Expert in Management Information Systems for Social Protection

Terms of Reference

Expert in Management Information Systems for Social Protection

1. Background

Under the framework of the ILO-UNICEF-EU partnership on “Addressing life-cycle vulnerabilities through social protection – Establishing Social Grants in Lebanon”, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and partners supported the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) in launching the first rights-based social grant in Lebanon: the National Disability Allowance (NDA). The NDA was designed to be institutionally anchored in MOSA and linked to the existing Rights and Access (R&A) Programme. Eligibility to the NDA is contingent upon the person obtaining a Personal Disability Card (PDC) from MOSA, which is the nationally recognized disability assessment.

The R&A Programme hosts and maintains the database of these card holders. The database includes data of around 108,000 persons with disabilities holding a valid or expired PDC. To support the sustainability and scale-up of the NDA, there is a need to enhance the national institutions and underlying systems needed to implement and manage the program, including the R&A Program’s internal policies, SOPs and work processes, and Information System (RAIS).

1. Objectives and Scope of Work

In this context, the ILO is seeking a Management Information Systems expert to contribute to the Social Protection Team’s technical support to MOSA in developing and enhancing the R&A’s business processes and database, focusing on quality gaps and opportunities for improvement, including technical, business and governance solutions required for the Rights and Access programme to serve its purpose more effectively and efficiently, and respond to programmatic and beneficiary needs.

The assignment includes support to the teams at ILO and MOSA in performing an assessment of the MIS system of the Personal Disability Card (PDC) program under the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs (known as the Rights and Access Information System) towards its effective use as a tool for ensuring access to social protection rights and programs to Lebanese people with disability. Specifically, ILO is supporting MOSA in doing the following:

• Finalizing a detailed technical review of the existing management system and identifying bottlenecks and opportunities for enhancement (including proposing additional modules) for both automated and manual processes.
• Designing solutions in collaboration with key stakeholders and proposing a step-by-step action plan for the implementation of these solutions.

The technical review and proposed solutions will take into consideration and address the following aspects:

1. Key features of database, software application, hardware infrastructure, and telecommunication system
2. Information requirements in light of current objectives and needs
3. Approach to data collection and validation, including standard data checks and protocols for data quality control
4. Data protection and safeguards to ensure data security and privacy, including on software level and telecommunication system
5. To develop a data migration solution and strategy for the existing database
6. Core human resource capacities and organizational structure
7. Current and redesigned business processes (beneficiary-related and internal administrative processes), where needed
8. Institutional roles and responsibilities across the delivery chain, including data manuals and data service protocols, predefined roles and privileges and segregation of functions
9. Accessible interface and dashboard , ensuring accessibility to different types of disabilities and for Arabic use
10. Potential for interoperability with other government databases
11. Cost of developing, operating and sustaining the proposed solutions/model.

1. Activities

• Attend meetings with ILO and partners.
• Review existing assessments and identify remaining gaps in information.
• Attend/organize visits and stakeholder meetings to complement the information in the MIS assessments.
• Present an internal analytical report to ILO documenting findings, identifying bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement and proposing detailed solutions.
• Support in designing an action plan and budget in close collaboration with partners, with step-by-step activities to improve database, MIS, and business processes.

1. Timeframe

• The provider is expected to start on 15 November 2023 and finalize the assignment on 15 March. Tentative number of working days: 40 days.

1. Qualifications and Experience for consultants:

• University degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data management, or related field.
• At least ten years’ experience in MIS applications, including at least 2 years on MIS for operating social assistance and/or humanitarian cash assistance programmes;
• Experience in MIS in Lebanon public sector is preferred;
• Technical experience in Social Protection, including the design and management of social assistance prorgammes, is an advantage;
• Strong skills in analysis, critical thinking, problem solving and reporting;
• Fluency in English.

1. Qualifications and Experience for companies:

• Team involved should have university degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data management, or related field.
• Working for at least five years’ on MIS applications, including at least 2 years on MIS for operating social assistance and/or humanitarian cash assistance programmes;
• Experience in MIS in Lebanon public sector is preferred.
• Strong skills in analysis, critical thinking, problem solving and reporting;
• Team is capable of working in both Arabic and English.

1. Application requirements for individual consultants:

Individual consultants are invited to share the following documents by November 7th 2023 with the ILO Regional Social protection team at: fawaz@ilo.org and eghnatios@ilo.org

• A cover letter outlining suitability for the assignment
• CV
• An example of previous work on a similar assignment
• Financial proposal (Daily Rate)

1. Application requirements for companies:

Companies are invited to share the following documents by November 7th 2023 with the ILO Regional Social protection team at: fawaz@ilo.org  and eghnatios@ilo.org.

•             A cover letter outlining suitability for the assignment, including examples of previous work on a similar assignment

•             Organogram of the team and CVs of those involved in the assignment

•             Financial proposal (per deliverable)