Consultant Development of Live Geographic Information System (GIS) Application for Child Protection Referral Services

TERMS OF REFERENCE AND SCOPE OF SERVICES

Consultancy Services: Development of Live Geographic Information System (GIS) Application for Child Protection Referral Services.

1. BACKGROUND

The Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) Project is an initiative of the Kaduna State Government to address the critical issue of out-of-school children within our communities by improving access to quality basic education. The aim project is to increase access to learning opportunities improve enrolment and ensure active participation and completion of quality primary education by all children particularly children with disability girls and adolescents in Kaduna State. With the key objectives of this project include enhancing equitable access improving teaching and learning effectiveness creating an inclusive and conducive learning environment and strengthening the education system. The project was declared effective in April 2024 and will be implemented in four (4) years.

Save the Children is committed to strengthening the child protection systems through improved coordination accountability and access to services and ensuring that children at risk of abuse neglect exploitation and other protection concerns are effectively linked to appropriate services through timely and well-coordinated referrals. A key component of this effort involves developing a real-time user-friendly GIS platform to map child protection services and referral pathways across 23 LGAs. This tool will enhance case management services to vulnerable children with protection concerns in schools and learning centers facilitate timely referrals and support frontline workers in delivering safe and effective services to children and their families. To achieve this objective a child protection referral pathway workshop was conducted across 9 LGAs of implementation. This was done to identify available services and map key service providers supporting child protection needs at community level. The exercise resulted in a comprehensive list of referral actors and service points relevant to child protection which the consultant will use for this activity.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To develop and deploy a real-time GIS-based referral linkage application that captures updates and visualizes child protection referral pathways supporting child protection activities across 23 LGAs in Kaduna State. The application will provide protection staff caseworkers and partners with access to accurate geo-referenced information and facilitate a two-way referral system to ensure that program participants receive the services they are referred for.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

1. The consultant is responsible for designing a comprehensive application outlining live GIS coordinates of the mapped out referral services developed by the critical stakeholders across the 9 LGAs of implementation when the project is scaled up to the 14 LGAs in year two the consultant will continue the assignment under same contract terms these services include case management PSS life skills activities MHPSS services nutrition services primary healthcare services counselling services reunification repatriation mediation of domestic dispute and rehabilitation services these services is provided to all children that fits into the criteria including children with disability. The salient features of the GIS coordinates are as under:
2. A simple online platform consisting of a database and digital repository suitable to potentially fluctuating mobile network coverage and unstable Internet connection characteristic of remote areas.
3. It will track progress performance data and documentation of mapped services.
4. The application software/database system should support web and mobile access across multiple devices providing a responsive user-friendly interface for seamless data entry.
5. The consultant will train project staff on database usage data entry extraction and analysis. This includes providing ongoing technical support.
6. The consultant shall conduct pilot testing to validate the application software/databases functionality address technical challenges and make improvements based on user feedback.
7. The consultant shall deploy the application software/database and demonstrate its full functionality to the Project for final review and approval. Additionally the consultant shall provide support services from the date of database delivery including technical assistance updates and troubleshooting to ensure optimal performance.
8. The consultant should be open to including additional service delivery areas within the project that may require tracking or referral pathways beyond child protection services
9. The consultant shall sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and maintain strict confidentiality regarding any personal information accessed by Save the Children International during this assignment.
10. While processing data the consultant shall abide by the data protection law of Nigeria as enshrined in the 1997 constitution (Data Protection Act 2023)
11. The client shall have access and full control and ownership of the application software/database and all related intellectual property shall vest in the client. The consultant has no right to use or distribute the software without the express written consent of the client.

DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

For the project to remain on track the consultant shall adhere to a timeline and closely coordinate with the child protection coordinator and project director for step-by-step validation. The deliverables are as follows:

1. Concept design report & technical blueprint (3 Months from Contract Award Date)
2. Conduct an initial exploration meeting with the CP and MEAL team and stakeholders to collect all required documents.
3. Gather all necessary information to determine the most appropriate platform for the application software/database.
4. A report outlining the best database design choice and a draft conceptual design.
5. Application Software / Database Presentation (6 Months from Contract Award Date)
6. Present the developed database highlighting its features functions and alignment with project requirements.
7. Pilot testing in selected areas
8. Gather feedback from stakeholders and make necessary adjustments based on their inputs.
9. Conduct a training session for all relevant team members covering data entry extraction and basic troubleshooting.
10. Application Software Full Deployment (2 Months from Contract Award Date)
11. Make all necessary adjustments from the feedback and provide technical support.
12. Conduct system updates performance optimization data security checks and stakeholder feedback sessions.
13. Support and maintenance activities (12 Months from Contract Award Date)

KEY OUTCOME INDICATORS FOR OOSC DATABASE DEVELOPMENT

1. Develop a centralized application live coordinate for mapped identified referral services in the 9 LGA in year 1.
2. Develop a centralized application live coordinate for mapped identified referral services in the 14 LGA in year 2.

CONSULTANT EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

1. A degree in Software Engineering Computer Science Information Technology or any other related field.
2. Proven experience in database design and development.
3. Experience in educational child protection or school projects involving data collection analysis and management is a significant advantage.

PAYMENT TERMS

1. Please note that the consultant will be responsible for the computer printer photocopier and other necessary equipment required for the assignment.

Payment Schedule:

Payments will be made in four (4) instalments contingent on approval by the Project Director as follows:

1. 25% upon completion of the concept design report & technical blueprint.
2. 25% upon submission of the application software/database presentation.
3. 25% upon full deployment and validation of the final database by save the children.
4. 25% upon completion of support and maintenance activities including continuation and review phases.
5. The consultant will be responsible for his/her travels to the LGAs and any additional cost incurred to deliver the assignment.

PERIOD OF ENGAGEMENT

1. The consultancy is expected to be completed in 7 months.
2. Sarting date: 1^st December 2025- 31^st August 2026.

Note: The overall timeline should be respected as much as possible to ensure timely project execution and avoid delays.