Country: Bangladesh
Closing date: 26 Jan 2019
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Objectives/Background
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
RapidPro is an open-source communication platform that was launched by UNICEF in September 2014 to address a variety of needs the organization had for using mobile services. RapidPro was created in collaboration between UNICEF and Nyaruka, a Rwandan software firm. It is built on Nyaruka´s experience in developing mobile-based solutions. RapidPro has been developed and branded for UNICEF to host and build its own services and applications internally and together with its partners.
At its core, RapidPro allows for the dynamic management of data collection, complex workflows, and group coordination using mobile phones. Once information is collected, RapidPro can present information on the internet in an interactive dashboard / UI as soon as it is received, empowering officials and community members alike with a real-time ‘pulse’ and feedback loops for the issues that matter most to them.
For UNICEF, RapidPro is allowing UNICEF programme managers to immediately set-up and customize the platform according to the specific needs and requirements of their program. With RapidPro, programme managers can build their own workflows via an easy-to-use web-based interface. With this same functionality, users can create polls and campaigns on an administrative dashboard, and prepare customizable front end websites for aggregated data reports and mapping of poll results without in-depth programming knowledge.
RapidPro also extends the channels of communication from what was once just SMS to USSD, IVR, and Twitter, with more channels to be built out based on the needs of organizations. As RapidPro evolves at the global level, country-level deployments will continue to upgrade – ensuring that new feature development such as this multi-channel integration are available to all users of the system.
More can be learned about RapidPro at www.rapidpro.io.
UNICEF Bangladesh is implementing the initiative for strengthening real-time monitoring system through scale-up of RapidPro (hereafter referred as “RapidPro Scale Up initiative”) since 2017 in the maternal and newborn health and nutrition programme. Through RapidPro, a two-way communication platform will allow health service providers to get real-time feedback from pregnant and lactating mothers on reasons behind low health and nutrition service uptake. The information can help to assess levels of understanding and acceptance of pregnant mothers on the information and services they receive on ANC, PNC, child care and feeding practices. Feedback received from beneficiaries will also help the health sector to address issues of accountability of health service providers on IYCF and nutrition counseling during the scheduled ANC and PNC visits. This information can be used to modify relevant aspects of service delivery without long delays. The RapidPro project will be embedded in the national health and nutrition programme, within the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW), to ensure sustainability. The initiative will build on the existing HMIS (i.e., DHIS2), setting up a two-way communication platform by linking RapidPro with DHIS2 system.
UNICEF Bangladesh requires a RapidPro HMIS consultant to lead the deployment of RapidPro in maternal and newborn health programme under the RapidPro for Real Time Monitoring Scale Up Initiative. The RapidPro HMIS consultant will ensure overall technical oversight, coordination, quality, uptake, and sustainability of the RapidPro initiative as a key component of broader nutrition and health programming in the country context.
Purpose of Assignment:
The key responsibilities of the RapidPro HMIS consultant include:
1. Provide technical support toUNICEF Nutrition and Health colleagues and key Government counterparts in designing and piloting of using digital technology to improve the quality of health/nutrition interventions, particularly ANC and PNC in two selected Upazilas of Kurigram District
2.Gather and refine requirements for deployment of the RapidPro-based solution
3.Support the integration of RapidPro in DHIS2 system and other relevant HMIS system for sustainability
4.Provide technical support and capacity building to the MoH&FW during the planning and pre-deployment stages of the project comprising of discussions with MoH&FW, and pre-testing of the RapidPro system with the consultant based in the field.
5. Document the project implementation for lessons learned from programmatic perspective
6.Liaise with technical service providers to support the adaptation / localization of RapidPro for the Bangladesh context, including work around inter-operability (technical and programmatic / strategic) with other key digital health platforms in use.
7.Work closely with the Innovation Specialist, RapidPro consultant at Rangpur, and other relevant counterparts to ensure that all necessary technical foundations are established and properly maintained
8.Monitor the RapidPro system operation, integration with DHIS2, SMS usage/traffic, RapidPro credits and incoming and outgoing SMS’s transactions and data
9.Work closely with Nutrition and Health Specialist to support programme colleagues and partners in the deployment and ongoing management of the RapidPro for Real Time Monitoring Scale Up initiative
10.Participate in relevant standards/interoperability communities, working with existing open-source Digital Health platforms (DHIS2, OpenMRS, HRIS etc) to ensure that the country implementation meets interoperability requirements.
11.Policy and strategy recommendations for UNICEF country office for implementing the recommended solution(s) within broader Health Information System frameworks and Digital Health Strategy / Framework. Act as the first point of contact for stakeholders as required such as MIS and MNCAH and NNHP of DGHS.
Deliverables
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=519049