Consultant to develop an electronic health database for campus health facilities in Zimbabwe
JOB DETAIL
OVERVIEW
Grade :
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Harare
Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]
Standard Duration of Assignement: [[filter13]]
Job Family: Education
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 25-06-2024
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
Introduction
In 2021, UNESCO launched the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 PLUS), a project that seeks to ensure that young people in higher and tertiary education institutions (HTEIs) in the Eastern and Southern Africa region realize positive health, education, and gender equality outcomes through sustained reductions in new HIV infections, unintended pregnancy, and gender-based violence. The project will thus enable them to reach their full educational potential and contribute more effectively to the development of their countries and regions as graduates, professionals, and young leaders. Working closely with relevant regional structures, national ministries, HTEIs, and key partners, UNESCO supports innovation in access to life skills-based sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services for HTEI students while advocating for policy and practice changes to make campuses safe and inclusive learning environments for students and staff. In doing so, the project will institutionalize health and well-being programs for students while engaging leadership for long-term commitment and sustainability. In its core interventions, the O3 PLUS project focuses on 4 pillars which are:
- Institutional strengthening for sustainability
- Student health and well-being
- Safe and inclusive campus environments
- Evidence-building and knowledge-sharing
In line with project pillar 4 and pillar 2 on evidence building and ensuring student health and well-being respectively, the O3 PLUS project aims to support the institutions in the development of an electronic health database to ensure data quality and integrity. The electronic database will make it easier to record accurate data, analysis of data, and enable decision-making based on credible data. The health facilities on campus offer a range of services such as HIV testing and counseling, SRH services, and general health care services among others. UNESCO has partnered with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) an organization with the mandate to ensure data quality and reporting regarding SRH and family planning in the country to develop an electronic database for HTEIs in Zimbabwe.
Long Description
Summary
UNESCO seeks the services of a consultant to develop an electronic health database for campus health facilities in Zimbabwe. The consultant will build on the current national District Health Information Software (DHIS) 2 tool which is used to capture health-related information including SRH and develop an electronic version of this database. The database will be critical in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the O3 PLUS project within the country and provide accurate data on key indicators for the project which is disaggregated accordingly. In addition, the consultant will also support the digitalization of campus health facility data capturing and recording systems that will feed into the newly developed electronic health database.
The consultancy
The overall purpose of the consultancy is to develop an electronic health database that is informed by the DHIS 2 tool and can be used to record SRH data for students in HTEIs in Zimbabwe. UNESCO is partnering with ZNFPC to digitalize data capturing and reporting in institutions of higher learning hence, another component of the consultancy will be digitalizing the campus health facility data recording system where data will be captured initially and reflected in the national electronic health database. Taking into account limited internet connectivity the proposed digital database should allow health care providers to record data offline and the system should be able to upload data once internet connectivity has been restored. The database will be hosted by ZNFPC.
Objectives of the consultancy:
- To develop an electronic health database to capture SRH-related information for students in HTEIs in Zimbabwe.
- To digitalize campus health facilities’ data recording systems which will capture data that will feed into the newly developed electronic system.
- To review data collection tools from ZNFPC and propose a revision of tools to accommodate UNESCO key indicators.
- To ensure accurate record keeping in electronic form and ensure data quality.
- To ensure disaggregation data for the O3 PLUS project is embedded in the database for evidence-building and knowledge-sharing.
- To train health service providers on data collection, recording, and management of the new system.
Long Description
Expected Outcomes
- Electronic database developed in line with the DHIS 2 tool and integrated into the ZNFPC server. Database to be piloted in the 12 institutions participating in the O3 PLUS project. Database to be accompanied by a user guide with tutorials, an indicator definition sheet (incorporating UNESCO and ZNFPC indicators), and revised digital data collection tools which are in line with the newly developed electronic database.
- Campus health facilities have digitalized health recording systems.
- Quality of SRH data reporting and management enhanced.
- Training guide for health service providers on data collection, recording, and management developed.
- Accessibility of disaggregated SRH data for students in HTEIs which can be used for reporting by UNESCO.
Methodology
The consultant will be expected to conduct the following activities as part of the consultancy:
- Review of data collection tools: ZNFPC currently has data collection tools used to record SRH-related information including HIV testing and use of family planning. A review of the tools will be required to ensure that they incorporate O3 PLUS related key indicators such as student referrals. Following the review, the tools will need to be digitalized and linked to the electronic database.
- Provide guidance on a cost-effective software solution: should advise UNESCO on the best possible way of recording data securely to a national database at ZNFPC. Guidance should include backup applications and security restrictions while retaining efficient storage, manipulation, and retrieval of such data.
- Develop an electronic database: the database should be guided by the DHIS 2 tool as well as data collection tools shared by ZNFPC which would have been revised and digitalized to allow the collection of data that is relevant to the O3 PLUS project. Disaggregation of data should be ensured and extraction of relevant data per institution should be feasible. The consultant must consult ZNFPC regarding suitable servers for the database.
- Conduct training of health care providers: a key to the successful use of the database will be the efficiency of the staff that will use the database. As such the consultant will be expected to develop a training manual and user guide for the staff. Training on the use of the database will then be conducted.
- Pilot database in 12 institutions in Zimbabwe: the 12 institutions that are participating in the O3 PLUS project will be used to pilot the database. The consultant will need to recommend electronic equipment, data-capturing systems, and related software that will be required at the institutional level for the data captured there to be linked directly with the electronic database.
- Technical support within 6 months: the consultant will provide support and maintain the system for 6 months following system launch and go-live. During these 6 months, recommendations for improvement should be identified and documented accordingly.
Deliverables and timelines
The consultancy will be conducted over a period of 9 months from 1 July 2024 to 30 March 2025.
| Deliverable | Expected results | Time frame |
| Inception report | Develop an inception report which will be followed by an initial meeting with UNESCO and ZNFPC. The inception report should detail the consultant’s approach to the assignment including a realistic work plan. | 1 July – 8 July |
| Revised data collection tools | Initial consultation meeting with UNESCO and ZNFPC to guide consultant on the key data to be included in the database hence informing the revision of the data collection tools. | 9 July – 19 July |
Long Description
| System design report | The consultant should submit a report determining the requirements database including:
|
20 July – 3 August |
| Uploading of the developed database onto ZNFPC servers | Support uploading of the database and develop reports on the process. | 3 August – 15 August |
| Develop user guides and training guides | Conduct training of health care providers | 16 August – 22 August |
| Report on the pilot of the database in 12 institutions | Support piloting of the database in 12 HTEIs in Zimbabwe | 23 August – 20 September |
| Technical support following the launch of the database | 6 months of support and a final report with lessons learned and best practices | October 2024 – March 2025 |
Reporting
The contract will be managed by the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) based in Harare, Zimbabwe. The consultant will be expected to provide an updated status in a written format on a weekly basis. Formal reporting is expected upon delivery of each deliverable. Additional reporting activities may be requested by UNESCO ROSA on a need basis.
Budget and Payment
The consultant will be selected following a competitive bidding process. Candidates must submit a cost estimation (in USD) as an expression of interest, clearly itemizing costs. Payment will be done upon submission of each deliverable.
Copyright, Patents, and Other Proprietary Rights
All rights, including but not limited to title to property, copyright, trademark, and patent; in any work produced by the consultant by his/her contract, shall be vested in UNESCO which alone shall hold all rights of use.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications and Experience of the Consultant
The consultant must possess the following qualifications:
- At least a Master’s degree in IT, Information management, or another related discipline.
- At least seven years of experience in developing IT solutions and providing IT support and maintenance services.
- Proven professional experience in developing and managing databases within private and public sectors. At least 3 references of previous work should be provided.
- A verifiable Sample of previously developed databases with similar functionalities is a must.
- Experience in developing and setting up databases for research/developmental organizations, particularly for community and health-related interventions is an added advantage. At least 1 reference must be provided.
- An understanding of the DHIS2 can be an added advantage.
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COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
All interested consultants are required to submit their technical and financial proposals separately via email to [email protected] no later than 26 June 2024. The technical proposal shall be no more than 4 pages concisely presented and structured. Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
