INTENT TO BID: TENDER NO: JO01 – RFP – PR139377 – Consultancy for Big Data Management – Tabeaa Project

About Mercy Corps:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Mercy Corps has worked in Jordan since 2003 to implement a variety of programs funded by global public institutions, as well as private donors to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable populations, build cohesive and civically engaged communities, and increase inclusive economic opportunities. MC’s current portfolio in Jordan focuses on three domains: resilient individuals, strong communities and governance, and environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth. MC integrates cross-cutting themes of youth, gender equality and empowerment, governance, natural resource management, and technology.

Project Description:

As one of the world’s most water-scarce countries, Jordan is at a critical juncture, grappling with escalating climate-related disasters, that pose a critical challenge to its humanitarian efforts, economic stability, and environmental integrity. Based on the 4th National Communication on Climate Change, in recent years, flash floods and heatwaves have become two of Jordan’s major hazards affecting the country’s water resources, agriculture, and economy.

Mercy Corps Jordan’s project, Tabeaa: Strengthening Climate Resilience in Jordanian Communities, is funded by the Z Zurich Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The project will bolster efforts under Mercy Corps’ ongoing Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (the Alliance) aligning with MC’s vision of fostering resilient communities capable of thriving amid climate challenges. The Tabeaa project will work at both the national and local community levels. On a national level the project will drive systematic changes through engaging key stakeholders in localizing and enforcing Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies. On the local level, the project will focus their initiatives in five communities from various governorates, selected for their high vulnerability to flash floods, heatwaves, and water scarcity. The project’s approach is multi-faceted, concentrating on three main areas: enhancing the adaptive capacity of Jordanian communities, promoting the effective localization and enforcement of national climate policies, and fostering a supportive culture for increased investments in climate resilience initiatives.

The Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (the Alliance) is a consortium of nine organizations including international NGOs, the private sector, and research organizations, who have come together with the support of the Zurich Foundation to influence funding, policy, and practice at the international and country level to reduce the negative impact of floods and climate change on people and communities’ ability to thrive.

About National Center for Security and Crises Management (NCSCM):

The National Center for Security and Crises Management is an embodiment of the advanced vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II, which called for the “creation of a Central Structure (Platform) for Crisis Management and a strategic umbrella through which the efforts of those concerned with authorities are unified and well-coordinated to deal with possible crises at the state level”.

NCSCM vision is a secure, resilient, and withstanding national environment. The Mission is managing the risks of disasters and crises with high efficiency by coordinating and unifying all national efforts through strategic adaptation to ensure a secure and stable national environment. to achieve its mission by harnessing national capabilities to reach professionalism in the areas of preparedness and responsiveness to national crises, both natural and man-made – with the least possible effort, time, cost and losses.

NCSCM works to Support decision-makers at various levels to make well-informed decisions based on accurate timely and relevant information, Enhance early crisis prediction, create a national risk register and try mitigation, Building national capabilities to face all crises to achieve the ability of strategic adaptation and efficient follow-up.

2. Objectives:

The primary objective of this consultancy is to provide the National Center for Security and Crisis Management (NCSCM) with expert guidance and technical solutions to design an advanced information system. This system will enable NCSCM to efficiently collect, manage, and analyze big data, thereby enhancing the center’s ability to support decision-makers before, during, after crises. This consultancy to be conducted by an external consultancy firm focusing on the following key objectives:

1. Conduct a thorough assessment of NCSCM’s existing information systems, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. (Assess the current data management practices, data flow, and system architecture to understand the baseline from which improvements will be made.)
2. Design a flexible and scalable information system architecture tailored to NCSCM’s needs, focusing on (but not limited to) big data management, real time data flows, advanced analytics, and data integration capabilities. Design system with scalability in mind, ensuring it can adapt to evolving technological needs and increased data volumes.
3. Develop a data flow model that outlines how data will be collected, processed, and utilized within the system, ensuring efficient and secure data handling.
4. Review data security and protection policies and suggest policies, standards, or tools to ensure data security requirements are met in all phases of the data lifecycle
5. Propose an architecture for the data system including an estimate of necessary financial resources for development and operating costs as well as highlighting necessary staffing and process changes for employment of the system.
6. Suggest a capacity building plan to ensure NCSCM staff are fully equipped to operate and maintain the new system including training sessions, documentation, and support to facilitate adoption of the system and tools and cost estimates for long-term support.
7. Recommend ongoing system maintenance and upgrade strategies, including potential partnerships with other crisis management centers and technology providers.

3. Scope of Work & deliverables :

This consultant will oversee the implementation of this consultancy , ensuring it is delivered on time, within budget, and meets all technical and operational requirements, Through establishing a clear project management framework that includes milestones, deliverables, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and success.

Key deliverables :

The consultancy should provide the following key deliverables:

1. Initial System Assessment Report: A detailed assessment report on the existing NCSCM information systems, including an analysis of data flow processes, and a list of identified strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
2. System Design Plan: A comprehensive design plan for the new information system, including system architecture, data flow models, and integration strategies.
3. Data Pipeline Design: A design of the data pipeline that enables efficient transmission and reception of various data types (e.g., geospatial, remote sensing, tabular, text, images/videos).
4. Data Security and Policies Review: A report reviewing existing data security policies and recommending new policies, standards, or tools to enhance data protection throughout the system’s lifecycle.
5. Capacity Building Plan: A detailed capacity-building plan, including training sessions, documentation, and cost estimates.
6. Final Report and Recommendations: A final report summarizing the consultancy’s activities, outcomes, and recommendations for future enhancements, including ongoing system maintenance and upgrade strategies.
7. Progress Reports: Regular progress reports detailing the consultancy’s activities, challenges, and mitigation strategies.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.