UNICEF recrute un consultant facilitateur de réunion régionale DHIS2, Kenya

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                                                                          TERMS OF REFERENCE 

Background :

DHIS2 Workshop :

Achievement of the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals will require strong and resilient health systems. Health information systems are one of the six essential building blocks of health systems. The realization of better health and nutrition outcomes for women, adolescents, and children is dependent upon well-informed and timely decisions and action taken by health system managers and policy-makers which, in-turn, are dependent upon the availability and use of quality data and information on the health system’s performance as well as the determinants thereof. Many health information systems are inadequate in terms of completeness, timeliness, and quality of data; health information sub-systems are often fragmented, creating duplication and limiting utility of the sub-systems to decision-makers; and capacity of institutions and human resources to manage, analyze and use data is often weak. Efforts to strengthen health and nutrition systems must include improving health and nutrition information systems, leveraging the potential of the data revolution to achieve better and more equitable outcomes for women, children, vulnerable groups and the general population in terms of health, nutrition, development and overall well-being.

UNICEF views strong information systems and data use as critical to all aspects of its mandate to advocate for children (i.e. Health, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Child Protection, WASH, and Education).

DHIS2 is an open source platform for national health management information systems (HMIS). It is a flexible, web-based, scalable HMIS solution, enabling data entry, management, validation, analysis and visualization of aggregate, event and individual level data supporting health program monitoring and evaluation, facility registries and service availability mapping, logistics management and mobile tracking of pregnant mothers in rural communities. The platform has been field-tested and continuously improved for over 15 years. DHIS2 in use by 72 low-income and middle-income (LMIC) countries, and has become the HMIS software of choice in these contexts and has also been adopted for education, WASH, nutrition and other sectors in some countries. In ESA region, currently 20 of the 21 countries are using DHIS2, either as a pilot or are scaling up nationally . This convergence will enable tremendous improvements in information systems globally and is of strategic importance to UNICEF.
UNICEF views DHIS2 as a critical entry point for equity-based programming and district health systems strengthening work, through facilitating enhanced data availability, integration, quality and use, at subnational levels/point of care. UNICEF country offices, in coordination with Ministries of Health and partners, are supporting DHIS2 implementation/strengthening in several countries.

With this background, UNICEF is planning to support capacity building of key health and nutrition staff in use of DHIS2, and with a view to develop the planned virtual workshop into an on-line course available for all staff and partners through AGORA.

Justification : Expert external facilitation is required in order to maximize engagement for the DHIS2 Workshop. As this event is now planned to be run virtually through on-line platforms, expertise in remote facilitation is required in order to ensure active participation.

Scope of Work : Under the supervision of the Health Specialist and in close collaboration with members of the ESARO Health Section, the consultant will plan for and facilitate a dynamic and participatory 5-day DHIS2 training workshop, ensuring participant views are heard and discussions are open and engaging.

Objectives :

DHIS2 Workshop : The DHIS2 workshop aims to increase the awareness and understanding of DHIS2 and its use and advantages as a platform for routine information systems and identify strategic entry points for UNICEF nutrition and health programme staff to work with Ministry of Health colleagues to strengthen to national routine information systems.

More specifically, the objectives of the workshops are :

• Use of DHIS2 in ESA Region: Provide participants with an overview of the findings of the ESAR DHIS2 Landscape analysis, including the common challenges found and the recommendations made to overcome these, with key actions and country commitments for improvements to the national DHIS2 following the training; come to a common agreement as to how UNICEF can better support DHIS2 ;
• Health information systems: Ensure a common understanding of what constitutes a health information system, what is DHIS2 – what it can do and what it cannot do (the limitations and power of using DHIS2 analytics), how data systems work, and establish a network of users in ESA region with links to expert support regionally and globally ;
• DHIS2 terminology: Ensure participants gain a common understanding of indicators and data elements in DHIS2 and an understanding of common DHIS2 terminology ;
• Applications available for health and nutrition: Provide participants with a demonstration of various apps that can be used for nutrition including the Scorecard and Bottleneck Analysis apps and ensure an understanding of how and why they should be used for improving programme monitoring and performance ;
• Results Frameworks: Create a common understanding of Evidence Based Results Frameworks and their importance and use in information systems ;
• Practical skills development for use of DHIS2: Develop participant skills in using DHIS2 and various analytic tools, including practice of how to build dashboards, how to search for information / indicators and how to perform basic data quality checks in DHIS2 for quality assurance / quality control of routine nutrition data.

Expected results :

DHIS2 workshop :

• UNICEF health and nutrition staff are familiar with the DHIS2 Landscape Analysis, it’s findings and it’s recommendations – both those that are specific for their particular country and those that are general but necessary to be implemented in order to improve nutrition components of the health information system. Staff are aware of global developments aimed at improving nutrition reporting through the DHIS2 and are equipped to contribute towards driving improvement of routine nutrition information at country level ;
• UNICEF health and nutrition staff have an improved understanding of what is DHIS2, the terminology used and gain practical experience of how to work with data and information in DHIS2 ;
• UNICEF health and nutrition staff gain knowledge and understating of the different apps and tools that are available in DHIS2 to support improvements to programme monitoring and performance, know how they work and how they can access support to use them ;
• Action plan for improved reporting of nutrition and health information through DHIS2 – country roadmaps ;
• Improved collaboration and linkages with multi-sectoral information systems.

Activities and Tasks :

DHIS2 workshop :

• Review the agenda and provide strategic advice as to how best to run each session to ensure maximum engagement and participation ;
• Advise on the use of Zoom as a platform for the training, including which features to use and when to ensure participant engagement ;
• Advise on content delivery, with a view to the training being converted into an on-line course on Agora that can be accessed and completed at any time, as per the guidance of the UNICEF Learning and Knowledge Exchange/Agora team ;
• Facilitate the workshop sessions in terms of managing Zoom and running participatory activities in Zoom, including managing breakout rooms and quizzes.

Outputs/Deliverables :

• Final DHSI2 workshop agenda and plan of facilitation, including advice for interactive activities / sessions ;
• Workshop is facilitated as per schedule ;
• Final DHIS2 training workshop report and evaluation report ;
• Preparation and packaging of materials, post workshop, to facilitate incorporation into an on-line course on Agora.

Location and duration : The consultant will work remotely

The contract will be for 10 days: 3.5 days for preparation; 5 days for the DHIS2 workshop facilitation and reporting; and 1.5 days for preparation and packaging of finalized workshop materials for Agora training.

Reporting requirements :

DHIS2 Workshop training report and evaluation report.

Required qualification, experience, languages and competencies :

1. Advanced university degree in sciences (social, public health, informatics, engineering or related discipline ;
2. 5-7 years’ work experience in facilitating and coordinating events, including regional/global meetings / workshops, preferably in public health ;
3. Demonstrated analytical and concise writing and editing skills, including ability to convey detailed information in a clear manner to a diverse audience ;
4. Flexible and able to respond to and accommodate change easily ;
5. Administrative skills and self-motivated with the ability to set priorities and manage multiple tasks under minimal supervision in effective and efficient manner ;
6. Ability to work under pressure and respond to deadlines without sacrificing quality ;
7. Languages – Excellent writing and communication skills in English ;
8. Software – Good knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Zoom.

Functional competencies :

• Planning and Organizing: Sets clearly defined objectives; plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances; identifies and organizes resources needed to accomplish tasks; manages time effectively; monitors performance against deadlines and milestones ;
• Communication: Ability to express complex technical concepts effectively, both verbally and in writing; effectively presenting thoughts and ideas in a clear, concise, and readily understood manner. Listen to and acknowledges others’ perspectives and views. Demonstrated ability to include all participants and ensure all views are heard ;
• Working with People: Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well ;
• Drive for Results: Sets high standards for quality of work; monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm

Administrative issues : The Consultant will be available for calls and skype meetings while working remotely.

Project Management : The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Regional Health Specialist and in collaboration with the Regional Nutrition Specialist.

The consultant will complete all activities and deliverables listed above within the allotted timeframe.

Payment Schedule :

UNICEF’s policy is to pay for the performance of contractual services rendered or to effect payment upon the achievement of specific milestones described in the contract. UNICEF’s policy is not to grant advance payments except in unusual situations where the potential contractor, whether a private firm, NGO or a government or other entity, specifies in the bid that there are special circumstances warranting an advance payment. UNICEF will normally require a bank guarantee or other suitable security arrangement.

Conditions :

• The consultant is expected to use their own IT equipment (laptop, cell-phone etc.), where operating communication costs – long-distance calls, internet if any should be part of the overall quoted fees (no reimbursement will be applied) ;
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary ;
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor ;
• For international consultant outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by fax or email. Signed contract copy or written agreement must be received by the office before Travel Authorization is issued ;
• The consultant / consulting firm selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual / institutional contracts.

Risks :

All reasonable and likely risks should be identified, and a relevant risk response and possible mitigating action defined.

Meeting not well coordinated – this will be mitigated through thorough preparation, especially in the 5-day preparation phase, together with the consultant, and through face-to-face meetings ahead of the workshop.

How to Apply :