assignment shall see into the operations of the USR in MoLSA in the management of its social protection programs together with linkages with the relevant agencies from both State and None State Actors who are likely to interact with this system in any defined way and at any level. This will also include strategic outreach to the key stakeholders and actors within the social protection on Somalia as well as supervising the data sharing protocols and the general maintenance of the system.

Deliverables in this work stream will include:

In line with the USR Strategy and the Operations Manual requirements, we should be able to achieve:

  1. Collection, consolidation, analysis and storage of appropriate and accurate data and establishing appropriate database on the poor and vulnerable in Somalia.
  2. Linkages of the USR to critical validation systems e.g. Civil Registration Database and analytical systems such as the Baxnaano program, the Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital Project (SNHCP), the TIVET MIS, the Humanitarian Agencies MISs well as other existing Social protection systems within the social protection sector in both the Federal Government and the Member States.
  • An assessment of functionality required on downstream systems that have integration with the SR. Setup an administrative interoperability UI that will setup the links to external systems.
  1. The realization of a adaptive/shock responsive mechanism to coordinate emergency activities in the sector by identifying those households that are impacted by shock. As well as functionality in the SR that can be used to respond to shocks including a mechanism for referral to relevant programmes.
  2. The realization of data sharing functionality to support the export of the data into statistical applications in order to further perform quantitative and qualitative analysis. The data should be exported in various formats, while an assessment should be made for the ability to download depersonalized raw datasets as open data.
  3. Planning: Project implementation Plan (report) detailing the corresponding project management requirements and Risk Management Plan (report).
  • Systems improvement: continuous advancement of the system functionality based on better and more efficient innovations. User feedback log to be developed through the realization of the various quality assurance tests and the prototype review workshop with key stakeholders
  • Training: Continuous and well-structured capacity development and capacity building strategy of the Ministry staff and other relevant users for ownership and sustainability. This should be well timed and cascaded to other lower levels of administration and management.
  1. Documentation: proper documentation of the various processes for continuous learning and system improvement. This should be backed up by a clear Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with very clear sector-wide indicators.
  2. A transition plan, to document the necessary steps for the gradual transition of the information systems management, administration and daily operation by the key stakeholders IT staff including segregation of roles and responsibilities.
  3. Review existing reports to ensure accuracy and develop additional functionality including but not limited to: generation of excel outputs from reports, functionality to upload key data from excel and updated charts and
  • Where necessary, develop, review and update, in consultation with the Ministry, the Unified Social Registry linkage Memorandum of Understanding for all programs that link to the Registry. (The MoUs will always be used with the USR data sharing protocols)
  • Functional and updated API linkages to all existing programmes with automatic replication and real time updates to reporting modules.

Duties and responsibilities

This USR Network and Infrastructure Administrator will be responsible for the following responsibilities among others:

  • Establishing network specifications by gathering user requirements, analysing workflow, access, information, and security requirements; designing router administration, including interface configuration and routing protocols;
  • Oversee the implementation and maintenance of USR system infrastructure in line with social protection needs and growth plans in line with the changing technological advancements;
  • Establishing network by evaluating network performance issues including availability, utilization, throughput, goodput, and latency; planning and executing the selection, installation, configuration, and testing of equipment; defining network policies and procedures; establishing connections and firewalls;
  • Maintaining network performance by conducting network monitoring and analysis, and performance tuning; troubleshooting network problems; and escalating problems to vendor;
  • Securing network by developing network access, monitoring, control, and evaluation; maintaining documentation;
  • Preparation of users by designing and conducting training programs; providing references and support;
  • Upgrading network by liaising with vendors, developing, testing, evaluating, and installing enhancements;
  • Preparing budgets and specifications for network upgrades and maintenance and submit to USR Coordinator
  • Managing the development, operations, and maintenance of USR system network and infrastructure in support of social protection, including the coordination of the computerization of other social protection programs, infrastructure, and administrative systems of other MoLSA departments and other institutional stakeholders;
  • Coordinating, planning, and implementing efficient electronic communication for the MLSP and other institutions in the social protection system;
  • Providing input for budgeting to reflect requirements for USR network and infrastructure maintenance and future upgrades;
  • Developing and maintaining a secure disaster recovery infrastructure, and planning and implementation of enhanced systems ensuring system security complying with global standards;
  • Monitoring and documentation of common issues faced by the USR system network and infrastructure to inform planning and management of USR system network and infrastructure for its sustained and optimal performance;
  • Other duties and responsibilities in relation to USR systems network and infrastructure for social protection in Somalia.

Duration of the assignment

The successful candidate will work under a one (1) year renewable contract based on competence and approval by the Ministry.

Reporting

The USR Network and Infrastructure Administrator shall report to USR Coordinator within Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA).

 

Qualifications

 

The successful candidate MUST meet the following qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Internet technology, Information Technology, computer science or a related field;
  • Minimum of 5 years’ professional training and practical experience in a networking with industry networking certifications, such as Cisco’s CCNA Juniper, Cisco, CWNA or BCNE training. Experience in Social/Unified registries will be an added advantage;
  • Hands on experience in networking, routing and switching;
  • Excellent knowledge of best practices around management, control, and monitoring of server infrastructure;
  • Experience with firewalls, Internet VPN’s remote implementation, troubleshooting, and problem resolution;
  • Experience in IT Hardware and Networking user support
  • Ability to set up and configure server hardware;
  • Familiarity with backup and recovery software and methodologies;
  • Strong spoken and written communications skills, including the ability to speak and write persuasively and present ideas clearly and concisely;
  • Capacity to work simultaneously on a variety of ICT network and infrastructure issues and tasks independently, adjusting to priorities and achieving results with agreed objectives and deadlines.
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