Oxfam GB somalia programme
Consultancy for upgrading mobile phone based platform (mLink)
Consultancy for upgrading mobile phone based platform (mLink)
Who we are
Oxfam Great Britain (OGB) has worked in
South Central Somalia for over 20 years and is engaged in humanitarian and
development programs that focus on water, sanitation & hygiene and
livelihood with the main aim of poverty eradication.
The situation in
Somalia makes humanitarian access to conflict affected communities difficult,
which impacts on capacity to properly monitor the delivery and impact of
aid.
As a result Oxfam has completed a
successive pilot project using mobile phone based platform(mLink) to undertake
public health promotion and distribute Non Food Items (NFIs) using SMS based
vouchers (mVouchers) in Somalia.
Recently, Oxfam has received funding to
implement a Polio campaign project and NFI distributions using the mLink
platform. In order to meet the increased demand Oxfam plans to add and upgrade
a number of functionalities on the mLink platform.
Purpose of the consultancy
The consultancy involves development
and testing of the following functionalities:
Upgrade of the mVoucher redemption
process – currently mVoucher redemption process is undertaken through
interactive process that involves exchange of SMSs between the beneficiaries
and the vendor.
Oxfam wants to upgrade this
functionality into an agency model – where each trader will be assigned a
unique agency code.
Beneficiaries shall just require to key
in an agency code and send via sms to a specified short code and the platform
performs the mVoucher redemption and sends one confirmation SMS to both the
trader and the beneficiary.
Add analytical algorithmic functionality that allows users to feed in criteria, perform discrete analysis from the data on the database & execute a forward commands
Overall make improvements on the
sequencing/flow of events & commands on the platform to make it more
intuitive and friendlier to the user
Support deployment of the above
functionalities for at least three months – and correct all bugs and other
operation issues that may arise during deployment.
What we are looking for
A consultant/firm with the following
competencies and qualifications:
- University qualification in IT with specialization in software development,
- has demonstrated experience developing SMS based and other mobile phone based public health applications – this includes proof of at least one successful application working in the field,
- demonstrated experience working with SMS gateways APIs (Application Programming Interfaces),
- Experience in development of dynamic content driven enterprise web applications,
- Experience in development of flexible and highly scalable J2EE applications,
- A professional command of English, both oral and written as well as good report-writing.
To apply
If you believe you fit the job and
person profile please request for the ToR and additional information on
functional requirements on the following email: somaliajobs@oxfam.org.uk.
In the subject of the email indicate
“Request for mLink upgrade documents’’.
The closing date for submission of
finalised applications is 29th November 2013.