Immunization Data Systems Mapping Consultant, Botswana, Gaborone, 5 months Consultancy

UNICEF Botswana therefore requires a consultant to conduct a mapping exercise of immunization data systems to understand the landscape, idenfity opportunities to strengthen data quality, availability and utilization and develop an integrated immunisation management information system that is compatible with existing data systems in use by the MoH, including the DHIS

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Background:

COVID-19 continues to be a global health threat though the World Health Organisation (WHO) lifted the status COVID-19 as public health emergency of internal concern (PHEIC) on 5th May 2023, however it was previously declared as a public health emergency by the WHO on 20 January 2020. As of June 4, 2023, only 30.6 per cent of the African population completed primary vaccination series which is far below the global average of approximately 65.6 per cent. Despite the low coverage rates in Africa, the COVID-19 vaccination statistics makes it the fastest and the most complex global vaccine campaign in history. Mass vaccination campaigns were used as a main delivery approach to reach the targeted populations with speed and widely. However, in many countries, this has come at a high resource cost. Health workers and financial and other resources have been diverted from providing essential health services including routine immunization to COVID-19 vaccination efforts. As a result, routine immunisation coverage rates have declined, and the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks is increasing. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic response has justifiably required dedicated attention and resources to support rapid scale up and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines – at times via coordination, financing, delivery, and other approaches outside of or on top of already overburdened health systems. While this approach has put a strain on routine immunization and other national programmes, it also ushered innovative approaches to vaccine deployment, insights and innovations that can further benefit health systems for the long term. Despite many unknowns about the future of the pandemic and COVID-19 vaccination, it is time to plan for sustainable COVID-19 vaccination as an integral part of national immunization programmes, primary health care (PHC), and other relevant health services. Many countries are already integrating COVID-19 vaccination into their regular health services and exploring new entry points for vaccination of high-risk groups.

Like other countries, the Government of Botswana intends to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization and use lessons from the response programme to inform and improve the routine immunisation programme in the country. There is, therefore, a need for technical support to produce an integrated immunisation data system using routine immunization as an entry point. The technical support will integrate data from Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs), Routine EPI data, COVID-19 vaccination data and in the future be able to integrate data from Rapid Convenience Monitoring (RCM), and Vaccine Coverage Surveys (VCS). This is aimed at improving evaluation of immunization coverage, gaining a holistic view of immunization across types of activities, and identifying how integrated data can help the identification of areas and population with lower coverage. The proposed system should also build on best practices in terms of close to real-time monitoring, use and dissemination of data during the COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana.

Purpose:

UNICEF Botswana therefore requires a consultant to conduct a mapping exercise of immunization data systems to understand the landscape, identify opportunities to strengthen data quality, availability and utilization and develop an integrated immunisation management information system that is compatible with existing data systems in use by the MoH, including the DHIS.

Scope of Work (Activity/Assignment):

Under the supervision of the Health and Nutrition Specialist, in collaboration with the Department of HSMEQA – MOH and support of the Technical Working Group (MoH, USAID, UNICEF), the consultant will map out the current landscape of immunization data – both routine and COVID-19 immunization – systems, assessing the flow of data, processes, management, and interoperability of systems. This information will provide input into key recommendations on strengthening data quality, availability, and utilization. Specifically, the consultant will;

a) Conduct a mapping exercise of best practices around generation, analysis, use and dissemination of data during the COVID-19 pandemic; mapping other immunization data systems in use, including their strengths and weaknesses; assessing the flow of data (including between health facility, District Health Management Team and national levels), data quality assurance and management, and interoperability of systems; identify the specific data system that need to be implemented for immunization data gathering and analysis.
b) Through the mapping, assess the quality of data in terms availability, timeliness and completeness, along with potential biases and understand appropriate use. This should include evaluating how data is disaggregated to capture and report on age, gender and priority groups.
c) Review the current functioning of the immunisation data system and how this supports decision making/ programming at various levels (health facility, district and national)
d) Develop an integrated immunization system, leveraging on existing systems that are interoperable and define and implement the necessary data models and protocols for data exchange between the connected systems and use the suitable programming languages and frameworks, to manage the information flow.
e) Conduct thorough testing of the database and connectors to ensure its functionality, performance, and identify any bugs, errors, or inconsistencies to fix.
f) Migrate existing data from legacy / existing systems
g) Support the data processing and analysis with automated charts and infographics using the appropriate visualization tools
h) Provide a comprehensive documentation with technical specifications of the database and develop a training package for system support team and end-users
i) Facilitate the knowledge transfer with the required training sessions and coaching to system support team and end-users and ensure handover of the data system to MoH
j) Provide key recommendations for strengthening data quality, availability and use.

The key tasks and indicative timeline are provided below. The tasks will be conducted in close collaboration with the UNICEF Country and Regional Offices and Ministry of Health.

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Experience:

• Degree in data analytics, statistics, computer sciences, and/or information management or related fields
• At least 5 years’ experience at the national and international levels in development, planning, programming, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and managing of health/Immunization data systems.
• Strong expertise in API development and integration, connector creation.
• Experience with authentication and authorization mechanisms, such as OAuth or JWT.
• Good knowledge of programing language (Python, JScript).
• Good knowledge of visualization software (PowerBI, Tableau) or “R” coding.
• Excellent project management skills and ability to work independently and deliver results.
• Good communication skills to collaborate with stakeholders and end-users.
• Willingness to immediately take up the assignment.
• Able to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Experience of working with UNICEF or UN is an asset.

Skills:
– Ability to work independently, under pressure, and within deadlines, including strong planning and coordination skills
– Good communication, advocacy and people skills and the ability to communicate with various stakeholders and to express concisely and clearly ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
– Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills, with ability to lead/train a group of individuals and impart knowledge.

Languages:
• Professional level knowledge of written and spoken English is a requirement. All reports must be submitted in English.

Requirements:
• Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11)
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• All-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the deliverables noted above.
• Travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR
• Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
• Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. 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.

Administrative issues:

The selection and conditions of service of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s Policies and General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants.

No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.

Consultant will be required to complete mandatory online courses (e.g. Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security) upon receipt of offer and before the signature of contract.

Consultant will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants and to share an applicable proof of health insurance covering medical evacuation (if travel is involved) prior to taking up the assignment.

How to Apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement online. Please indicate your ability, availability and a technical proposal and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g., consultancy fee, living allowance, travel if applicable), quoted in USD for Internationals and BWP (Pula) for locals.
Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered. If you have not been contacted within 1 month of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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 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. Consultants 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

Tagged as: Botsowana, UNICEF