[Capacity Development] SNV looking for an IT consultant to develop a database

[Damien Delaplace]

Terms of reference for
Data-Base Designer - Improved Cook Stove Program (ICS)

POSITION: DATA BASE DESIGNER – INTERNATIONAL
ACTIVITY: Develop a database
TIMEFRAME: OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012 (20 days)
LOCATION: Distance

A. GENERAL
The improved cook stoves (ICS) program implementation started in 2011 to
develop the value chain of ICS in Lao PDR. Over a period of 8 years, the
objective is the dissemination of 420,000 ICS. Program design is still
under development during the first phase - 2011 to 2013 – as it involves
accumulation of technical and value chain knowledge, fine-tuning of
methodologies and M&E design, capacity building as well as ensuring
enabling environment with the government.

Oxfam Novib, Blue Moon Fund and SNV support this project. The Non-profit
Association for Rural Mobilization and Improvement (NORMAI) is responsible
for implementing the activities in Savannakhet. SNV Lao PDR provides direct
support to NORMAI.

The objective of the program is to reduce smoke from cooking, fuel
consumption and greenhouse gas emission through a sustainable market-based
ICS sector. The project team designs new type of stove and builds the
capacity of private and public partners to test, standardise, produce and
increase the market share of these stoves. This involves increased quality
and capacity of ICS production by producers, increase of the ICS market by
retailers, and increase number of stoves used in houses of customers.


B. OBJECTIVES
To monitor progress properly the programme requires a solid monitoring
system, that contains data on stoves produced, sold and used. The programme
developed a database for trial in MS Excel that gives a good overview of
the patterns and queries needed for the future database.

The key objectives of this assignment is to design a database which needs
to be user-friendly, simplistic and stable and allows a large number of
entries to be analysed on different levels:
- The producers (evolving, up to 30)
- The production and sales to retailers (per batch of stoves, up to 20,000
stoves/year/producer)
- The retailers (evolving)
- The customers (individually, constantly increasing)

The dbase needs to run several queries in simple manner, according to
criteria (such as period of time, per producer, per geographical area, per
stove type), such as the following:
- inform the Point of Sale Time (or POST, meaning average time between
production and sale to user).
- provide basic information about the customers (to track the utilization
of stoves).
- the production and sales to retailer


C. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The principles of the database are relatively simple but needs to fit to
specificities of the value chain and of the project team. The database
specialist will always work in a participatory manner to make sure his/her
work fits to the capacities of the staff. The project team will provide
guidance and available information. This assignment will be under the
supervision of SNV staff with one referent person.

This assignment includes:
- Analyse the forms used on the field which provides the layout of the
required data entry
- Analyse the existing database on Excel and Access which provided good
overview of the patterns required
- Regularly liaise with the team referent for additional information on
requirements and realities (e.g. about the synthetized data report
required, use of Lao language and script, available skills in the team,
pattern of production and sales)
- Discuss and confirm the use of MS Excel or MS Access
- Develop further the existing MS Access database or to develop a new one
- Have the team running trials for a representative number of data entry
and make the required modifications
- Provide guidance and documentation for the use, maintenance and security
of the database
- Advise on possible use of mobile monitoring devises
- Present the Dbase to the ICS staff and provide a training on the use,
data entry and analysis of data in the dbase, as well as on how to make
optional adjustments to the structure (if based in the region).


D. LOCATION
The assignment will be done by distance, as well as at the office of Normai
in Savannakhet if the consultant is based in the SE-Asia region.


E. DELIVERABLES
I. After analysing the available forms, database and information, the
consultant will provide proposition about the software to use and the frame
of the database

II. After developing it the consultant will provide a draft of the database
for a serial of trials and modifications

III. After final development of the database the consultant will deliver
synthetic and pragmatic user documentation.

IV. The consultant will train designated staff on practical use, and the
management of the dbase

V. By the end of the assignment a ppt presentation will be provided on the
structures, management and usage of the dbase.


F. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Education: IT, computer sciences or related field
• Experience in database design and maintenance.
• Fluent in English
• Experience in development context is an asset
• Being based in Laos or SE-Asia region is an asset.
• Excellent analytical skills and problem solving capabilities.



G. TIME FRAME
This assignment will be conducted during the period of October- November
2012. The final report will be delivered before 30 November.

H. HOW TO SUBMIT AN OFFER
Interested consultants or companies are invited to send:
1. A motivation letter
2. Comments on this ToR
3. CV(s)
4. A short description of relevant assignments
5. Tentative time planning
6. Budget.

before the October 12th 2012, to the SNV Associate  Advisor, Mr Damien
Delaplace  DDelaplace at snvworld.org  cc. to the NORMAI ICS Project Manager,
Ms. Khamlet Sengsourichanh  khamleth15 at gmail.com and Ms. Vilayluck
THAMMAKHANTY (HRO) vilaylack.vlt at gmail.com
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