DRC Project Consultant

Background

Flowminder is a Swedish operational, non-profit foundation with 30 staff across our three offices in Stockholm (Sweden), Southampton (UK) and Geneva (Switzerland). We seek to improve population well-being among vulnerable people in low- and middle-income countries by providing high-value decision support through data science solutions in the development and humanitarian sectors.

We have been active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2018, collaborating closely with various organisations, including mobile network operators, government agencies, international NGOs, and UN agencies. We are currently a technical partner of the DRC’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and are supporting the EPI under the Equity Accelerator Fund (EAF) programme. This initiative aims to reduce the number of zero-dose children by 35% by 2025, focusing on 11 provinces.

As part of this technical assistance, we are producing population mobility statistics through the analysis of pseudonymised mobile operator data (Call Detail Records), particularly focusing on four provinces: Haut Katanga, Kasai, Maniema, and Tshopo. We are also applying our optimisation algorithm to recommend optimal locations for vaccination sites, which can be selected for the EPI’s advanced and mobile vaccination strategies. As well as producing these data products, we work closely with the EPI and other partners to ensure that the data are integrated into their decision-making processes and contribute to achieving equitable vaccination coverage.

Purpose

We are seeking a Kinshasa-based Project Consultant to provide comprehensive project support to ensure the successful implementation of our EAF activities. This involves facilitating the uptake of our data products by health workers of the EPI.

Type of contract: 6-month fixed term, full time, with the possibility of extending
Location: Kinshasa, DRC (part office based, part remote working)
Start date: ASAP

Role description

• Stakeholder engagement: Foster strong relationships with project stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, NGOs, and other partners, ensuring effective communication and collaboration to support our project objectives. Represent us in key meetings with the EPI, EAF partners, donors, and relevant stakeholders. Deliver presentations that promote and facilitate the use of population mobility estimates and optimised site placement data for decision-making.
• Training and support: Deliver, update, and tailor online and in-person training courses, seminars, and other learning events for data users, including data managers from the EPI, Ministry of Health (MoH), and staff from government and non-government agencies. Focus on incorporating data-driven decision-making into immunisation planning and implementation activities. Ensure effective interpretation of population mobility data, denominators per health zone, and suggested coordinates for outreach and mobile vaccination sites.
• Project coordination: Provide comprehensive coordination and administrative support to the Project Manager and project team, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, and taking minutes. Serve as a point of contact for project-related communications, ensuring timely and accurate information flow among team members and stakeholders.
• Documentation and data management: Assist in the preparation, formatting, and distribution of project documentation, reports, and presentations. Maintain project databases and tracking systems to ensure all information is up-to-date and accurate.
• Monitoring and reporting: Monitor project progress, identify issues, and prepare status reports for the Project Manager and stakeholders. Coordinate logistics for project meetings, workshops, and events, including venue booking, catering, and travel arrangements.
• Resource and financial management: Assist in managing project resources, including tracking expenses and maintaining an inventory of project materials. Support the management of project finances, including budget tracking, processing invoices, and preparing financial reports.
• Ethical guidelines and publications: Contribute to the development of ethical guidelines for the responsible sharing and use of CDR-derived mobility and optimisation data. Support the production of publications about our work, including presentations, brochures, white papers, articles, and webpages.
• Additional responsibilities: Perform other support functions as required to ensure the successful delivery of the project.

Education, skills & experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in international development, geography, or quantitative discipline such as statistics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, physics, demography

Skills

• Experience with time series data and time series analysis
• Knowledge of georeferenced data and GIS
• Capacity to organise and deliver training
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and French
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and project management software
• Familiarity with financial management and reporting
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience in stakeholder engagement.

Key attributes

• Reliability: Dependable and able to meet deadlines consistently
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing project requirements and priorities
• Interpersonal skills: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders
• Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of sensitive project information