REQUEST FOR CONSULTANCY

DATABASE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES

Project: Strengthening Collective Voice, Protection, and Opportunities for Somali Women Journalists

1. Background and Purpose

The Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) seeks to engage a qualified and experienced database consultant to design, develop, secure, test and hand over a fit-for-purpose database for the Strengthening Collective Voice, Protection, and Opportunities for Somali Women Journalists project. The assignment is intended to strengthen the secure management, accessibility and administration of project information and records.

2. Scope of Consultancy

The selected consultant will be responsible for delivering the assignment through the following core activities:

• Develop database architecture and data model, including an entity relationship diagram and data dictionary.
• Build and configure the database on an approved platform/technology.
• Establish role-based access controls, audit logging, backup and recovery arrangements, and appropriate security controls.
• Undertake data migration or import from agreed source files/systems, including validation and reconciliation.
• Plan and conduct technical testing and user acceptance testing with SOMWA’s nominated staff.
• Prepare administrator and user documentation and provide practical training to nominated staff.
• Support go-live, complete system handover, and provide post-delivery support during the defects liability period.

3. Required Experience and Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate the following minimum qualifications and experience:

• Demonstrated professional experience in database design, development, implementation and administration.
• Proven experience developing secure databases with role-based access controls, audit logging, backup and recovery mechanisms.
• Practical experience in data migration, data validation, reconciliation, testing and user acceptance processes.
• Experience preparing database architecture documentation, data dictionaries, administrator guides and user documentation.
• Experience providing training and technical handover to client staff.
• Strong understanding of information security, confidentiality, access control and protection of sensitive/personal data.
• Ability to work independently, meet agreed milestones, communicate progress clearly and respond to technical requirements.
• Demonstrated experience delivering at least two comparable database or information-management assignments is strongly required.

4. Mandatory Eligibility and Supporting Documents

Applications must include the following documents, as applicable to the applicant:

• Valid operating/business license or relevant professional registration certificate.
• Valid tax registration certificate and/or tax compliance certificate, where applicable.
• Consultant or company profile showing legal status, services and relevant technical experience.
• Updated CV of the lead consultant and CVs of any proposed key personnel.
• Evidence of similar assignments, such as contracts, completion certificates, reference letters or other verifiable documentation.
• Technical proposal describing understanding of the assignment, methodology, work plan, deliverables and approach to security and data protection.
• At least two relevant professional/client references, including contact details.
• Copy of valid National ID or passport for the lead consultant or authorized representative.
• Financial proposal/quotation, submitted in accordance with the applicant’s preferred proposal format.

5. Key Deliverables

• Inception and requirements specification, including project plan and agreed access/confidentiality arrangements.
• Database architecture, data model, data dictionary and security design.
• Configured working database with access roles, audit logging and backup arrangements.
• Migrated and validated data, reconciliation documentation and testing results, including user acceptance sign-off.
• Live system, administrator/user documentation, staff training and formal handover documentation.

6. Security and Data Protection Requirements

Because the database may contain confidential and sensitive project information, the consultant must demonstrate a strong commitment to information security and data protection. The assignment requires appropriate access controls, multi-factor authentication where applicable, encryption, secure devices and environments, audit logging, secure backups, incident reporting, data minimisation and secure handover/deletion procedures. Client data must not be used outside the approved assignment or transferred to third parties without authorization.

7. Submission Instructions

Interested and qualified consultants should submit a complete application package clearly indicating the assignment title. Applications should contain the required eligibility documents, consultant/company profile, CV(s), technical proposal, evidence of relevant experience, references and financial proposal.

Submission email: info@somwa.org

Deadline: 10 September 2026

8. Important Note

SOMWA may request clarification or verification of submitted qualifications, registration documents, references and previous experience. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all submitted documents are complete, valid, clear and legible.