International Individual Contractor- Digital Health, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 245 days (office based)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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 fulfill 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, health!

How can you make a difference?

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

Purpose and objectives:

This role will focus heavily on providing support to Sierra Leone in the following:

1. Stakeholder engagement and mapping of existing digital health technologies in Sierra Leone; and technical support to Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) for the development of a roadmap to operationalize the existing national digital health strategy
2. Technical support to MoHS, in close collaboration with GRID3, University of Geneva, and Global Fund, for the construction of a geospatial database linking PHU master facility list, Community Health Worker (CHW) master list and community coordinates; and the creation of a registry that hosts CHW master list
3. Technical support to MoHS for the development of a CHW performance management system including creation of an individual performance measurement module in DHIS2 platform; and planning for phased digitalization process

Methodology and Technical approach

Over 12 months the consultant will work with the UNICEF country office, MOHS, and WHO (country level), and in liaison with WCA regional office and HQ (Digital Center of Excellence and Programme Division – Health) to support the production of country specific investment cases for digital health that are embedded with the community health roadmaps and COVID-19 response plans. CO staff will work in close collaboration with the consultant and be expected leverage their expertise in the local context, partnerships, CO plans/strategies, and other resources to actively engage in and support this work on the ground. The main results will be:

1. Stakeholder engagement and landscape analysis: Stakeholder mapping and engagement, assessment, and consensus on digital health governance structures and standards1, and establishment of strong in-country partnerships.
2. Planning: Produce a roadmap to operationalize the existing digital health strategy, including a plan for phased introduction of EMR
3. Technical support and advice: Provide technical assistance in the development of a national georeferenced CHW master list hosted in a registry, a CHW performance management system linked to incentive payment, and digital solutions for enhanced COVID-19 vaccination data management

The consultant will be embedded/based in the Directorate of Policy, Planning and Information of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS).

Specific Tasks of the Consultant

Under the overall guidance of the Senior M&E Specialist of the MoHS Directorate of Policy, Planning and Information and the Research and Publication Specialist (DPPI) and direct supervision of the UNICEF Health Specialist (System Strengthening), the contractor will perform the following tasks:

• Deliverable 1: A road map to operationalize the national digital health strategy
• Deliverable 2: Design and Elaboration of a georeferenced CHW master list hosted in a registry and a CHW performance management system
• Deliverable 3: A costed plan for phased introduction of EMR system across hospitals and PHUs
• Deliverable 4: Digital solutions for enhanced COVID-19 vaccination data management

Please find attached the full ToR ToR_Digital Health Strategy Consultant_advertised.pdf

Management, Organization and Timeframe

The consultant will be based in Sierra Leone and will be required to travel to the field as needed. As travel dates and locations will be decided by UNICEF and partners as project progresses, UNICEF will arrange all travel for the consultant on an as needed basis.

The position will be managed and supervised by the UNICEF Health Specialist (HSS) and DPPI Senior M&E and Research and Publication Specialists. The consultant will provide monthly updates on the activities implemented and deliverables achieved. The fees of the consultant will be processed by UNICEF with submission of his/her progress report of deliverables certified by the supervisors.

The duration of the consultancy is 245 days.

Start date: 1 June 2022 End date: 15 May 2023

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

You will have: An advanced university degree in health and related qualification is required

At least 7 years of professional experience. Proven experience in the mHealth field – especially on the deployment of information systems and mHealth solutions, such as decision support and client communication tools. Significant experience in providing technical assistance and thought leadership surrounding the design and implementation of digital health for system strengthening. Significant experience with project management and proven ability to translate complex ideas from various areas into unified, clear guidance is a must. Advanced degree in a relevant field or equivalent related practical experience.

Additional Experience and Knowledge:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working in, designing, or deploying digital health solutions in/for low-resource settings
• Extensive experience working with the mHealth/eHealth community
• Knowledge and experience in community health/primary health care programmes is essential
• Experience designing and supporting digital health projects with Government (esp. Ministries of Health)
• Knowledge and experience with DHIS2, OpenMRS, iHRIS, OpenHIE, MoTECH, CommCare, OpenSRP, etc
• Familiarity with open-source technology
• Experience with processing large amount of information and synthesizing it
• Ability to work in a team and in a diverse work environment.
• Knowledge of United Nations – particularly UNICEF – processes and work streams is an asset

Languages:

Fluency in English

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF.

Application to include financial proposal that will detail your daily/monthly rate (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables on monthly basis. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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 only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.