Consultancy: Digital Health Specialist, UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok, Thailand

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfilling their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Regional Health and Regional ICT Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Region Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical and programmatic support in digital health. The consultant will work in close coordination with the Regional Health team and T4D Manager and oversight by the Regional Chief of Health with a secondary reporting line to the Regional Chief of ICT and Digital Innovation to address the increased need for Digital Health Programmatic support to the East Asia and Pacific Region in the context of COVID-19 outbreak.

Purpose of Assignment:

To provide technical assistance and advice in the formulation and implementation of a digital health strategy in/for low- and middle-income countries in the East Asia and Pacific Region. The incumbent will ensure health information system strengthening of the country offices (COs) by recommending digital health investments best suited to the context, participating in establishing and maintaining standards, documentation, and support mechanisms for the investments, and identifying key stakeholders and partners to obtain their buy-in as well as to maximize the potential for the scale-up and sustainability of technology and digital innovation for health programming. This entails the identification, assessment, planning, coordination, design, documentation, and deployment of digital health solutions, with a specific focus on solutions to address bottlenecks to health service delivery for women and children.

The Consultant will also provide recommendations and strategies to ensure integration of digital development and technology innovation into the health programme planning lifecycle and aim to build the capacity and knowledge within the health section on digital development, train UNICEF staff, partners, government counterparts and other end users in creating and maintaining high quality digital health systems.

Work Assignment:

The Consultant will provide leadership in the setup of a digital health strategy in/for low- and middle-income countries in the East Asia and Pacific Region by enabling health programming effectiveness and efficiency through innovation, partnerships and recommending technology solutions and services in a timely, secure, and safe manner. S/he will assist with the planning and coordination of the Digital Health Flagship activities in the Region which include country coordination and support and resource mobilization.

The consultant’s duties will include:

1. Provide Technical and Programmatic Support in Digital Health
2. Support Policy and Strategy Development for Technology-enabled Health Programming
3. Engage and facilitate partnerships and networks Capacity Building
4. Facilitate Knowledge Management
5. Provide Technical and Programmatic support in Sub-national (such as at District and Health Center level) Health Information Systems
6. Advise Effective Use of Digital Health Data
7. Capacity Building

For more details on work assignment, please see attachment.

VA2021-8 Consultancy - Digital Health Specialist.pdf

Work Schedule and Duration of Contract:

The assignment will be carried out from the start of the contract on March 1st, 2021 until February 15th, 2022 for 11.5-month full-time equivalent. The Consultant will be paid by month upon submission of invoice for equivalent of 8-hour work per day and monthly report detailing progress of the tasks.

End Product:

The consultant is expected to assist the Regional Advisers of T4D and Health with the planning and coordination of the Digital Health Flagship activities including country coordination and support and resource mobilization. Deliverables include:

• Digital health strategies for effective COVID-19 programmatic response and regional priority areas developed
• Technical assistance to support the development of digital health infrastructure and inter-operable systems at country level
• Development of technical and operational guidance on implementing specific digital services (e.g. ePrescription, eVaccination, Digital Mental Health)
• Establishment and maintenance of a regional country consultation network for digital health for the exchange of experiences and fostering of innovation
• Development of material and activities to enhance digital health competency and confidence in identified target groups to ensure that an equity perspective is promoted in the scaling up of digital health interventions
• Documentation and reports on progress of digital health activities that contribute to the implementation of the mental health flagship
• Close collaboration and liaison with expert agencies and collaborating centers in Digital Health

Official Travel: Home-based assignment due to current travel restrictions. Travel to UNICEF Regional Office in Bangkok might be required (to be confirmed with supervisors) if travel restrictions are lifted.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree (Master's) or equivalent professional experience in health informatics, computer science, public health/medicine, development studies, economics or related field is required.
• Minimum 5 years of work experience at the international and/or national level in digital health, especially on the deployment of information systems and digital solutions.
• Experience in providing technical assistance and thought leadership surrounding the design and implementation of digital solutions for health system strengthening, including application of recommended Health Information System architectures and standards.
• Experience designing and supporting digital health projects with Governments (esp. Ministries of Health).
• Experience with project management and proven ability to translate complex ideas from various areas into unified, clear guidance.
• Exposure to UNICEF, UN or other INGO programmatic areas, including (but not limited to) health, and experience in applying technical solutions to address programmatic issues.
• Knowledge and experience working with Digital Public Goods such as DHIS2, OpenMRS, OpenSRP, iHRIS, OpenHIE, MoTECH, CommCare, RapidPro, etc.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.
• Candidates based in Bangkok, or in a time zone location within maximum 2 hours of GMT +7 (Bangkok) is preferred.

Other skills and attributes:

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following competencies that are necessary to this consultancy:

Core Competencies:

• Excellent communicator of concepts both verbally and in writing to a developing country government and international audience.
• Able to quickly understand instructions, to proactively seek clarification when needed.
• Able to work well in a team environment.
• Demonstrates communication and relationship-building skills.
• Works in a multi-cultural environment and establishes harmonious and effective working relationships.

Functional Competencies:

• Enterprise architecture design and standards and interoperability in the area of digital health.
• Strong knowledge of digital health applications in health systems and public health.
• Ability to communicate and engage with experts and stakeholders from different fields, including policymakers, researchers, and the civil society.
• Works independently and is problem-solving oriented.
• Strong analytical, research and report writing skills.
• Effective project management skills.
• Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed monthly professional fee in USD by 15 February 2021****.

FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.