Consultancy Service for the Development of a Digital Dashboard to Communicate the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions in Kigali (Minimum Viable Product Stage)

1. BACKGROUND

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Resources Institute jointly lead the Scaling Urban Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada. The City of Kigali and Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) are the main government implementing partners.

The SUNCASA project supports cities in designing, implementing, and scaling nature-based solutions (NbS) to address climate risks, while delivering social and environmental co-benefits. SUNCASA in Kigali focuses on restoring upstream micro-catchments in the lower Nyabarongo River watershed through afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, riparian restoration, and urban tree planting, to reduce flooding, landslides, and soil erosion, while improving climate resilience, biodiversity, and gender equality outcomes.

As NbS projects mature, there is a growing need to clearly and credibly communicate their impacts to communities, decision-makers, and current and prospective funders. Data are being collected through SUNCASA monitoring frameworks, partner reporting, and city systems, but these data are not yet presented in a way that is accessible to non-expert audiences or effective for public communication and advocacy.

The terms of reference outlined in this request for proposal (RFP) address the critical need for a public facing NbS communication dashboard for Kigali. The dashboard is intended to function as a communication and learning tool, demonstrating what has been achieved through SUNCASA investments, while preserving options for expansion subject to future governance, hosting, and resourcing decisions. Under SUNCASA, a maximum budget of USD 20,000, inclusive of taxes, is available to create a minimum viable product (MVP) dashboard focusing on SUNCASA intervention areas in the lower Nyabarongo River watershed.

The long-term objective is to develop a city-wide dashboard that communicates NbS impacts and supports communication of the benefits of NbS to decision-makers, development partners, and potential funders. The RFA has been identified as the interim host of the MVP dashboard and a key partner in its future development. The dashboard should therefore be designed to facilitate interoperability with relevant RFA systems and support potential expansion beyond the SUNCASA project.

2. PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

IISD seeks a consultant to develop a public-facing MVP dashboard for Kigali. The dashboard will function primarily as a communication and education tool that explains what NbS are, what SUNCASA is doing in Kigali, and why these actions matter for climate resilience, ecosystems, livelihoods, and gender-responsive development.

The consultant will work closely with key stakeholders, including the RFA, the City of Kigali, the SUNCASA project team, and IISD, to define MVP requirements, develop a simple and transparent data model, and implement a public-facing dashboard focused on communication.

The MVP will use existing data collected through the SUNCASA project and selected publicly available sources. The project team has developed an NbS Digital Dashboard Strategy for Kigali that includes a product requirements document (PRD, see Appendix A) and catalogue of data collected through the SUNCASA project, as well as suggested external data sources relevant to the MVP. The strategy and data catalogue will be made available to the selected consultant upon contract signature. To support effort estimation, sample data sets can be shared with interested bidders upon request during the proposal period. No new data collection, real-time data integration, or predictive modelling is expected at this stage.

The dashboard will present a limited, clearly defined set of indicators through maps, charts, tables, and short explanatory text, enabling users to understand

• which NbS are being implemented in the lower Nyabarongo River watershed, and
• how these interventions contribute to flood risk reduction, environmental improvement, and socio-economic co-

The MVP should be implemented using simple, well-documented components that can be adapted or extended in future phases, but without building advanced systems or functionality beyond the MVP scope. A suggested list of themes and shortlisted indicators is included in the PRD (see Section 6 in Appendix A).  

The MVP dashboard should be designed to operate within the broader digital ecosystem of the RFA. In particular, the consultant shall assess opportunities for interoperability with the Forest Management and Evaluation System (FMES) and ensure that technical design choices do not limit future integration with FMES following implementation of its ongoing upgrade phases. The MVP is not expected to fully integrate with FMES during this phase. Instead, the consultant shall assess interoperability requirements and implement an architecture that facilitates future data exchange and integration. The dashboard should avoid unnecessary duplication of FMES data sets, calculations, indicator definitions, and metadata structures wherever appropriate.

The level of interactivity required for the MVP will be intentionally limited and appropriate to a communication-focused dashboard. Specific interaction features will be discussed and confirmed during the inception phase.

The MVP dashboard must be capable of presenting content in multiple languages, specifically English and Kinyarwanda. The consultant is not expected to produce narrative content or provide translations. IISD and SUNCASA partners will be responsible for providing approved narrative text and translations for inclusion in the dashboard.

Specific technology choices are not prescribed in this RFP. The proposed solution should use widely supported technologies, avoid vendor lock-in, and support interoperability with the RFA digital ecosystem.

As an MVP, the dashboard is intended to support learning and iteration. IISD and SUNCASA partners in Kigali may assess the MVP post-delivery based on usability and stakeholder feedback to inform potential future phases. Such assessment is outside the scope of this consultancy and does not constitute additional deliverables.

3. OBJECTIVES

3.1 General Objective

Develop a public-facing, non-technical dashboard that communicates the impacts of SUNCASA-funded NbS in Kigali, clearly linking them to climate adaptation outcomes, while supporting future interoperability, maintenance, and expansion beyond the MVP phase.

The dashboard’s front end should be inspired by the design principles and visual language used by the MyPeg (www.mypeg.ca) dashboard, which is indicator-driven, narrative-supported, and accessible to a general audience.

3.2. Specific Objectives

The consultancy will

• define and validate MVP requirements focused on public communication, education, and learning outcomes;
• develop a public-facing MVP dashboard that communicates SUNCASA’s NbS in Kigali through a limited set of indicators, maps, visualizations, and narratives;
• implement a curated set of indicators organized around four communication themes: climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, gender equality and social inclusion, and employment and economic opportunities;
• design an accessible bilingual user experience supporting English and Kinyarwanda content that is appropriate for public audiences, students, youth, and local communities; and
• deliver an MVP that can be maintained by the RFA and supports future interoperability with the RFA’s digital ecosystem.

 4. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

The following expertise is required to conduct activities under this RFP:

• Proven experience developing web‑based data dashboards or visual analytics tools. Experience delivering public‑facing dashboards, data portals, or comparable products focused on communication, storytelling, or transparency.
• Strong front-end and data visualization skills. Demonstrated ability to design and implement clear, accessible visualizations (e.g., maps, charts, tables) for non‑technical audiences.
• Experience working with geospatial and indicator‑based data. Familiarity with basic geographic information system (GIS) concepts and the integration of spatial and non‑spatial data sets for visualization purposes.
• Ability to design lightweight, scalable technical architectures. Experience building MVPs or prototypes that are modular and documented, allowing for future expansion without requiring a full system build‑out at the MVP stage.
  
• Experience collaborating with public sector or development organizations. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, operate within defined scopes and budgets, and deliver to agreed timelines.
  
• Relevant technical skillset. Proficiency in appropriate programming languages and tools for web‑based dashboard development (e.g., JavaScript, Python, R, common visualization libraries, or frameworks). Specific tools are not prescribed.
  
• Clear communication and documentation skills. Ability to produce concise technical documentation and conduct a short handover to support maintenance and future development.
  
• Experience working with environmental, forestry, natural resource management, or geospatial information systems is considered an asset.

Firms or individuals with demonstrable experience delivering comparable MVP‑level dashboards are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet all listed qualifications exactly.

Please read the full Terms of Reference, including the Scope of Work, Delivery and Timeline Schedule, Evaluation and Selection Criteria, and Appendix A: Product Requirements Document for a Digital Dashboard Communicating SUNCASA Impacts.

Consultancy Service for the Development of a Digital Dashboard to Communicate the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions in Kigali

Application Process

Application deadline: September 16, 2026

For any questions related to this RFP, please send an email to suncasa@iisd.org 

All applications must be submitted in English. 

To apply for this consultancy, interested qualified firms and/or individuals should submit the following:

• Technical Proposal: Outlining how the consultant(s) plan(s) to undertake the assignment, including a proposed work plan and timeline. The proposed work plan must align with the deliverables and timeline set out in Section 5 and include a proposed approach to interim hosting, maintenance, and transfer to a future host organization.
• Financial Proposal: Includes the consultant’s daily rate and any additional costs associated with this assignment, with all costs clearly broken down and aligned to each deliverable and key activity outlined in Section 4. Financial proposals must be aligned with the MVP scope described in this RFP and should not exceed the available budget envelope for this assignment. Where applicable, financial proposals should clearly distinguish MVP development costs from optional hosting and maintenance costs.
• Cover letter: Outlining relevant professional experience of proposed consultant(s). Please include the name and contact details of the primary contact person at the bottom of the letter.
• Detailed CV of the proposed consultant(s) highlighting relevant experience in web‑based dashboard development, data visualization, and MVP or prototype delivery.
• References and Relevant Experience: At least two (2) references from previous related projecrts.

NOTE: 

• Incomplete and late proposals will be automatically disqualified. 
• This consultancy presents an opportunity to contribute significantly to climate adaptation, environmental restoration, and NbS implementation in Kigali. We encourage capable organizations and individuals to submit their proposals for consideration.