REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - TECHNICAL AUDIT OF COCOA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM(CMS)

Date: 11th September 2024

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION

TECHNICAL AUDIT OF COCOA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM(CMS)

REF: GTCDP/CO/01
Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: IDA-V4540

1. INTRODUCTION
The Government of Ghana (GoG) has received funding from the World Bank to implement the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (TCDP) and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this facility for payments under the contract for Technical Audit of the Cocoa Management System (CMS). 

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENT
This assignment aims to conduct a technical audit of the CMS and its database for the project target areas and recommend strategies for improving the systems’ functionalities, missing pieces of the system, and its effective operationalization in project target districts. 

3. SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY
The scope of activities includes;
- Conduct a technical (IT) audit of CMS, examine its setup and ability to perform the desired functions of traceability beans, cocoa inputs distribution and subsidiary payments, sales transactions, and related payments
- Assess the IT infrastructure and security required for the effective functioning of the system
- Assess the existing IT logistics and recommend what is required to perform functions of the cash payments, subsidy management, traceability, and environmental and social risks monitoring (including child labour) for the tree crops for the project.
- Assess the integrity (i.e, completeness, consistency and accuracy; access and modification rights) of the existing database of farmers and farm characteristics.
- Perform data validation by conducting random verification of farm and farmer data (ground truthing) in project areas
- Assess the institutional capacity to continually update, ensure integrity, and validate the database of farmers and farm characteristics.
- Examine its compatibility and inter-operability with the World Bank GEMS or other possible systems for M&E
- Identify the capacity building needs for TCDP project implementation team in the utilization of the system
- Identify any other requirements for fully operationalizing the system within project context areas
- Ensure that the system is working well and delivers on its key objectives and promises while highlighting room for improvement and replication

4. DELIVERABLES
- State of Affairs report containing an application software architecture audit report, data integrity audit report, business continuity audit report, cyber security audit report, back-up practices report, and draft gap analysis report, with recommendations for modification
- Operational function report, showing the ability of the system to perform the listed functions including traceability beans, cocoa input distribution and subsidy payments, registering sales transactions, cash payments, environmental and social risk monitoring
- Ground truthing report, confirming CMS data in the project areas
- Report recommended additional logistics; IT infrastructure required for operationalization
- Report on training requirements for the project team in the use of the system
- Report on the sustainability of the CMS

5. QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
a. Team leader
- Master’s degree in agriculture, economics, international development and/or Bachelor’s degree and professional certification university degree in formation and communication technology or computer science
- At least 5 years’ experience in implementing digital agriculture as well as providing technical assistance to government, donor and/or implementing partners.
- Experience in geospatial mapping of farm and using digital tools of collecting and management of farm and household level data
- Understanding of national stakeholder operations and ability to correlate expectations of the key players (i.e., government staff, implementing partners, donors, etc) in digital agriculture.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and demonstrated experience developing policy briefs, presentations and other dissemination materials.
- Exceptional analytical skills with critical thinking and problem-solving skills to enable troubleshooting in unpredictable environments
- Ability to work with people of different backgrounds (private sector, public sector and NGOs)

b. IT Expert
- Bachelor’s degree in information technology and professional or computer science with at least 5 years post qualification work experience.
- Verifiable track record of completed projects in software engineering, including assessment of the integrity of large datasheets.
- Demonstrated experience in IT security audit and ability to provide independent evaluation of applications, databases, server architecture and network infrastructure
- Experience in the operation or use of digital payment systems
- Ability to conduct/facilitate training in the use of IT systems for agricultural services and related payments.

6. DURATION AND LOCATION OF ASSIGNMENT
- The duration of the assignment is 12 weeks (3 months), to be based in Accra with field visits and in Eastern and Western North cocoa regions.

7. SELECTION METHOD
- A Consultant will be selected following the Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) method of the World Bank. 

Further information can be obtained at the address below.

GHANA TREE CROP DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT
GHANA COCOA BOARD
P.O. BOX 933, ACCRA
GPS CODE: GA-105-0575

Expressions of interest must be delivered by 1st October 2024 to the addresses below

PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT
Attn: PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST
GHANA COCOA BOARD
P.O. BOX 933, ACCRA
GPS CODE: GA-105-0575

E-mail: [email protected]
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