Luke International
BACKGROUND
Luke International (LIN) is an independent non-governmental organisation working with the Government of the Republic of Malawi (GoM) on HIV and AIDS, TB and related health issues in the health sector to improve health information systems since 2009. LIN’s mission is to promote activities that increase local human capacity and technical competence for providing HIV and AIDS care and support and advocate for people to attain universal health coverage goals in Malawi. LIN collaborates with the Ministry of Health, implementing partners, academic institutions, hospitals, community-based organisations and international/domestic partners to provide ongoing technical assistance and implement digital health and information technology programs.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) have been utilising electronic and digital technology innovations to aid the service delivery efficiently and effectively with support from Digital Health Division (DHD) and partners. Learning from the past and recent COVID-19 response experience, the electronic vaccination system (eVax) concept evolved into a more comprehensive and practical digital solution.
The eVax system is comprised of four thematic areas of the system functions and usage:-
- Digital vaccination registration and certification for individual clients;
- National supply chain management system integrated vaccine commodity management;
- Digitalized cold-chain equipment management;
- Electronic and digital tools for micro-planning and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation.
Despite progress, Malawi still needs help in achieving its vaccination targets due to a lack of good-quality target population estimates and real-time updates below the district level. UNICEF Malawi will support the Ministry of Health by enhancing real-time reporting through RapidPro technology and deploying Geographic Information System (GIS) data and tools for strengthening the micro planning process through Luke International. UNICEF introduced the RapidPro and planned to be fully transferred and institutionalized in the MoH-owned Interactive Community Health Engagement Platform (ICHEP) for timely data collection. The GIS data and tools for strengthening the district and the facility-level micro planning process will be used to ground truth service requirements and to contribute to national aggregates of needed supplies and staff capacities. The project will assist the RapidPro institutionalisation nationwide, pilot the GIS aid micro-planning in
4 districts and support the nation’s DHIS2 development in iCHIS and eVax systems.
Luke International (LIN) is extending invitations to eligible and qualified individuals to fill in the positions of Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist Consultants and Software
Developers in related to DHIS2 and RapidPro technology in Malawi. Luke International is working in the collaborative Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and Digital
Health Division (DHD) of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and other stakeholders to support the development and enhance the vaccination microplanning capacity, vaccination campaign
real-time performance monitoring and country’s integrated community health information system (iCHIS) development.
Through this collaboration, GIS Specialist Consultant will be recruited and deployed at EPI of the MoH based in Lilongwe to perform his/her duty in close collaboration with DHD; and the
DHIS2 Software Developers will be recruited and deployed at Digital Health Division of the MoH based in Lilongwe to perform his/her duty. The human resource funding support comes from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). The Expanded Programme Immunization and Digital Health Division management will lead and manage the personnel, with technical support from Luke International.
Position Title : Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist Consultant (1) Quote Ref #: GIS1
Job Location : Expanded Programme Immunization (Lilongwe)
Reports to: Expand Programme on Immunization (EPI) Manager in the Ministry of Health
and Senior Digital Health Technical Advisor for Luke International (LIN)
Duration: One Year Contract
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for the following among other responsibilities:-
Assessment of the country’s GIS context and enabling environment:
a) Lead consultations with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and other stakeholders to understand the capacity and context related to the utilisation of geospatial data and
technologies in the immunisation program.
b) Identify country stakeholders involved in the collection, management, and use of geospatial data and technologies.
c) Conduct a structured assessment of the geo-enabling environment in terms of institutional strategy, policy, and technical capacity to identify gaps and ensure sustainable
integration of geospatial data in the microplanning process.
d) Identify an existing government body that can serve as a governance structure for overseeing the geo-enabling of the micro-plan.
Assessment of geospatial datasets, training needs, and equipment needs:
a) Identify specific geospatial information required for the microplanning process and draft microplanning maps.
b) Compile a catalogue of existing georeferenced datasets, including sources, currency, and updating mechanisms.
c) Conduct a preliminary assessment of the quality of georeferenced datasets for the pilot districts.
d) Identify training and equipment needs, including software and GPS enabled devices, necessary for sustaining the deployment of geospatial data and technologies.
Revise project plans, budgets, and develop M&E and communication strategies:
a) Develop or revise a detailed operational plan for GIS-based microplanning in the pilot districts, including a project concept note, assessment findings, narrative description of the plan, examples of anticipated outputs, and a detailed work plan with key milestones.
b) Prepare a line item budget aligned with the existing program budget.
c) Identify key staff and digital health focal points for capacity-building efforts.
d) Develop M&E plans, communications plans, and risk mitigation strategies in consultation with stakeholders.
Completion of core geographic datasets and production of digital maps:
a) Support technical partners/health teams in developing fieldwork plans, protocols, and SOPs for data collection.
b) Provide supportive supervision during the data collection process.
c) Assess the quality of collected data with identified country stakeholders.
d) Integrate updated datasets into management platforms in collaboration with the DHD and CMED of the Ministry of Health.
e) Develop geospatial maps and facilitate review and iterations with stakeholders at national and subnational levels.
Working closely with the Analytic and Product Development Section of the DHD for related GIS development to ensure sustainability.
Qualification, Knowledge and Experience
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) or above degree in Health Science or Information Technology with Advance GIS, Geospatial Science, Public Health, or related field knowledge.
- Strong knowledge of Public Health related affairs.
- Minimum of 5 years work experience with traceable record in GIS related work.
- Software skills in ArcGIS, ArcPro, QGIS, Word, Excel, and database knowledge.
- Demonstrated experience in geospatial data analysis and technologies, preferably in the health sector or immunisation programs.
- Strong knowledge of GIS software, data management, and analysis tools.
- Experience conducting assessments and developing operational plans.
- Knowledge of geospatial data standards and best practices.
- Familiarity with the Malawi health system and immunisation programs is desirable.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Language: fluent in English and Chichewa.
Desirable Skills
- Programming language and skills of SAS, R, Tablueu, PoweBI.
Method Of Application
Eligible candidates meeting the required qualifications and experience should send or email their applications with cover letter, up-dated detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV), names, addresses and telephone numbers of three traceable referees and copies of relevant certificates to the following address:-
Luke International
P O Box 1088
MZUZU
Please clearly quote the name of the position and reference number on the application letter and outside of the envelope. Application without the above-mentioned supporting
documents will be rejected. The deadline for applications is 5:00pm on Tuesday, 12th September 2023 Only those shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Luke International – To Restore Human Health and Dignity