COVID-19 Data Management Systems Technical Advisor

Job Description

Employment Duration: Full time
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Reports to: EGPAF Senior Technical Lead and collaborating with National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) and Directorate of Health Informatics

EGPAF Global TA Project Background

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), a recognized leader in the global effort to eliminate pediatric AIDS, is also one of the most successful international implementation organizations for pediatric, adolescent, youth, and adult HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs. Through support from the U.S. government as well as private and multilateral donors, EGPAF currently provides technical assistance (TA) at the health facility, community, district, and national levels in 20 countries to effectively support implementation, scale-up and evaluation of HIV, TB and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) programs. EGPAF is able to provide high-impact, high-quality, innovative, contextually responsive TA across a wide range of areas including health system strengthening, strategic information and evaluation, operational research, community engagement, organizational development, innovation/emerging technical priorities, project management, and HIV/TB/COVID-19 service delivery. Recognizing the immediate threat of the COVID-19 pandemic on the communities it serves, EGPAF leveraged its core expertise in service delivery and capacity building to begin direct COVID-19 interventions in June 2020. EGPAF’s decades of experience in epidemic prevention and control as a technical leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS has made the organization uniquely prepared to respond to pandemics. As of early 2022, EGPAF in close collaboration with MOH is providing direct COVID-19 interventions in SARS-COV-2 testing, COVID-19 treatment, vaccine roll-out, data management and surveillance Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
For more information, please visit the EGPAF website: www.pedaids.org

Assignment Overview

The assignment presented will be implemented as part of the global cooperative agreement for the delivery of technical assistance (DELTA2), a five-year, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded cooperative agreement implemented by EGPAF. The purpose is to provide comprehensive, effective and efficient TA, capacity building, and program implementation expertise for PEPFAR and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM)-supported global health activities. Through this assignment, EGPAF DELTA2 will provide TA to the direct COVID-19 pandemic response, and towards mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on ongoing programs and service delivery in Zimbabwe primarily through the identification and secondment of Technical Advisors to national and regional response efforts.

Job Summary

The COVID-19 Data Management Systems Technical Advisor is responsible for COVID-19 data management systems at the national level to ensure timely data reporting, enhanced data flow and access to accurate data, evidence-based point-of-care patient management and program design. The Technical Advisor will contribute to the national COVID-19 national data management system, including patient level electronic health records (EHR) and other related digital data systems that are required for enhanced and quality data reporting, evidence-based program design and implementation. The Technical Advisor will directly report to the NMRL Manager, and will work closely with the EGPAF Senior Technical Lead, personnel from other Implementing Partners and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Development, deployment and support of COVID-19 digital system for real time reporting
• Review and update electronic tools to harmonize data collection and processes
• Support in-country COVID-19 reporting systems
• Verify data quality (completeness, timeliness), identify gaps in COVID-19 information management, and recommend corrective actions and prepare relevant documents
• Develop COVID-19 dashboards for quick data driven decision-making
• Support the national response to emerging health threats
• Ensure data collection and reporting tools are implemented consistently and in alignment with country and international COVID-19 monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and reporting standards
• Provide technical leadership, guidance and support for the design, management, and implementation of the COVID-19 data management system for improved clinical response, coordination and communication
• Assist the MOHCC and frontline health workers to identify solutions to implementation challenges through regular participation in national technical working groups (TWGs)
• Build close working relationship with ministry partners and ensure donor coordination in all aspects of project planning implementation and data systems
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by senior management

Qualifications and Skills

• A Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Health Informatics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Health or equivalent; An MSc or equivalent is a distinct advantage
• At least 5 years in infectious disease program work experience (especially within the context of health systems strengthening, HMIS, service delivery or health systems development); or quality assurance/quality management
• Ability to actively engage in the COVID-19 response at national and sub-national level in terms of reporting, data management and related activities
• Ability to translate and adapt international guidelines into local context; in-depth understanding of the country’s health management information system
• Demonstrated ability to work with senior MOHCC officials at national and subnational levels
• Demonstrated In depth knowledge of DHIS2
• Ability to travel to different sites within the country based on need
• Experience with donor related projects is desired
• Ability to work effectively as member of a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment

Competencies

• The Foundation expects all employees to possess the fundamental competencies of interpersonal skills, communication, accountability, continual learning, and driving results. The ideal candidate will either be proficient or advanced in the following set of competencies, specific to this position’s level of Manager:
  • Developing Others – Developing others is a person’s ability to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
  • Managing Conflict – Managing conflict is a person’s ability to encourage creative tension and differences of opinions. He/she will anticipate and take steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations while resolving conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
  • Managing People – Managing people is a person’s ability to build and manage workforce based on organization goals, budget, considerations, and staff needs. He/she will ensure that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded. He/she will also manage a multi-cultural workforce and a variety of workforce situations.