Monitoring And Evaluation Database Designer

Terms of Reference (TOR) Monitoring and Evaluation Database Designer   I.            Introduction   The Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI) is a Lebanese NGO registered at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities under no. 1186 on 18 June 2014. LRI started as a project launched in 2010 by the United States Forest Service (USFS) Office of International Programs (IP) through the support and funding of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). LRI's mission is to restore Lebanon's native forests and to instill commitment to reforestation and wildfire prevention and response, through capacity building of local communities and organizations.     II.            Purpose of the Consultancy  LRI seeks a consultant to develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) database for LRI project.   Description of project structure: The project is composed of ten components (departments) that implement activities based on a preset work plan. The work plan is composed of activities divided into tasks and subtasks. LRI has an M&E component that aims at tracking the activities’ implementation and determining whether or not the set results and targets are met.  All implemented activities are currently monitored manually based on an M&E plan of the project. The plan links all the activities to the project’s results (Goal, purposes and sub-purposes) which in turn are linked to performance indicators and relevant verification documents. In this context, the M&E component compiles data collected by all other components upon implementation of activities.  The data types vary from word files (e.g. reports), excel sheets (e.g. list of people/beneficiaries, sign-up sheets, list of sites/locations, list of events and their dates, calculations and/or simple counting of indicators), image formats (e.g. photos in .jpeg, .png and other formats), pdf files (e.g. scanned documents, reports), spatial data (e.g. .shp, .tif, .img formats), etc….  Currently all the data is physically stored on a local server and is available through the navigation of the windows file explorer. In order to improve the structure of its database and reduce human error in data collection and analysis, LRI is aiming to develop a database using a DBMS.   DBMS characteristics:  On the short term, the purpose is to acquire a reliable data storage enabling users to compile and link data from different sources to results and indicators, allowing data management in a more automated manner. On the longer term, LRI plans are to develop an information management system allowing the M&E component to analyze the data collected for performance evaluation and decision making. In this purpose the database should: -          be user-friendly and flexible enough to allow users to update the design if needed -          allow multiple users to work online or offline while ensuring security of data -          have the capacity to analyze data through different combinations and formulas -          have the capacity to generate customized reports -          be able to track data across a defined timeframe    Required Tasks:   Provide technical database design based on the requirement of the M&E plan of LRI Install a DBMS on a local storage server and create role for the user Integrate the tables developed for the M&E plan in the DBMS (migration of excel sheet) Set ODBC interfaces Develop reporting screen with flexible template allowing administrator to analyze data, track implementation and assess performance Ensure authentication of data Train users on managing the database Develop a documentation on the usage, update and maintenance of the database   Deliverables:  1-      Database installed on server and operational by December 2016 2-      User manual on managing, updating and maintenance of the database  Experience required: 5 to 10 years Required Field of education: Computer Science, knowledge in GIS is a plus