UNDP Jobs - 79299- DHIS2 International Consultants for the South Suda

DHIS2 International Consultants for the South Sudan Ministry of Health – (DHIS2 Consultant - Computer scientist)

Location :

Juba, SOUTH SUDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

02-Jul-2018

Application Deadline :

20-Jun-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1month

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 month

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP partners with the Global Fund to support and strengthen national responses to HIV, Tuberculosis and malaria. The objective is to ensure access to quality health services for all and enable all those living or affected by the diseases to live healthy, productive lives. The partnership leverages UNDP’s mandate to strengthened institutions to deliver universal access to basic services and rebuilding resilient health services in crisis and post-crisis settings.

UNDP is currently serving as the Global Fund’s Interim Principal Recipient (PR) in South Sudan administering both TB and HIV grant. Under the HIV grant, resources have been earmarked to support Health Management Information System. The MOH plans to establish a robust Health Management Information System (HMIS) to collect different types of health information from service delivery points to be used as evidence for decision making aimed at improving health care delivery. Currently, the HMIS is using DHIS1.4 for the management of the national health information. However, there are gaps in the system for reporting data from all the different national programs. The existing gap in timeliness and completeness of reporting of data coupled with increased donors demand for timely reports has led to programs developing fragmented and vertical data collection systems. This has given rise to multiple data sets leading to concerns about the reliability and quality of data across the numerous health care providers and support organizations in the country.

The District Health Information Software version 2 (DHIS 2) is a routine data-based health information system which allows for data capture, aggregation, analysis, and reporting of data. The MOH has identified the need to adapt DHIS 2 to its current data collection and storage platform.

The current data management system presents some challenges that does not facilitate data-driven decision-making. The current system also does not guarantee optimal data security and integrity. The MOH needs a platform that will help integrate all of its data so that HMIS managers, the technical team and the M&E team can efficiently and effectively keep track of the overall MOH performance and monitor progress of indicators.

The MOH foresees that DHIS 2 would allow information exchange and evidence-based decision making at all levels starting from where data are produced (health zones) to the management level. This software would also allow data quality checks are performed using validation rules that can be established and applied regularly to clean up the data. We also foresee that DHIS 2, with its GIS built-in engine, would allow data mapping in order for the MOH team to geographically visualize areas of low and high performance.

The consultant will work closely with the HMIS director and key MOH staff – particularly those with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and information systems functions – to assess the current system and adapt the DHIS 2 software so that it would be easily accessed, used, and maintained by relevant MOH staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consultants will work with the second DHIS2 consultant (with public health specialist) to carry out the following tasks: Develop an inception report and Detailed Work plan on the project implementation – This will be done in collaboration with Team Leader;

Configure the hierarchy of organizational unit and level of intervention (e.g., health facilities, hospitals, county, state and national ministry of health level;
Code the data elements and indicators for interoperability purpose, and translations;
Setup DHIS2 instance- live and test instances - configure security controls on the server, secure domain and backup utilities, server monitoring tools on the server;
In collaboration with the DHIS2 task force customize all the HMIS data collection tools into DHIS2 database;
Design data entry forms and customize the database with the country determined data elements, indicators, organization units, user roles;
Develop Dashboards with frequently used favourites and standard reports based on the user determined information products;
Perform technical test of the platform as per the user requirements;
Import legacy data into the DHIS2;
Develop training materials for the core team and also train the core team on customization, system management and administration;
Identify existing capacity gaps in HMIS human resource and infrastructure and recommend minimum requirements to ensure effective administration of DHIS2 system server;
Develop a data import module in DHIS 2 for the existing Excel database;
Set quality assurance parameters (e.g., approval and acceptance of data) and data validation rules;
Develop an automated program for reports and dashboards, with possibility of linking to the data reporting tool in Excel;
Provide technical support remotely during the pilot of the platform with users.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Displays cultural gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrates diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations;

Professionalism:

Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment;
Shows pride in work and in achievements;
Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Planning & Organizing:

Organized and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources and multiple reporting relationships;
Plans coordinates and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines;
Establishes builds and maintains effective working relationships with staff and clients to achieve the planned results;
Contracts will be output-based and payment issued only upon delivery of satisfactory outputs.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree (Masters level) in a relevant field (computer science, data/information/health management, econometrics, advanced statistical analysis, information technology, and software engineering;

Experience:

Five years expertise in information system management especially on web-based software platforms and database administration;
Five years’ experience in DHIS 2 configuration for health information systems;
Previous work experience supporting countries in DHIS2 rollout in sub Saharan countries including experience in training DHIS administrators and health information uses;
Previous work experience of HMIS in South Sudan will be an added advantage;
Excellent skills and experience in training facilitation, mentoring and capacity development;
Demonstrate oral and written communication skills, including presentations.

Language:

Fluency in spoken and writing English is a requirement;
Knowledge of Arabic will be considered an asset.