Title

Emergency Nutrition Information Management System (ENIMs) for nutrition data collection in the Rohingya camps of Cox's Bazar.

Purpose

Review and upgrade the EMIM to enhance its functionality and ensure it meets the evolving needs of humanitarian operations. This includes improving interoperability with other humanitarian databases and ensuring compliance with Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) requirements. Incorporate feedback from partners by updating new WHO growth charts, adopting WHO criteria, and adding new modules like IYCF and ECCD/PSS/CFRM etc. Develop an interactive dashboard for real-time activity tracking, automated progress, and facility performance ranking, with SMS integration for efficient communication. Review and enhance mobile and web applications to improve data collection, visualization, and reporting systems. Implement a robust data synchronization system to facilitate seamless offline/online transitions and ensure integration with UNHCR systems. Install and test ICT equipment at ENIM sites, and continuously refine the system based on user feedback. Develop comprehensive user manuals and conduct training programs capacity building for UNICEF, nutrition sector partners, and facility staff to optimize data utilization for evidence-based planning and decision-making

Location

Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. All fieldwork will be implemented in Cox's Bazar's Rohingya camps.

 

Estimated Duration

18 months

• 6 months for system implementation
• 12 months for support and maintenance

Reporting to the Technical Supervisor of this assignment

Nutrition manager, UNICEF Cox’s Bazar.

 

1.Background and Context

As the Rohingya refugee crisis enters its sixth year, Cox’s Bazar is hosting over 935,000 Rohingya refugees residing in 33 camps. These Rohingyas are particularly vulnerable, with children and women facing a grave risk of severe acute malnutrition.  Since the influx in 2017, the Nutrition Sector has been providing comprehensive nutrition services to address the underlying causes of malnutrition across all camps targeting children under five years of age, children over five years of age, adolescent girls and pregnant and lactating women (PLWs). Currently, there are 45 Integrated Nutrition Facilities (INFs)  and 4 stabilization centres (SC) operational across the 33 Rohingya refugee camps supported by UNICEF, UNHCR, and WFP. Each facility is managed by one implementing partner, with a 50/50 cost-sharing arrangement either by UNICEF/WFP or UNHCR/WFP. Within the INFs, WFP is responsible for the Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program (BSFP) and Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program (TSFP), while UNICEF and UNHCR oversee the management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). This collaborative effort serves as an excellent example of delivering essential services efficiently under one umbrella of the United Nations.

The Emergency Nutrition Information Management (ENIM) system, developed under the 4th Health Population Nutrition Sector Plan (HPNSP, 2017-2024), began in 2018 by the National Nutrition Services (NNS) to enhance the existing Nutrition Information System (NIS).  The system aimed to expand the existing Nutrition Information System (NIS) to track emergency response efforts in the Rohingya camps and ensure streamlined data collection and management for nutrition services which was done with manual registers.   Then ENIM evolved from an online platform to include offline functionalities from April 2019 to February 2021. Throughout 2021 to May 2023, despite delays caused by COVID-19, the system saw significant enhancements, including interoperability with other humanitarian databases. Piloted in October 2023 across ten camps, ENIM addressed various operational challenges and was followed by a knowledge-sharing workshop. By March 2024, a collaborative rollout was initiated to further refine data collection for both facility and community-based activities. This strategic initiative aims to bridge gaps in data interoperability and real-time access, focusing on sustainable, scalable solutions that streamline data management, support decision-making, and improve service delivery, ultimately enhancing health outcomes and operational effectiveness in humanitarian settings.

 

2.Objectives, Purpose, and Expected Results

The main objective of this assignment is to upgrade the current ENIM system, train ENIM end-users, and ensure continuous technical support (customer care) for all humanitarian and government ENIM users.

The objectives of the required service are the following:

• Optimize System Functionality:

• Enhance the overall performance and interoperability of the ENIM system, ensuring seamless integration with existing platforms like DHIS2 and ProGres ID. This will facilitate efficient data collection, reporting, and management across multiple stakeholders, including UNICEF, UNHCR, and implementing partners.

• Enhance Data Management and Security:

• Implement robust data protection measures and backup protocols in alignment with international standards (UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR). Strengthening the security of the system will ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive beneficiary data, thereby fostering trust among users and stakeholders.

 

• Support Evidence-Based Decision-Making:

• Develop advanced data visualization tools and comprehensive indicator tracking systems that empower stakeholders to analyze performance metrics effectively. By facilitating data-driven insights, the system will support informed decision-making and strategic planning in nutrition programs.

• Strengthen User Capacity and Engagement:

• Invest in user training and capacity-building initiatives to enhance the skills of end-users at Integrated Nutrition Facilities (INFs) and other stakeholder organizations. Ensuring that all users are proficient in the system will lead to more accurate data entry and reporting, ultimately improving program outcomes.

• Promote Continuous Improvement and Feedback Mechanisms:

• Establish a framework for ongoing stakeholder collaboration, incorporating feedback mechanisms that allow users to contribute to system enhancements actively. Regular review workshops and user feedback channels will ensure that the ENIM system remains responsive to the evolving needs of its users and the communities it serves.

• Facilitate Resource Allocation and Program Effectiveness:

• Utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and facility performance rankings to optimize resource allocation based on geographic trends and severity levels of undernutrition. This will enable targeted interventions and improve the overall effectiveness of nutrition programs in Rohingya camps and other affected areas.

• Ensure System Sustainability and Technical Support:

• Establish a comprehensive technical support and maintenance strategy that includes regular system updates, security testing, and backup plans. This will ensure the long-term sustainability and reliability of the ENIM system, allowing it to adapt to future challenges and technological advancements.

 

 

3.Description of Assignment

 

The major assignments are as follows.

 

1.  
2.  
3.  

4System enhancement and incorporation of feedback

• Conduct a technical review of the ENIM system based on existing documentation to understand its architecture and develop an inception report with recommendations for interoperability with platforms such as DHIS2.
• Collaborate with UNICEF and UNHCR to evaluate the feasibility of using QR codes and/or linking with UNHCR Progress ID for data disaggregation and managing beneficiary records.
• Incorporate programmatic feedback from users and key stakeholders, including updates to the growth chart, CMC/BNF card view, register view, and rectify the web modules of the stabilization center (SC) in addition to the development of the mobile application.
• Adapt WHO guidelines for enrolment and discharge criteria to improve data accuracy and reporting.
• Develop new modules to integrate service points, including Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), and Psychosocial Counseling (PSS), as well as a monitoring and supervision checklist. This should also encompass exit interviews, home visit checklists, and a Complaints and Feedback Response Mechanism (CFRM) module.
• Review and adopt the existing reporting template in the system.

 

5System Integration, Architecture, and Backup Plans

• APIs and Data Synchronization: Build APIs to integrate with UNHCR’s ProGres ID system and DHIS2 to streamline data management and ensure seamless synchronization across platforms.
• Web and App Interface Upgrades: Test and upgrade both web and mobile app interfaces based on user feedback to ensure user-friendly, robust platforms for efficient operation.
• Offline/Online Compatibility: Ensure system compatibility for both offline and online operations, with particular emphasis on areas with intermittent internet connectivity. Test the feasibility of operations in remote areas and establish modules for two-way synchronization (online-to-offline and offline-to-online) to ensure continuous data access and consistency across platforms.
• Cloud-Based Architecture: Implement cloud-based server hosting and develop a secure cloud-based database for storing both individual and compiled data. Ensure compatibility with dual operating systems to enhance flexibility and data security.
• Backup and Data Security Plans: Establish backup plans for data access during internet outages and develop data storage solutions to prevent loss due to device failures or theft (e.g., stolen or damaged laptops). Regularly back up system data at the end of each day at INF sites to ensure secure and reliable storage.

6Strengthen Data Visualization, Reporting, and Monitoring

• Comprehensive Data Visualization Tools: Develop multi-user, multi-purpose data visualization tools to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders, including public users, UN agencies, implementing partners, and nutrition facilities. These tools should effectively communicate key information and insights.
• Facility Performance Rankings: Create facility performance rankings using a composite index that measures functionality and service delivery data, allowing for comparative analysis and targeted performance improvement.
• User Feedback and Notification Panel: Build a user feedback notification panel to provide real-time updates and facilitate programmatic feedback, enhancing system responsiveness and user engagement.
• Indicator Tracking and Monitoring System: Develop a robust indicator tracking system (PD, JRP, HAC) to monitor performance, support data-driven decision-making, and ensure alignment with project objectives.
• GIS Mapping and Severity Analysis: Integrate Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping based on partner presence, location, and severity of undernutrition. Utilize program data to create severity maps highlighting areas of critical need. This mapping will support more effective allocation of resources and interventions based on geographical trends and severity levels.
• Resource Archiving: Establish a comprehensive resource archive to store and manage user guidelines, training modules, and other programmatic materials, making them easily accessible for reference and continuous learning.

7Strengthen Data Protection and Security of the System.

• Review the existing data protection features in the system and adopt the system’s data collection, transfer, and storage mechanisms following UNICEF, WFP, and UNHCR Data Protection policies and feedback.
• Review the existing data validation to further strengthen the system to represent a hierarchical data view:
  • Data entry level for site staff.
  • Data validation level for project managers.
  • Consolidated data view for other stakeholders.
• Test the feasibility of offline/online operation to ensure secure and seamless data synchronization between field offices and central servers.
• Develop supporting documentation for the DPIA and Classi systems and implement the recommendations to ensure enhanced data protection.

8ENIM hardware installation, User Training, Capacity Building, and Documentation

• Install and test ENIM hardware/equipment at the facility level and continuously refine the system based on user feedback.
• Develop comprehensive training materials in both English and Bangla, including user manuals, job aids, facilitator and participant manuals, workflow posters, and pocket guides for ENIM operations.
• Train end-users, including staff at Integrated Nutrition Facilities (INFs), project managers, UN agencies, government representatives, and Information Management Officers (IMOs) from key stakeholders.
• Provide refresher training and ongoing capacity-building programs for end-users to ensure efficient use of the system.

9Technical Support and Maintenance

• Offer continuous customer support and system maintenance, addressing issues such as bugs, malfunctions, and security improvements. Physical presence in the fieldwork phase and providing user support as per the defined SLA within the agreed contract period.
• Conduct ongoing data security testing, including simulations of hacking attempts, to ensure robust system protection.
• Implement regular system backups, ensuring daily data backups at INF sites are securely stored, and establishing backup plans in case of data loss due to device damage or theft.

 

 

 

1. Deliverables and payment modality

The key deliverables, payment modality along with schedule of the task are outlined in the table below. However, this is subject to adjustment depending on the volume of the task after a thorough review by the developer.

Expecting output (deliverable)

Description of the output

% of payment

Expecting timeframe

after the signing of the contract

 

Organized system review workshop and prepared inception Report

 

Submit the inception and workshop report.

 

 

15%

 

3 weeks

Enhanced CMAM module

Incorporate the WHO's new growth chart, adapt admission and discharge criteria following WHO's new guidelines, and address all technical and programmatic feedback /recommendations from users and key stakeholders.

Please refer to the section 3.1 for details.

 

 

35%

 

6 weeks

New module development

Development of IYCF, ECCD/PSS, and CFRM modules including recommended indicators/modules from key stakeholders.

Please refer to section 3.1 for details.

Integration with other applications

Please refer to section 3.2 for details.

 

 

 

 

20%

3 weeks

Hardware installation, training capacity building, and documentation

 

Install hardware components at the facility level, update user training documents/materials, and submit training reports.

 

Please refer to section 3.5 for details.

 

6 weeks

Enhanced version of data visualization and reporting

Please refer to section 3.3 for details.

 

 

10%

4 weeks

Reporting requirement

User acceptance testing report, SRS, Security test report, Admin user guide, software source code including documentation

10%

4 weeks after the completion of the system implementation

Support and maintenance.

Submission of SLA (service level agreement)

Please refer to section 3.6 for details.

 

 

10%

Till the end of the contract

 

 

 

1. Reporting requirements

 

The contractor submits the inception report within the first week of the contracting period. The inception report should describe the technical and programmatic process and show the tasks' understanding depth. It is expected that the contractor submits monthly brief progress reports with a description of core milestones. All training materials should be proofread and ready for printing together with job aids, posters and pocketbooks. The final report is expected before the start of the customer care and maintenance periods. The grand report should be developed and submitted together with the system recommendations at least 2 weeks before the contract ends.

1. Qualification requirement of the company/institution/organization

6.1 Team Personnel qualifications and experience

The assignment will require in addition to other technical staff with the following qualifications and experiences:

• An advanced degree with at least eight years of experience in IT/Information systems.
• High technical skills in setting up and using the databases.
• Understanding and experience of DPIA, Information Security Assessments is a strong requirement.
• Experience in application development with systems analysis and implementation of data management systems.
• Demonstrate experience in the delivery of GIS analytical solutions and web-based systems.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in Python/R/ D3, developing and integrating data analytics/dashboards using Business Intelligence tools such as TABLEAU/Power BI.

6.2Institutional capacity and experience

• Technical capacity with over 5 years of demonstrated experience in software development of similar complexity.
• Proven record of working experience in minimum 03 (three) large-scale online multisystem development
• Experience with UN agencies, large NGOs, or the Government is a must.

 

The personnel of the firm must have strong spoken and written English and Bangla language skills.

In addition to the above minimum requirement, the firm is free to propose in their technical proposal professionals who will be required for this assignment.

 

 

1. Evaluation Process and Method

7.1EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

 

 

 

 

CATEGORY

POINTS

OVERALL RESPONSE

The agency has over 5 years of experience in the market. The agency has required a quality assurance system.

The agency has experience in customer care.

5

METHODOLOGY AND DETAILED TIMELINE

Understanding of the data collection, storage, and visualization for public health and medical needs.

The technical proposal consists of a sequence of activities for the smooth running of ENIM.

The risk assessment is well presented, and the mitigation strategy is well explained.

The proposed timeline is realistic and has guaranteed the outputs.

(35)

10

10

10

5

ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY and PROPOSED TEAM

• Professional expertise of the firm/company/organization, knowledge and experience with similar projects, contracts, clients, and consulting assignments
• Team leader: Relevant experience, qualifications, and position with the firm;
• Team members - Relevant experience, skills & competencies.
• Organization of the team and roles & responsibilities;

(30)

10

10

5

5

TOTAL MARKS

70

For this RFP, the Technical Proposal has a total score of 70 points. Bidders must score a minimum of 49 points to be considered technically compliant and for the Financial Proposals to be opened. The financial proposal has a total score of 30 points. The final selection of the bidder will be based on a quality and cost basis as specified in the RFP