DHIS2 MEL Platform Consultant, ACHAP

BACKGROUND

The African Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP) is regional faith-based organization providing a platform for Christian Health Associations (CHAs) and Church Health Networks from Sub Saharan Africa. Established through a declaration of commitment by the 3rd Africa Christian Health Associations Biennial Conference held in Bagamoyo, Tanzania in January 2007 ACHAP provides a platform for advocacy, networking, communication, capacity building as well as partnerships for the CHAs.. ACHAP brings together more than 40 national level faith-based networks providing services in 32 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa to share resources, establish technical working groups (TWGs), and provide ongoing training and technical assistance (TA) to its members. In addition, governments see ACHAP members as critical players and in many African countries partner with them to provide health support services, even to government facilities.

ACHAP is seeking to engage a consultancy firm or individual to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Platform DHIS2instance) for use across its countries and projects to collect and maintain critical information (indicators and respective data) across its member CHAs. The M&E platform will be able to add projects, monitor project implementation, track progress and data quality, share trends, provide an interactive Dashboard, GIS, and data management, and generate reports that contribute to transparency and accountability of the organization. The main objective is to establish an online M&E Platform to align it to ACHAP processes and procedures and additionally build the capacity of relevant staff to enable them to maintain the M&E platform.

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultancy will have the following tasks:

• Customize the open-source web-based DHIS2 M&E platform and align it to ACHAP’s processes and procedures.
• Integrate DHIS2 platform with mobile based data collection software like ODK, REDCap Software; to pull relevant project-related data into the DHIS2 for analysis and producing necessary reports (charts, graphs, maps and dashboards).
• Configure the platform to accommodate the hierarchy of ACHAP by its divisions, units, regional office, country and the relevant levels of intervention.
• Code the data elements and indicators for interoperability purpose and translations.
• Ensure DHIS2’s ability to integrate with other project tracking tool
• Customize all the ACHAP data collection Forms/instruments into the DHIS2 database.
• Design data entry forms and customize the database with the country determined data elements, indicators, organization units, user roles.
• Develop Dashboards with frequently used favorites and standard reports based on the user-determined information products.
• Configure the GIS module to visualize the progress of activities and trends of different project interventions across units on GIS maps.
• Develop a data import module in DHIS 2 for the existing Excel database.
• Set quality assurance parameters (e.g., approval and acceptance of data) and data validation rules.
• Develop an automated program for reports and dashboards, with the possibility of linking to the data reporting tool in Excel.
• Determine and develop various types of reporting content, formats, and frequency based on indicator plan and donor requirements.
• Configure the data visualizer for the database to generate the required reports.
• Configure SMS reminders as required.
• Configure the user rights module which can later be used to assign the access of database to the users as per their role in the organization.
• Configure the data administration module to ensure the proper administration of the database.
• Develop training materials and train the core team on customization, system management, and administration to establish in-house capacity for ACHAP.
• Configure security module for system and data protection.

DELIVERABLES

ACHAP expects the consultant shall complete and submit the following deliverables:

• A comprehensive strategy along with the work plan at the start of the consultancy indicating the major milestones for the completion of the assignment.
• Report of the requirement specifications including the list of organizational units, data elements, data element groups, data element categories, data sets, data entry forms, reporting formats, and other modules as required.
• Completed structure of database containing the organization structure, data elements, data element groups, data element categories, data sets, indicators, data entry forms, data visualization, and any other data points as required.
• Configured data administration, data quality and uses modules
• Data entry set up for online and offline modules and as well as for mobile data collection plans and technological approaches.
• Reporting modules
• DHIS2 database testing and deployment plan, including hosting options both on ACHAP servers or other hosting options.
• Initial maintenance plan after final deployment.
• Training plan for staff users.
• Final presentation/workshop for relevant staff.
• Completed User Manual for the database system.

TIMELINE

This consultancy is expected to be executed by March 2023

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (computer science, data/information/health management, econometrics, advanced statistical analysis, information technology, and software engineering).

Experience:

• Demonstrable skills in working with one or more programming languages including Java Runtime Environment (JRE 7 or higher) Tomcat server, Java, and PostgreSQL 4, web – Apache HTTP Server, Apache Tomcat, Databases – MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle.
• Demonstrable skills in Programming and scripting – PHP, Java, Perl, JavaScript,
• Development experience utilizing web-based applications such as J2EE, JDK, Struts, Spring, Hibernate, and HTML.
• Five years’ expertise in information system management especially on web-based software platforms and database administration.
• Five years’ experience in DHIS 2 configuration for health information systems.
• Previous work experience supporting countries in DHIS2 rollout in sub-Saharan countries including experience in training DHIS administrators and health information uses.
• Excellent skills and experience in training facilitation, mentoring and capacity development.
• Demonstrate oral and written communication skills, including presentations.

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

We seek an individual consultant or a firm with a practical DHIS2 implementation experience. ACHAP expects a technical proposal that must include the following points:

• A description of your experience customizing and deploying the DHIS2 platform.
• A description of your proposed method for completing the project, to include planning sessions, the outline of the key steps and the sequence of the work, etc.
• A clear and detailed timeframe to complete the tasks, with an indication of timelines against individual deliverables.