National Consultant for Digital Health Platform

Purpose of consultancy

The overall purpose of this technical consultancy is for engaging a consultant to provide support during the establishment and operationalization of the digital health platform in Cox’s Bazar district

Objectives of the programme

General Objective: Provide support to WHO Bangladesh in ensuring optimal operationalization of digitization of NCD services in all health facilities in Cox’s Bazar.

Specific Objectives:

• Monitor implementation of digitization in CXB as per the agreed objectives
• Support in contextualization and harmonization of digital health interventions with ongoing initiatives
• Provide technical support as required on field.

Background

Noncommunicable Diseases account for 67% of the total deaths in Bangladesh. One in five adults in Bangladesh have the risk of dying due to one of the four common NCDs before the age of 70 years. NCDs affect people in low-income groups disproportionately and also has socio-economic impact on the families affected by NCDs. This is particularly evident in displaced populations due to higher exposure to risk factors as well as poor access to services.

Cox’s Bazar district has poorer Health, Nutrition and Population indicators relative to national averages. In the las four years, Bangladesh has been coping with a large inflow of people displaced from Myanmar nearing around 1.1 million Displaced Rohingya Population (DRP) in Cox’s Bazar district There is an urgent need to strengthen services for NCDs and other diseases by improving access to care as well as continuation of services. NCDs require screening, cohort monitoring of patients to ensure follow up of NCD patients on treatment for control and complications. Digital platforms facilitate follow up of patients, monitoring of control and complications while also allowing for mentoring, supportive supervision and capacity building. Once a platform is developed, the scope can be expanded to include other diseases/ conditions, target population and the services being provided.

Through a competitive bidding process on UNGM, selection of an agency to lead the operationalization of the digital health system is under process through the Contracts Review Committee (CRC) in WHO SEARO. Once the agency commences work on digitization in Cox’s Bazar, we will need technical monitoring of the process throughout the project period. A consultant is being engaged to support in providing oversight during operationalization of the project.

Description of duties

The consultant will undertake following work during assignment in close consultation with the National Professional Offer and Medical Officer, Non-communicable Disease:

• Engage with the selected agency through the stage of planning and implementation to ensure all tasks are in alignment with the requirements of the project
• Attend key stakeholder consultations to understand the context and provide technical inputs for harmonization of ongoing initiatives in digital health
• Visit sites in Cox’s Bazar during implementation to monitor progress and compliance with agreed objectives
• Ensure timelines are maintained and quality is assured
• Act as liaison between WHO and the agency for all matters requiring coordination and support
• Contribute to finalizing procurement plans for IT equipment
• Support in drafting a handover plan of the digital health system to government

Deliverables

• Monthly report on activities
• Report of meetings
• Final report on the assignment

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational:

Essential: Master’s degree or equivalent experience in computer sciences/ Software Engineering/ health informatics, health sciences/technology or any IT related field from a recognized university

Desirable: A postgraduate (doctoral) level qualification in computer science/ Software Engineering/ health informatics, health/hospital administration, public health, health sciences/technology or business administration, or IT related fields with an understanding of health system would be an added advantage

Experience:

Essential:

• The consultant must have comprehensive understanding or experience in digital health/ eHealth in the context of health service delivery strengthening and minimum ten years of professional experience in the aforementioned areas
• Understanding of public health & Health system in Bangladesh

Desirable:

• Understanding in health service delivery in Bangladesh and international experience
• Demonstrated expertise in digital initiatives including experience working in the area of digital health, experience in supporting design and rollout of digital health platforms/tools, experience of design and implementation of international best practices in the area of digital health
• Experience with health information systems
• Experience with electronic health record or other e-health solutions.
• Availability at short notice to take up the assignment

Skills/Knowledge:

• Strong written communication and analytical skills
• Ability to work independently without direct supervision

Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Communicating in credible and effective way
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Producing results

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert): Expert knowledge of English and Bangla

Computer Literacy: Strong command in IT

Location: On-site - Dhaka

Travel: Frequent visits to Cox’s Bazar District

Remuneration (Travel costs are excluded):

• Pay band range: NO-C (Minimum) Daily BDT 34,298/- (Taxable)
• Expected duration of contract: 10 days per month for 10 months.

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/ diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO 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 through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women are encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• This assignment is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station/assignment location.