Consultant – Climate-Resilient for Health Information System

Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultant, as part of the Health Information Systems team at the WHO Country Office in Lao PDR, will provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in strengthening health system resilience to climate-related risks and advancing digital health initiatives. This role involves automating the integration of climate data into the District Health Information Software (dhis2)-based national Health Management Information System (HMIS) to enhance climate-sensitive disease forecasting and enhancing health workers’ ability to effectively use this data for planning and response. Additionally, the consultant will support the digital transformation of the health sector by implementing the Lao PDR Digital Health Strategy 2023-2027, aimed at scaling up sustainable digital health technologies and solutions to improve overall health system responsiveness and resilience.

Background

Lao PDR is highly vulnerable to climate change and health system and people of Lao PDR are vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. Ministry of Health (MoH) building institutional technical capacity to assess effects of climate change on health and forecast climate-sensitive diseases, ahead of preparing for climate resilient responses at national, sub-national and community levels. As a part of this approach, WHO is supporting the MOH in integrating climate data into the HMIS to enhance the health system’s capacity to predict and effectively respond to climate-related risks to health. Additionally, the WHO Country Office in Lao PDR is supporting the MoH in implementing the country’s first Digital Health Strategy (DHS) 2023-2027, launched in January 2023. This strategy aligns with global trends in healthcare digitalization and aims to enhance healthcare delivery by focusing on five strategic priorities: governance, workforce, infrastructure, standards, and applications.

Work to be performed

Under the direct guidance of Technical Officer, Health Information Systems at the WHO Country Office in Lao PDR, the consultant will provide in-country technical support to enhance the health system’s capacity to manage climate-related. Additionally, WHO is supporting the MoH in implementing the Lao PDR Digital Health Strategy (DHS) 2023-2027.

The consultant will work in following areas of WHO’s support for the government of Lao PDR:

1. Strengthening health information system for data-informed policy decisions and actions to enhance the resilience of the health systems in preparation for climate-related risks
2. Facilitating the implementation of Lao PDR Digital Health Strategy 2023-2027
3. Accelerating the scaling up and sustainability of digital health technologies and solutions
4. Strengthening Civil Registration and Vital Statistics systems of Lao PDR

The consultant will be expected to contribute to the achievement of the following outputs

Output 1: Develop capacity building programs on climate-informed early warning system
Deliverable 1.1: Design and deliver targeted training programs for healthcare workers and other stakeholders on utilizing integrated data for effective planning and responding to climate-related health risks in collaboration with the training team.
Deliverable 1.2: Preparation of reports, slide decks, information products, and at least one manuscript on climate-informed early warning systems.

Output 2: Support to monitor the implementation of Digital Health Strategy 2023-2027 (DHS)
Deliverable 2.1: Support Digital Health Transformation Coordination Office (DHCO) of the MOH to monitor the progress of the DHS implementation. This includes preparing quarterly reports and organizing quarterly meetings of the Technical Working Group.
Deliverable 2.2: Develop standards and frameworks, and workflows for key national registries, including the client registry, health facility registry, and healthcare worker registry.
Deliverable 2.3: Conduct a landscape analysis of existing digital health interventions in Lao PDR

Output 3: Build capacity in ICD-10/11 coding, MCCOD, anddhis2 tracker programmes
Deliverable 3.1: Organize capacity building workshops on ICD-10/11coding and medical certification of cause of death (MCCOD)
Deliverable 3.2: Design and deliver targeted training programs on the inpatient tracker, and MCCOD tracker. This include developing video tutorials to be used for self-learning.

Output 4: Support any other activities assigned by the supervisor

The hired consultant will be expected to submit monthly reports including all the proposed deliverables above.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education qualifications:

Essential: University degree in the fields of digital health, health information management, or in a related field from a recognized tertiary institution.
Desirable: Postgraduate qualification in any of the aforementioned areas.

Experience:

Essential: Minimum five years’ experience working supporting countries to develop and implement digital technologies for health.
Experience in managing and coordinating digital health projects.
Experience in supporting ministries of health in implementing digital health action plans/strategies.
Experience conducting digital health capacity building and training.
Desirable: Extensive experience in health information systems, particularly in integrating climate data. Work experience in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential: Experience in managing and coordinating digital health or climate data projects within a public health context, knowledge and experience in dhis2 implementation, software development as well as data analysis and report writing.
Desirable: Knowledge on OpenHIE, FHIR and other health interoperability standards. FHIR certification would be an asset.

Languages and level required

Expert knowledge of spoken and written English is essential.

Location

The consultant will be based in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR with potentially having to undertake duty travel to provinces.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to Lao PDR and provide on-site support and due to the nature of support, teleworking will not be possible. Local travel within the country, where needed, will be arranged by WCO.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Payband level A – USD 5,000 to USD 5,500 (monthly)
Expected duration of contract: 11 months, October 2024 to September 2025

Additional Information :

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