Richard Chirchir Senior Management Information System Specialist Development Pathways rchirchir@developmentpathways.co.uk Summary Richard Chirchir is the Senior MIS Specialist at Development Pathways and an experienced Management Information Systems (MIS) expert with over 14 years of relevant professional experience. He has devoted most of his career to the design and development of multi-platform ICT solutions. In particular, he has spent a considerable amount of his professional experience specializing in designing MIS systems for cash transfer and social protection programs. He is highly computer proficient; Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA, USA) and competent with programming languages such as Java, Delphi 2007, HTML and Visual Studio.Net 2010. Richard has unparalleled experience on MISs, having worked across Africa and Asia. In addition to developing the SAGE MIS in Uganda, he has designed the MIS system for Kenya s four main SP programmes, provided advice on Pakistan s Benazir Income Support Programme (one of the largest SP schemes in the world); advising on MIS development in the Seychelles, Laos, and Zambia; and developing MISs for cash transfer schemes in Liberia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. He also led Pathways development of Kenya s Single Registry, which links together the countries cash transfer schemes including recent work to integrate WFP s public works programmes and has recently initiated Pathways support for a Single Registry in Rwanda. He has coauthored the two leading publications on MISs used in developing countries (including a recent paper for Australian Aid on Single Registries) and organised and led a highly regarded international conference on Single Registries in Indonesia. During the past year, he has designed a complex Single Registry for Kenya, ranging from the design of software, supervising the installation of hardware, to advising on the national structure for the MIS. He is currently working on MIS system for Keeping Girls in School (KGIS) programme in Malawi while leading an innovative pilot on electronic registration for National Safety Net Programme an off-shoot of Kenya s Single Registry project supported by World Food Programme. He has also been leading the design of national social protection registries in Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and more recently Uganda. Key strengths MIS Expert specialising in systems for cash transfer and social protection programs Highly knowledgeable in social protection, cash transfers and their emerging technological solutions Experienced in design, planning and implementation of programmes, managing data and reporting. Competent in business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems especially including new ITbased systems. Highly computer proficient; Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA, USA) and competent with programming languages such as Java, Delphi 2007, HTML and Visual Studio.Net 2008. Academic qualifications Certified Information Systems Auditor CISA, USA 2006 Development Pathways 1
Bsc. Information Sciences (Major) Information Technology) First Class Honours Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya 2002 Country experience Africa: Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia Asia: Chiang Mai, Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, India, Laos, Indonesia Other: Mauritius, Seychelles, Germany, Turkey Selected Consultancy Assignments February 2015 to Date Jul 2015 to Date Senior MIS Specialist, World Food Programme and National Safety Net Programme (NSNP) Complementarity Support, Kenya The assignment entails design, pilot and implementation of an electronic registration solution that will capture a minimum set of beneficiary data needed to run NSNP programme; Rolling out of short-term training needs; Setting up a framework and basic principles in personal data protection and privacy across intergovernmental, non-governmental, and other agencies, and set up standards to ensure protocols are institutionalised in all beneficiary data management processes; and Developing a strategy and guidance for on-going software development, maintenance and support for the National Social Protection Secretariat s Single Registry. Senior MIS Advisor and Team Leader, Development of UNICEF s Social Cash Transfer Management Information System (SCT MIS), Ethiopia I am leading a development team for was responsible for designing a Management Information System for UNICEF support social cash transfer pilot program (SCT). SCT is design to test capacity of Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) to absorb a new role in cooperation with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) and other relevant sector Ministries and Bureaus of Agriculture (BoAs) of Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) in the implementation of the Direct Support component of Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP). Outputs: [(i) SCT MIS Design Specifications (ii) Prototype of SCT MIS (iii) Technical Documentation Nov 2015 to Jan 2016 Project Director and Senior MIS Advisor, Development of Integrated Social Protection Management Information System for Ministry of Local Government, Rwanda I was responsible for (i) Project management including ensuring timely delivery of milestones as per the agreed work plan (ii) Team coordination and work planning (iii) Ensuring roles and responsibilities within the team are clearly set out in individual terms of reference (iv) Quality assurance of technical outputs delivered by team members Outputs: [(i) Revised overall project terms of reference (ii) Refinement of individual consultants terms of reference for the implementation phase (iii) Inception Report] Development Pathways 2
July 2015 to Nov 2015 Senior MIS Advisor and Team Leader, World Bank s Rapid assessment of Management Information Systems and Process of Social Protection Programs of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare (MoPSLSW,) Zimbabwe In an effort to address these pressing challenges, MoPSLSW commissioned business processes assessment with the objective of establishing an integrated and scalable MIS platform in a medium to long term that is able to automate the business process of all the SP programmes through a use of common and unified MIS. Outputs: [Gap Analysis Report and Technical specification for the integration, integrated Social Protection MIS] June 2015 to Sep 2015 Senior MIS Advisor, Design of Integrated Social Protection Management Information System for Ministry of Local Government, Rwanda Building on the Integration technical Guidance Note developed under the earlier UNICEF consultancy, I developed technical specifications for the integration, analytics and access portal components of an integrated Social Protection MIS. Outputs: [Technical specification for the integration, analytics and access portal components of an integrated Social Protection MIS] Mar 2015 to Mar 2015 Speaker, DFAT s Workshop on Integrated Data and Information Management for Social Protection held in Jakarta Indonesia I was part of the key note speakers invited to deliver a workshop to group of participants from 18 countries on Integrated Data and Information Management. The purpose of the workshop was to facilitate learning between Government staff of developing countries, building on the thinking developed in the DFAT publication on integrated information management systems. The facilitation will emphasise how integration can take different forms depending on purpose and context and focus on key challenges faced in process of integration and best practice overcoming these. Outputs: [Workshop materials and delivery at Jakarta, Indonesia] Nov 2014 to Aug 2015 Senior MIS Specialist, Keeping Girls in School Programme (KGIS) Malawi The assignment included developing an appropriate MIS that will computerise functional and technical requirements of both Cash Transfer and School Experience components. Outputs: [Developed KGIS MIS with associated Source Code and Documentation] Oct 2014 to Dec 2014 Researcher, Production of background paper towards a Module for training on governance and administration of social protection floor, Zambia I was contracted by International Labour Organisation to assist with developing the background material for a course on Management Information Systems (MIS) and Single Registry). Outputs: [(i) Learning Resources (ii) Background Paper titled Management Information Systems and Single Registry: Sub-Saharan Africa Perspective Training Module (iii) Power Point Presentation] Development Pathways 3
Mar 2014 to Aug 2014 May 2014 to Date May 2014 to May 2014 Senior MIS Specialist and Project Manager, Support to NSNP MISs and Single Registry at Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services, Kenya Building on the previously work completed in Dec 2013, the new assignment whose contract period was between March to August 2014 - focused on three objectives: (i) provision of technical support to the four NSNP CT-OVC, OPCT, PwSD and UFSP - programmes to fully optimise the recently deployed MIS solutions; (ii) enhance deployed MISs with additional functionality; and (iii) integrate the four NSNP MISs to the single registry reporting system and Integrated Population Registration Service (IPRS). MIS Specialist, Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (SPSL), Laos The assignment entails undertaking an assessment of the requirements of SPSL based on the proposed implementation design, enabling environment, and capacities and reporting requirements of the various stakeholders. In addition, an MIS plan will be prepared that sets out the most appropriate technical design for the MIS, with options and recommendations and associated costings for various design alternatives. Speaker, World Bank s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Forum on Management Information Systems and Modernization of Social Protection Programs, May 21-24, 2014, Istanbul Turkey I was invited to deliver a presentation to group of participants from Eastern Europe and Central Asia Outputs: [Training materials and delivery at Istanbul, Turkey] Mar 2014 to Jun 2014 MIS Specialist, Uganda MIS and Safety Net Review I conducted a review of Uganda s Social Protection MISs and prepared a report for the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development as part of the Uganda Social Protection Sector Review Outputs: [MIS chapter on the Safety Net Assessment Report.] Dec 2013 to April 2014 Researcher and Co-author on Unified Databases and Single Registries in Social Protection I was contracted as researcher and co-author on Australia s Department of Foreign Aid and Trade (DFAT) research on Unified Databases and Single Registries in Social Protection. Outputs: [A policy brief on Integrated Data and Information Management in Social Protection: http://www.developmentpathways.co.uk/resources/single-registriesintegrated-miss-de-mystifying-data-information-management-concepts/ and main paper titled Single registries and integrated MISs: De-mystifying data and information management concepts published by DFAT.] Dec 2013 to March 2014 MIS Consultant, Rolling out and implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Community Trust Fund (CDTF) II I was contracted as MIS Specialist to join LTS Africa M&E team to: (i) review of the current data and information system and (ii) develop a system development plan for storage and analysis of M&E data (iii) Assess Community Environment Facility (CEF) and Community Development Initiative (CDI) performance indicators captured in the MIS Development Pathways 4
Outputs: [Conducted assessment and prepared a report stipulating the models of MIS deemed feasible for CDTF and the recommendations.] Dec 2013 to Jan 2014 MIS Consultant, Support the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) to design a new stipends programme for increasing enrolment and retention of girls in secondary education. I was contracted as MIS Specialist in the Development Pathways team that designed a new stipends programme for increasing girls education for the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) in Pakistan. Outputs: [Conducted assessment and prepared a report stipulating the feasible MIS options.] Oct 2013 to Oct 2013 Trainer, KFW s Internal Course on: Introduction to Management Information Systems for Social Protection, Frankfurt, Germany, October 2013 I was invited to deliver a course to internal KFW staff on Introduction to Management Information Systems for Social Protection. Outputs: [Training materials and delivery at Frankfurt] April 2013 to Nov 2013 Lead Consultant, Development of Management Information System for the Social Cash Transfer Programme, Liberia (UNICEF) I was engaged as Senior MIS Specialist in the design and development of the Management information System Database for Social Cash Transfer Programme in the Ministry of Gender and Development. Outputs: [Conduct analysis and prepare report of the review of the current databases detailing gaps and limitations. Develop and install Management Information System in Bomi, Maryland Countries and Monrovia and document Manual of operations for the developed Management Information System] Jan 2013 to Dec 2013 Consultant, Feasibility for the Design and Implementation of Single Registry, Uzbekistan (UNICEF) I conducted a Feasibility Study for Design and Implementation of Single Registry of Beneficiaries and Social Safety Net for Low-Income Families in Uzbekistan. I designed a methodology for feasibility review and conducted interviews with key stakeholders. The initial results of the feasibility were presented to the round table Social Protection Interim Group, a session, I facilitated. Outputs: [A Feasibility report including an institutional review, an assessment of social providers in Uzbekistan, case studies based on a literature review, Management Information System models, costing and scenario analysis and recommendations on next step; Terms of Reference for the Information Technology company for developing the Single Registry software and network system] June 2012 to Dec 2013 Lead Consultant, Design and Development an Integrated Management Information System, Kenya (DFID) Designed and implemented a robust MIS platform the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development s cash transfer programmes and developed a Single Registry for monitoring and reporting on existing social assistance programmes. Development Pathways 5
Outputs: [(i) Developed and implemented the Management Information for Urban Food Subsidy, Older Persons and Persons with Disability Programmes. (ii) Upgraded the Management Information System for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programme to a web platform. (iii) Develop a Single Registry Reporting System to consolidate information across the cash transfer programmes] November 5-6, 2012 Speaker, Management Information Systems and Social Protection, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, (GIZ) I facilitated a training session on Introduction to Management Information Systems for Social Protection and their Role. This was part of debate of answering questions as to whether creating a single national registry or rather integrating different MIS into one, what and how much data to capture and what role technology is required. Outputs: [Prepared and delivered two presentations around the topic of Management Information Systems for Social Protection (i) An introduction on the role of Management Information Systems for Social Protection and their role for Social Protection (ii) The Potential of New Technologies for Management Information Systems for Social Protection] September 4-6, 2012 Speaker, International Conference on Implementing Social Programmes, Better Processes, Better Technology, Better Results, Bangalore, India (World Bank) I facilitated a training session on Rethinking the role of Social Programme MISs: from Information Storage to Performance Management. Outputs: [Prepared and delivered a presentation on the role of Management Information System within the broader workshop theme of Better Processes, Better Technology, Better Results. The presentation enlightened the audience on the broader role Management Information Systems could perform from the classical view of mere hardware and software components] June 2012 to July 2012 Consultant, Support to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Pakistan (World Bank) I was contracted to assess the quality and use of the Benazir Income Support Programme Management Information System, its fraud controls and access regulations as well as its user friendliness and implementation. In addition, the BISP s plans for the expansion of the system with a particular focus on the introduction of co-responsibility payments, was assessed. Outputs: [Prepared an assessment report in April 2013 complete with a Roadmap of key project milestones for the development of the Conditional Cash Transfer Management Information System. Supervised the implementation of the CCT MIS by conducting in country follow up missions in December 2012 and April 2013.] Feb 2012 to June 2012 Consultant, Support to the Agency for Social Protection (ASP), Seychelles (World Bank) I was engaged by World Bank to develop a technical framework for the new single Management Information System for Seychelles Agency for Social Protection. Provided detailed guidance on (i) best technology platforms for the Seychelles based on analysis of two legacy Database platforms that were being maintained (ii) Establishing a framework for linking and automating the transfer of data between the ASP single MIS and other necessary Government databases. Development Pathways 6
Outputs: [Conducted a review of the existing databases hosted by government Ministries and prepared memorandum of understanding and protocols for data sharing between Agency for Social Protection and other Government Databases. I also prepared a report detailing the analysis of the two database options and proposed way forward based on the stakeholder consultations and professional judgement] July 2011 Jan 2012 Consultant, Support to the Ministry of Local Government, Rwanda (World Bank) I conducted an assessment of the various Social Protection programmes Monitoring and Evaluation systems and Management Information Systems to determine their level of development, weaknesses, strengths and opportunities. The result of the assessment was used to inform requirements for establishing a comprehensive Management Information System, for all Social Protection programmes. Outputs: [Prepared an assessment report with road map options including advantages, disadvantages and costing for implementing a comprehensive Management Information System for Social Protection as envisioned by Social Protection Strategy. After approval, I developed terms of reference for the analysis, design and implementation of the comprehensive MIS at Ministry of Local Development] Jan May 2011 Researcher, Social Protection MIS: Good Practice Paper, Kenya, Mauritius and South Africa (HelpAge International) I developed a good practice paper with Dr. Stephen Kidd on Management Information System for social protection, based on a comparative study of systems in a number of countries implementing social protection programme with case studies from Kenya, Mauritius and South Africa. Outputs: [Pension Series Briefing 5: Good Practice in the Development of Management Information System for Social Protection www.pensionwatch.net/download/4f059a0f4ad27. Detailed research notes on Management Information Systems in South Africa and Mauritius were prepared and submitted to HelpAge International] Nov 2010 Mar 2011 MIS Design Expert, Designing Social Cash Transfer Pilot, Zimbabwe (UNICEF) Designed and developed a Management Information System for the Zimbabwe s Harmonised Cash Transfer Programme. Reviewed existing databases used by PRP, the CRS pilot, the Concern pilot and the Governments own national data base for BEAM. Based on the assessment, I documented functional specifications and developed an MIS for Harmonised social cash transfer programme at Ministry of Labour and Social Services. Outputs: (i) Prepared an situational assessment report of the existing databases including functional requirements for the Harmonised Cash Transfer Management Information System (ii) Developed and implemented a comprehensive Management Information System for the Harmonised Cash Transfer Programme] Nov 2010 Jan 2011 MIS Expert, Scoping Study for Design of Single Registry in Kenya, Kenya (DFID) Conducted an assessment of Kenya s Social Protection Sector to determine if it was feasible to design and implement a single registry MIS system. Development Pathways 7
Outputs: [Scoping study report that highlighted the feasible options and roadmap for the establishment of the single registry MIS in Kenya] Oct Nov 2010 Trainer, Economic Policy Research Institute s Training on Designing Social Cash Transfers Programme, Chiang Mai & Thailand (EPRI) I facilitated a training session on designing MIS Systems for Social Protection: An Open Source Approach. This was part of the wider social protection course designed to reach policy makers across the world with the aim of giving participants tools of designing and implementing social protection programmes Outputs: [Prepared and delivered a presentation on Designing Management Information Systems for Social Protection: an Open Source Approach ] July 2009 - date Cash transfer MIS Consultant, Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE), Uganda (DFID) I designed and developed Management Information System (MIS) for SAGE Programme, a component of the ESP programme. The role was undertaken in a number of advisory as well as development work dating back to July 2009. The activities included design of the network setup, development of specifications for hardware infrastructure and the development of the web based application software for assessment of beneficiary eligibility and provision of management reports. Outputs: [(i) Setup network, developed specifications for procurement of hardware and developed Management Information System. (ii) Documented Management Information System Manual of Operations] July 2007 Aug 2010 Managing Consultant, Hunger Safety Net Program (HSNP), Kenya (DFID) Hunger Safety Net (HSNP) is a program of the DFID developed with a mandate of delivering long-term guaranteed cash transfer to chronically food insecure households. The program works with other social protection initiatives run by the Government of Kenya and other donor agencies that purpose to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities. The program provides cash transfers to 60, 000 households in the northern part of Kenya. I designed and developed the open source Management Information System for the Hunger Safety Net Programme. The MIS solution was used during the pilot phase to support programme functions including biometric-based payment solution. Outputs: [(i)documented functional specifications for the Hunger Safety Net Programme (ii) Developed Open Source Management Information System for the pilot programme (iii) Documented programme manual of operations)] Apr May 2010 MIS Consultant, Social Protection Pilot Programme, Nepal (UNCDF & DFID) I reviewed social protection MIS systems for Nepal s national social protection system, with recommendations for introducing advanced electronic processes. Outputs: [Assessment report with Recommendations on the design of a Management Information System for a social protection pilot programme for the Ministry of Local Development.] Jan Feb 2009 MIS Specialist, Appraisal of Cash Transfer Program, Kenya (World Bank) Development Pathways 8
I participated in the appraisal of the Cash Transfer Program at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, Department of Children Services. Further to review work, I conducted an in-depth assessment of the Management Information System and recommended ways of strengthening the system to support the CT-OVC programme. Outputs: [Prepared a review report that highlighted the gaps and recommendations for strengthening the Management Information System for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programme] Career history Senior MIS Specialist, Development Pathways, UK, Feb 2011 date Managing Consultant, MIS Component, Hunger Safety Net Program, DFID Kenya July 2007 to Jan 2011 Consultant Analyst, Kenya Development Agency Limited, Kenya, June 2002 June 2007 Languages English, fluent; Kiswahili, fluent Selected publications, papers and reports Chirchir, R. (2007) Towards Design of HSNP MIS: Feasibility Report. Unpublished report for DFID Kenya Chirchir, R. (2009) Brazilian Single Registry: Lessons Learned from the Brazilian Delegation. Unpublished report for DFID. Kenya Chirchir, R. (2010) Feasibility and Social Security MIS Design Report: Ministry of Local Development, Social Protection Pilot Programme Unpublished DFID Nepal work Chirchir, R. and Kidd, S. (2010) Good Practice in the Development of Management Information systems for Social Protection. Helpage International, Pensions Watch, Briefing no. 5: www.helpage.org/download/4dd67c00ad279/ Barca, V. and R. Chirchir (2014) Single registries and integrated MISs: De-mystifying data and information management concepts. DFAT: Australia Development Pathways 9