BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) operates from its head office in Nairobi, Kenya but coordinates all its work across all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It also has an office in Senegal which oversees projects and activities in West Africa. The Center’s vision is to transform lives in Africa through research. Its mission is to generate evidence, strengthen research capacity and engage policy to inform action on population health and wellbeing
APHRC’s vision, mandate and mission are premised on tracking the activities, outputs and outcomes of various research projects. As such, APHRC collects primary data from various research participants mainly through face to face (F2F) interviews. With new advancements in mobile technology, and rapidly increasing internet connectivity and mobile phone penetration in Africa, it is now possible to conduct some types of studies using telephone interviews, Short Message Services (SMS) or mobile web all of which require mobile phone numbers mounted on an electronic communication device and/or access to internet connectivity. In addition to technology advancement, pandemics such as COVID-19 dictate that researchers minimize F2F interviews, something that has become the new normal. This has awoken the need to establish a telephone number database at APHRC to support data collection for existing and future research projects
APHRC seeks the services of a consultant to support and advise in the development and establishment of a telephone number database which will be a hub for data collection and information management of the organization
What is a telephone database and what is its purpose?
A telephone database consists of telephone numbers stored in an institutionally controlled device, e.g. a server, standalone computer or cloud solution. The phone numbers, ideally mobile phone numbers, are part of an individual’s contact information. The contact information includes other selected details of the individual. The database can be connected to a calling system for purposes of contacting the individual when needed. The purpose of a telephone database is to:
1. To conduct non-face to face research, trainings, communications and policy engagement
2. To conduct targeted marketing, and monitoring of research activities including implementation of interventions
3. To provided sampling frames that will allow efficient samples to be drawn
4. To reduce the time, it takes to collect primary data with large samples
5. To enhance the cost-effectiveness of APHRC field activities
Description of the tasks of the consultant
APHRC seeks to engage a consultant (individuals, or firms/institutions) to support in the design of the telephone number database for the Center. Specific tasks for the consultant will be:
1. To produce a conceptual phone number data model that reflects the structure of the information to be held in the database. The conceptual data model should involve guidelines for utility of phone numbers database, collecting of the phone numbers, tools for Monitoring and Evaluation of usage of the phone numbers, access rights, security of phone owners, consent for storage of phone numbers, etc.
2. Share the conceptual data model with the Center task force for phone number database development for review and improvement if need be
3. Translate the conceptual data model into a phone number database
4. Design the phone number database in a way that will ensure that security features are included
5. Pre-test the database for data analyses and produce reports for immediate use
6. Train APHRC staff on phone number database use, upgrading, and maintenance activities
Timeframe
The duration for the entire task will be 30 working days
Deliverables
1. Presentation of Conceptual model design
2. Physical database design
3. Presentation of model database to APHRC
4. Pre-test run of database
5. Presentation of final functional database to the task force
6. Training of Staff on database utilization and management
7. Roll out of the database
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EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE
The consultant should have the following expertise:
1. A minimum of 5 years of experience in database design and roll out for health development projects
2. Proven experience to lead in the structural design of a database according to various system requirements
3. Education in Computer Science especially SQL server database development
4. Experienced in SQL query design, execution and optimization
5. Knowledge on reporting and charting, and data visualization frameworks
6. Analytical and Documentation skills, presentation of reports
7. Excellent command of English
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Interested consultants (individuals/firms/institutions) to submit a proposal with 1) Cover letter explaining their eligibility for the assignment and interpretation of the tasks; 2) CV or profile including reverse chronological list of similar projects/assignments and contact details (name, email/phone) of supervisors/clients; and 3) and financial proposition with the expected remuneration to consultancies@aphrc.org copying procurement@aphrc.org. The deadline for submission of proposals is December 23rd, 2020.
APHRC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the protection of vulnerable persons.
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