Consultant to Develop a Biogas Professionals’ Portal with Workforce Mapping - ABCK Project at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Objectives of the assignment/consultancy

The objective of this assignment is to develop and operationalize the Biogas Professionals Portal with Workforce Mapping, which will:

• Facilitate public access to verified information about NITA-certified biogas masons.
• Incorporate GIS mapping tools to display workforce geographical distribution for equitable service delivery.
• Integrate an API-based certificate reconfirmation tool to validate NITA-issued certifications in real-time.
• Enhance public confidence in biodigester installation services by promoting quality assurance and transparency.
• Integrate seamlessly with the Biogas Knowledge Base Platform.

Scope of Work

The scope of work for the Consultant will include but not be limited to:

Stakeholder Engagement

• Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including NITA, training institutions, county governments, and biogas industry actors, to define system requirements and gather input for the portal. 
• Identify essential data fields, certification details, and user interface preferences.

Development of the Portal Framework

• Design a user-friendly and interactive portal with the following core components:
• Searchable Directory: A database of NITA-certified professionals, searchable by name, location, skills, and certification status.
• Mapping Tool: Integration of GIS features to display the geographical distribution of certified biogas masons, enabling users to locate professionals in their regions.
• Detailed Profiles: Individual profiles showcasing certification details, skills, years of experience, and contact information.
• User Feedback System: A feature allowing users to provide ratings and reviews of services rendered by certified professionals.

Integration with the Biogas Knowledge Base Platform

• Link the portal with the Biogas Knowledge Base Platform to allow cross-platform navigation and access to additional resources such as training materials, policy updates, and sectoral guides.

Integration of a NITA Certificate Reconfirmation Tool with API

• API Integration: Develop and integrate an API interface between the Biogas Professionals Portal and the NITA certification database. This will enable real-time validation of NITA-issued certificates for masons.
• Real-Time Certificate Verification: Implement a system where the portal sends certificate requests to the NITA API, verifying the status of certifications automatically and providing results to the user instantly.
• Certificate Information: The API will return key certification details such as certification validity, training institution, and expiry date. If the certification cannot be verified, the system will return an error or "not found" message to the user.
• Security: Ensure that the API design incorporates secure authentication and data protection protocols to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data privacy.
• User Interface: Integrate the API responses into the portal’s user interface, where users can easily see whether a mason's certification is valid, including any additional details like expiration dates or institution verification.

Data Collection and Validation

• Compile and validate data on NITA-certified masons, ensuring the accuracy of information displayed on the portal.
• Establish mechanisms for regular updates and maintenance of the database to accommodate new certifications or changes.

Communication and Public Awareness

• Develop user manuals and IEC materials to promote the portal and its functionalities to the owners, public, county governments, and industry stakeholders.

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications 

• At least a master’s degree in a relevant field in IT, renewable energy, with a good understanding of the systems development process.