Individual Consultant (Maldivian National) Child health data monitoring officer

Contract

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This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

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TOR/2020/36 - National Consultancy - Child health data monitoring officer

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the provision of routine mother, newborn, and child health across the Maldives. During the greater Male' lockdown in the period 15th April - 15th June 2020 routine MNCH services have been disrupted to some extent, and while they have returned somewhat to normalcy, the situation remains difficult as of early September 2020. An estimated 8,000 under-five children and around 4000 pregnant women are in need of basic public health care services at any given time in the Maldives.

However, a key challenge as the pandemic continues to take up significant time of all staff in the national health care system, with Health Protection Agency staff and health care providers repurposed for health emergency operations and, is the lack of adequate routine data collection and monitoring systems that allow appropriate policy decisions. There is no existing health information system that can provide real regular updated data on primary health care services, or changes in service utilization - this was a challenge also prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection continues to be manual, ad-hoc, and often times delayed, making it challenging for the health system at large to ensure full coverage and access to vital MNCH services for all. This is particularly important for those women and children already living in poverty or vulnerable, and without an adequate data collection and monitoring system in place, many risk being left further behind.

In the current context, health services delivery systems are required to adapt and respond to these changing needs but also to anticipate future demands. Data and feedback on services are key to management and improvement of health services delivery. Monitoring performance implementation and services ensures that lifesaving essential services such as immunization and antenatal care provided to every child and pregnant women, even during the emergency situation.

In this regard, UNICEF is seeking a national consultant to support Ministry of Health and Health Protection Agency to monitor key child and maternal health indicators under the SDG and other global commitments.

Purpose of the Assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to strengthen monitoring of quality of essential public health services national and sub-national health data and information, contributing to evidence-based data driven policy and programmes.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:

1. 1. To identify existing data information gaps and issues in monitoring and reporting of essential (mother, child, and new-born) health indicators and address through alternative mechanisms.
   2. To support the systematic collection, monitoring, and analysis of disaggregated MNCH information on a monthly basis to enhance decision making, planning and human and financial resource allocation.
   3. To effectively and efficiently monitor routine public health data and track health and nutrition indicators.
   4. Support the establishment of a simple digitalized MNCH monitoring tool that helps decentralized health centres, hospitals, and clinics to report on key indicators on a regular basis and at least fortnightly to central level HPA.

Duty station: The consultant will be based in the Health Protection Agency / Ministry of Health, Male'.

Supervisor: Under the direct supervision of the head of DG Health Services and Public Health, with remote supervision from UNICEF Programme Specialist for Health & Nutrition.

Major tasks of the Assignment:

1. The consultant will work with the Ministry of Health, Health Protection Agency, and UNICEF undertake the following tasks:
2. Assist Government/MOH officials in the development of coherent implementation plans/strategies in strengthening the Health Information system
3. Support the ongoing health information system development projects and initiatives with a view of capturing key public health indicators related to maternal, new-born child and adolescent health and nutrition.
4. Design strategies and support the full-scale implementation of DHIS-2, including action trackers, dashboards and mobile applications
5. Identify existing data, information gaps issues in monitoring and reporting of essential (newborn, child, maternal, and adolescent) health indicators. Provide feedback to the national programs on lessons learnt and identify bottle necks in the implementation of health services and national programs, and bring to the attention of policy level and divisions.
6. Work jointly with the relevant programmes to identify gaps in existing data reporting mechanisms, propose and recommend quick solutions to kick start the basic modules of the District Health Information Management System 2 (DHIS-2) for improved programme monitoring and implementation.
7. Facilitate the technical team and the relevant departments to review and audit the cases of neonatal deaths.
8. Work with the relevant programme teams and atoll / district focal points to ensure regular data on key child and health indicators are collected, analysed and reported on to inform strategic decision-making in the response and recovery phase and identify timely solutions to challenges.
9. With the HPA national programmes (Nutrition, EPI, RH, Child Health), support development, implementation, analysis and use of relevant monitoring tools to ensure data is generated for and used by health facilities, hospitals and programmes for planning and programme prioritization. Provide support and technical back stopping to the focal points.
10. Monitor routine public health data and track health and nutrition indicators for pregnant women and individual children, including through the use of digital technologies
11. Compile necessary data and analysis information periodically to identify patterns and changes, and present to programme heads and senior management
12. Develop profiles and dashboards on essential public health data, and SDG indicators on a need basis
13. Manage data analytics and health indicators and share / update it monthly within and internal platform and with internal stakeholders.
14. Support the to build capacity of relevant staff (in facilities, public health programmes) in the collection, analysis and presentation of information related to maternal, new-born child and adolescent health improvement for decision making and planning and advocacy.

Estimated duration of contract: The assignment will be signed for an initial period of 10 months between September 2020 - June 2021.

Official travel involved: Possibility of travel to islands, based on the need.

Deliverables:

Progress report (1) with:

• Inception report
• Activity plan and timeline

Progress reports every month (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

• Update on activities conducted
• Tools and profiles developed
• Monthly monitoring reports of key indicators

Final report:

• Final documents
• Final report

Note******: UNICEF will only make milestone payments based on achievement of specific deliverables as listed. All payments will be subjected to acceptance of deliverable by UNICEF.

Deliverables can be arranged in months and pegged to monthly progress reports.

UNICEF does not make advance payment & UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and other forms of taxes. Locals will be paid in local currency.

UNICEF Maldives pays economy ticket, on lowest fare from the most direct route (on reimbursement basis).

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required:

• An advanced university degree in the medical or public health or related area. A university degree with relevant experience in lieu of an advanced degree can be considered.
• Additional training in Monitoring and evaluation of the program is desirable.
• One year of experience in health information, data, monitoring or health systems required. Experiencing facilitating data focused teamwork is essential. Relevant exposure in related field can be considered.
• Able to handle data and information on computer software, and basic monitoring skills required.
• Excellent written and spoken Dhivehi and good writing skills in English.
• Excellent interpersonal and demonstrated good level of communication skills. Proven ability to work in teams.

Deadline for Applications: 26th September 2020, 06:00 pm (Maldives Time)

Application Link:

https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/Default.aspx?c=apply&sJobIDs=534473&SourceTypeID=796&sLanguage=en-us

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and 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

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.