Consultant for Data Management & Reporting System

Project Background

After more than four decades of protracted displacement, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan continues to host approximately 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees (i.e. Proof of Registration (PoR) card holders), in addition to 129.703 unregistered family members of registered families. Furthermore, Pakistan is hosting 840.000 Afghan Citizen Card holders (ACC) and 500.000 undocumented Afghan Refugees. Since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in August 2021, approximately 1 million Afghans have come to Pakistan to seek refuge in addition to the high number already hosted, - out of those, approximately 256.000 have approached UNHCR. In total, it can be estimated that more than 3 million forced displaced Afghans are residing in Pakistan. According to UNHCR data, the majority resides in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (53%) and Baluchistan (23%) – the two most under-developed provinces of Pakistan with the highest multi-dimensional poverty indices –, with 68.4% no longer living in Refugees Villages but in urban and semi-urban areas alongside their Pakistani host communities relying on public services. Approximately 53% are men and 47% are women; out of them, 51% are children. 

The presence of millions of forced displaced Afghans in Pakistan is not only an unresolved problem between the two countries, but also a potential for violent conflicts in Pakistan. Given the low numbers of voluntary return, which have further declined under the new Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, Pakistan finds it highly demanding providing durable solutions for the forced displaced Afghans living in its territory. The difficulties include lack of state capacity and resources, as well as challenges posed by militant armed groups and Islamist terrorism, especially in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Baluchistan that border Afghanistan. In host communities, the presence of forced displaced Afghans leads to increased demand and pressure on the already insufficient supply of public services. The local population and forced displaced Afghans are in a competitive situation and tensions are raising. 

In this context, GIZ has designed and currently implements  the two-year project “Building Bridges: Fostering Social Cohesion between Forced Displaced Afghans and Host Communities “(BBSC) which is being financed by the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands, implemented by GIZ with assistance of a national implementing partner organization SABAWON.  The Objective of the project is to support the Government of Pakistan in the promotion of social cohesion between forced displaced Afghans and host communities.

Assignment Background

The primary objective of this consultancy is to enhance the Data Management & Reporting System by:

1) Strengthening security measures, transitioning to a more robust infrastructure, and ensuring controlled access to sensitive data.

2) Improving data quality through validation protocols, systematic audits, and automated cleaning mechanisms.

3) Expanding system functionality by introducing provincial dashboards and incorporating stakeholder-driven reporting enhancements.

4) Conducting targeted training and capacity-building initiatives to equip users with the knowledge and skills to operate and manage the system independently.

5) Providing continuous system support and maintenance to sustain its efficiency and adaptability to evolving programmatic needs.

Tasks to be performed by the Contractor (Appraiser/Firm)

Focus 1: Data Validation, Audits, and Cleaning:

This phase focuses on improving data accuracy and integrity by reviewing dashboards, implementing validation rules, conducting systematic audits, and deploying automated data-cleaning scripts.

Focus 2: Expansion through Provincial Dashboards:

Enhancing system functionality by creating provincial dashboards, incorporating stakeholder feedback, and integrating advanced visualization tools to improve data insights and accessibility.

Focus 3: Strengthening Information Security:

Upgrading security protocols by transitioning to a paid Google Workspace, implementing structured access controls, and strengthening security mechanisms to safeguard sensitive data.

Focus 4: Capacity Development for System Sustainability:

Building user capacity through online and in-person training sessions, workshops for IPs, super-admin training, and on-ground visits to ensure the system is effectively utilized and sustained.

Focus 5: Ongoing Support and System Optimization:

Providing continuous support, maintaining a structured review process, logging system changes, incorporating user feedback, and performing regular audits to optimize and sustain system performance.