International Consultancy- Data and Analytics, Abuja, Nigeria. (23 Months)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Health.

In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children's rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families.  UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally - click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/

Background:

Each year in Nigeria over 7.5 million babies are born, of whom about 300,000 die during their first month of life. Despite our gains for child survival whereby the under-five child mortality has decreased in the last decade, available data shows that the rate of decline is slow. It is important to understand and address bottlenecks at decentralized levels and tailor an accelerated response to fast-track reduction in under-five mortality rate. In its effort to support strengthening of the PHC system to be able to make high-quality health care services available, accessible and affordable to all Nigerians, especially women and children. The BMGF set up the PHC Leadership Challenge (PHC LC) following the endorsement of the Seattle declaration by Nigeria Governors which seeks to fill critical leadership gaps in primary health care systems development in Nigeria

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose:

UNICEF Nigeria country office in partnership with the NPHCDA and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) is leading the implementation of the PHC LC whose approach is to measure progress against indicators as per an agreed performance monitoring framework (PMF) where each of Nigeria’s 36 + 1 state performance will be assessed annually. The PMF includes:   (i) key indicators to measure the quality PHC leadership provided by Governors and how this impacts access and utilization of priority health and nutrition services for the population especially women/girls and children. (ii) the metadata of each indicator  (iii) guide to scoring state-specific performance against the PMF indicators.   To effectively support and guide the technical team as well as the states in processes involving data analyses, decentralized digitalization of HIS, data visualization and data use and the like an understanding of the health data space (HMIS, DHIS2, RMNCAH) in Nigeria and global and national digital HIS strategies and practices is essential. This needs to be done across all levels, the PHC LCF technical committee and throughout the 36 + 1 states. UNICEF has worked closely with Government at national and State level, over the last 24 months, leading to the creation and implementation of the RMNCAH scorecards as an evidence-based system strengthening approach in all 36+1 states of the country. The score cards have generated interest across all levels and with policy and decision makers, program planners and implementers and various stakeholders. Discussions are also ongoing to explore how to better link these score cards towards more evidence based annual planning and resource allocations. There are also discussions towards testing and use of automated MNCH score card and other built in DHIS apps to enhance data use at national and sub national levels are also getting attention in Nigeria. UNICEF has upcoming work in the design of digital health support for facilities in 100 “Zero-dose LGAs” as well as other projects under development. These relate closely to extending the work of the RMNCAH scorecards and the PHC LC health service monitoring system. This may include programme specific scorecards, facility profiles, digitalization of health information systems and work to improve the design of the national information system, centered around the DHIS2, to allow inter-operability of currently siloed information systems.

 

Scope of Work:   Major Tasks to be accomplished during this consultancy include:  

• Support the ongoing SWAp initiative of the FMOH as it relates to data optimization
• Support the national and 36+1 state RMNCAH scorecard alignment with SWAp indicators down to facility level. This includes capacity building of DHPRS and mentoring support to planning officers towards institutionalizing this work.
• Support the PHC Leadership Challenge PHC system performance framework linked with the annual operational plans, the M&E Plan of the National Strategic Health Development Plan II and initiatives like the MSDAT. This includes work with the IVA to better understand state level performance and support documentation efforts.
• Support data quality and other aspects on data initiatives in the Health Section including the different accountability frameworks under the programme.
• Support the data for evidence and documentation of successes in the eight (8) GAVI PHC MoU states
• Support the review of DHIS2 indicators/data elements and NHMIS report forms and registers including the extension of scorecard related products, such as with program score cards (e.g. nutrition)
• Support the linkages between community scorecards or facility profiles and GIS based catchment population estimates and visualizations.
• Support optimization of data for decision making in the three (3) SARAH states
• Support Decentralized Digitalization of HIS and introduction of Automated data use apps.
• Support in HSS section in its efforts to develop a targeted strategy for strengthening of health information system.
• Support Analytic/Visualistic tools on Health Supply chain
• Support analysis of data from the UNICEF supported level-2 newborn units

Any other related work with score cards and accountability mechanisms

Tasks/Milestone:

1.Quarterly reporting on RMNCAH+N Scorecards used and updated in all 36 States and FCT, the national level, and LGA-Facility scorecards, along with extensions of scorecard methods and approaches as part of overall Health Information System reforms.

Deliverable/Output:

Score cards reports of all 36 states and the FCT reported on the rmncah.org

2. Support the GAVI Funded PHC MoU states in the development and operationalization of the Data Quality Improvement Plans working with State Counterparts and other partners

Deliverable/Output:

Quality data improvement plans for the 8 PHC MoU states developed and adopted for utilization

3.Lead in HMIS support to FMOH and NPHCDA as well as the overall digital health program of the FMOH the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative and SWAp Agenda of the FMOH

Deliverable/Output:

Report of the assessment and the priority recommendation for action.

4. Support the PHC Leadership Challenge PHC system performance framework linked with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative and SWAp Agenda of the FMOH

Deliverable/Output:

State by state health services performance report of all 36 state and the FCT (part of PHC LC PMF) - Support provided to the Independent Verification Agent - Report of the analysis and evaluation of the IVA activities,

5. Quarterly reporting on RMNCAH+N Scorecards used and updated in all 36 States and FCT, the national level, and LGA-Facility scorecards, along with extensions of scorecard methods and approaches as part of overall Health Information System reforms

Deliverable/Output:

Score cards reports of all 36 states and the FCT reported on the rmncah.org

6.Support in provision of optimized data analysis of the UNICEF supported level-2 newborn units across states with emphasis on the SARA supported states.

Deliverable/Output:

Enhanced data reporting systems produced for the states.

7.Lead in HMIS support to FMOH and NPHCDA as well as the overall digital health program of the FMOH the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative and SWAp Agenda of the FMOH.

Deliverable/Output:

Report of the assessment and the priority recommendation for action

8.Support Analytic/Visualistic tools on Health Supply chain

Deliverable/Output:

Health supply chain visual tools developed.

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

• An advanced university degree in public health or any related discipline.
• At least eight years or more experience working in MNCAH programs and/or health projects. Prior experience with HSS programming is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality data and programmatic materials
• Experience in writing for UN agencies (human interest stories, reports etc) UNICEF specific experience will be a strong asset
• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.

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. 

Applicants must submit their financial and technical proposals along with this application. Applications without these will not be considered. Use this form to provide your financial proposal. 

 All-Inclusive Financial Proposal Form-Current.docx

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.