Term of Reference –   Upgrading Mobile Early Warning System in Somaliland

Background

Oxfam has been working in Somaliland for over 40 years, with local communities, civil society and local authorities, delivering humanitarian assistance and longer-term development initiatives. Oxfam is currently implementing multi-sector life-saving responses to communities affected by cyclic drought, coupled by the combined effect of COVID-19 and disruption of global supply chains, leading to sky-rocketing food and fuel prices. These have negative implications on people’s livelihoods in the country, but the hardest hit are the most vulnerable rural communities in the Sool, Sanaag, and Toghdeer regions of Somaliland.

Introduction:

Oxfam is at the lead of integrating technology at the core of its programmes to uncover new and innovative ways of working and new ideas to achieve impact at scale for people living in poverty in Somaliland.

Oxfam has been implementing a mobile early warning system to support getting early warning early action information to inform risk-informed decisions as well as help with a timely response before disaster becomes more severe. Oxfam has established early warning early action committees in its operation sites in the Sanaag region and is now planning to expand the coverage and ensure linkage to the mobile early warning system for government disaster preparedness agency. The EWCs were trained on early warning indicators in terms of identification, monitoring, and reporting using mobile phones. The current mobile early warning system has a dashboard which encompasses the water levels, pasture conditions, migration patterns, market prices, etc.

The system generates information, and the findings are shared with disaster preparedness authorities using mobile phones at the same time. Oxfam supported technology that alerts communities against hazards with information through their phones. This technology has been piloted parts of Sanaag region where climate change is contributing to more frequent and severe droughts. And the pilot was successful. Oxfam now wants to increase the coverage and is also interested in expanding and improving the dashboard as well as data interpretation and reporting.

Purpose

The aim of this work is to improve the existing MEWs in terms of expanding and improving the dashboard, data interpretation, and reporting to generate a high-quality report which can be used to feed relevant government and international actors working in the humanitarian sector.

In conjunction with OXFAM Somaliland country office, the consultancy firm will take the lead in developing

• Interactive mobile early warning platform with powerful analytical tools for predicting upcoming disasters, warning when a disaster is about to strike, and anticipating quick response action from disaster preparedness authorities.
• Train the core staff of government disaster agencies to adapt to the new MEWs in terms of data interpretation and analysis and reporting writing

Mode of operation:

• The consultant will be required to conduct the above tasks with a great level of collaboration and regular feedback (on phone and face-to-face/online) with the Oxfam focal person(s) as well as NADFOR program teams. Oxfam highly recommends the consultant have his/her own technical resources and knowledge.

Description features of the system:  

• Enable Early warning committees on gathering data on their local situations from their remote areas using mobile phones via local telecoms.
• Enable committees on reporting emergency shocks, and urgent situations via direct voice messages.
• Analyze and generate reports based on collected data with interactive visuals and notify alerts for emergencies.
• Generate enhanced report formats and ability to email alerts.
• Enable disaster management authorities to share back summarized (recorded voice reports) back to the communities.
• Retain stored data and predict future situations, by accurately forecasting rainfalls, droughts, and other climate induced situation.

Key Deliverables:

1. Upgrade existing MEWS both mobile and web versions:

• The consultant shall improve the “look and feel” of the existing online dashboard as well as analytical tools that provide information on different situations in the targeted areas.

1. Enhance the technical functionalities of the existing features: Including developing an interactive visual for each specific feature with detailed informative maps. This includes an effective report portal for external stakeholders.
2. Technical training on app management and troubleshooting:

• The consultancy firm must provide training for the team and develop documentation for the app.
• The consultancy firm must also provide all necessary troubleshooting, maintenance, upgrading, and security services.