Geographic Health Information System Study

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tx0Bs3fZL0URUVtNRch7mA32NBBLVAv3/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107947469022807160053&rtpof=true&sd=true.

CONSULTANCY – Geographic Health Information System Study in Kenya

Location: Kenya

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Helen Keller Intl has its headquarters in New York City and currently offers programs in 19 countries in Africa, Asia and United States. The organization works to combat the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and research.

Scope of the Position

Geospatial (geographic information system (GIS)) mapping and spatial analysis have been applied globally and nationally to plan, coordinate, monitor, and allocate resources for health. Narok County, where the study will be conducted, is vast and highly populated. The government’s intention is to provide adequate and good quality health services to every household; however, the lack of complete and/or quality health service, system and population data hinders the quality and comprehensive planning and implementation of interventions that meet the health needs of the population in these Counties.

Helen Keller International will undertake a project that aims to

• Identify all relevant data to strengthen planning of health services. Most of this data is already available but not accessible to the health management teams:
  • GPS Location of health facilities
  • GPS location of community health volunteers
  • GPS location of all communities and their population
  • Coverage of key health services per GPS location
• Develop a cost-effective method to collect missing data listed above and organize them for easy use by health management teams
• Develop maps of population density to be compared with map of service availability and coverage of health services to identify geographic areas not covered by health services
• Support county health management teams adapt service delivery to maximize impact of these services

The consultant’s primary role will be to assist Helen Keller with identification of the data needed, the format they must be collected, develop methodology for collecting missing data, organize data and map data, and support the analysis of the maps for improved health planning.

The consultant will report directly to the Research Officer of the Vitamin A Supplementation program for Helen Keller International Kenya and will work closely with the Kenya country office for Helen Keller International regional research team, and national, County, Sub- County and community-level stakeholders/partners and key health actors.

The consultancy will be for an initial duration of 75 days over a 12 months period. The start date is upon signing of a contract and consultant’s availability, but no later than September 1st, 2023. The end of the contract will be September 1st, 2024. The consultant will be based in Kenya and will work remotely.

Objectives

• Assist in identifying data needs and in the collection of available data
• Assist in developing spatial data collection tools and data management procedures.
• Create maps and spatial visualizations of health indicators and demographic data.
• Conduct spatial analysis to identify health “hotspots” and disparities.
• Provide technical guidance on incorporating GIS into health decision-making processes.

Key Responsibilities

The consultant will support the Kenya country office of Helen Keller International and the County and Sub-County health management teams in Narok County with planning, designing, development, and implementation of a GIS mapping system that supports improved planning of health services.

Assessment, preparation, and planning

• Participate in meetings with the research team to understand the study’s objectives and design.
• Identify existing, relevant data sources and GIS data at the national, County and Sub-County levels for Narok County.
• Assess existing datasets for health Narok including health service coverage, defined names and locations of health facilities, health-relevant fixed infrastructure and community-based health workforce, defined catchment areas in relation to the health facilities and relevant infrastructure and workforce, and enumeration numbers (e.g., census and household registers).
• Provide a comprehensive list of health spatial data, including existing data, gaps in data and recommendations for further data collection and mapping.
• Provide a comprehensive analysis of current spatial data, captured in digital and paper map layers.
• Develop a low-cost, sustainable plan for mapping and data management.
• Assess the capacity and needs of the County and Sub-County health management teams in the use and interpretation of GIS data.
• Develop GIS training materials and train relevant participants.

Stakeholder and community consultation

• Consultations with national, County and sub-county stakeholders to assess opportunities to improve the health information system so that it may be used to inform decision-making.
• Provide technical guidance on incorporating GIS into health decision-making processes.

Surveying, capture, and production of standardized GIS data

• Analyze spatial data, create maps, and visualize health indicators using GIS software.
• Following the initial analysis of existing data (health facility locations, health workforce, catchment areas, service coverage, and any other relevant GIS data for health), identify patterns, trends, and potential health hotspots, critical gaps or inconsistencies in health data and areas for additional/needed mapping.
• Collaborate with the research team in interpreting GIS findings and integrating them into the study’s broader context.
• Develop a plan for surveying, data capture and/or reconciliation of inconsistencies and production of standardized health GIS data.
• Provide technical advice and oversight of surveying, data capture, reconciliation and production of standardized GIS data.
• Provide technical guidance and training to the research team and local stakeholders on GIS methodologies and tools.
• Develop processes and plans to maintain and disseminate health GIS data in standard formats, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

GIS-enabled health data collection, management and analysis

• Lead and oversee the identification and collection of standardized/strengthened GIS data during health data capture.
• Conduct daily assessment checks and spatial verification and validation of GIS data that are collected.
• Ensure that the collected data is geo-referenced at the point of capture, enabling the production of maps and related products by analysis of data held in existing health data systems.
• In collaboration with the County and Sub-County health management teams, ensure that all changes in data collection that lead to modifications in the existing health information system are documented and that all changes are informed and agreed upon.
• Ensure that all collected data are stored in line with global best practices for data management.
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of technical information provided, as well as confidentiality and protection of collected information.

GIS products

• Ensure accurate linkages between spatial data and the health information system data are maintained.
• Ensure that the produced maps meet the requirements for international standards and those of stakeholders/partners.
• Ensure regular communication is maintained with the research team on the progress of project deliverables.
• Ensure to validate the competency and accuracy of GIS products, which are agreed upon by the research team.
• Provide specifications to the research team for all the GIS products before procurement or development.
• Provide plans for regular maintenance and updates of GIS products.

Product dissemination and evaluation

• Assist in preparing GIS-related sections of study reports and presentations.
• In coordination with the research team, national, County and sub-county health management and other relevant stakeholders/partners, develop a dissemination plan for a standardized health information system and GIS data: layers, file types, metadata, version and other relevant information.
• Ensure the confidentiality of data and data processes. Develop measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of information and data.
• In coordination with the research team, national, County and sub-county health management and other relevant stakeholders/partners, develop a dissemination plan for automated and exportable maps of health data.
• In coordination with the research team, national, County and sub-county health management and other relevant stakeholders/partners, ensure the GIS information is uploaded to relevant databases for each of access by the County and sub-county health management teams.
• In coordination with the research team, national, County and sub-county health management and other relevant stakeholders/partners, ensure that lessons learned are well documented throughout the consultancy.
• Recommend a workplan to address gaps identified, conduct stakeholder/partner consultation and community-level awareness (e.g. community health assistants/volunteers) of spatial data capture and relevance for decision making.

Expected Deliverables

• Database of Health and population data (10 days):
  • Population size per community and GPS location
  • GPS location of health facilities
  • GPS locations of Community health volunteers
  • Coverage of health services per location (GPS)
• GIS-generated maps and spatial visualizations of health indicators and demographic data in accordance with project objectives (15 days).
• A report summarizing GIS findings, spatial analysis results, and their implications for health decision-making (15 days).
• Technical training materials and sessions for the research team and local stakeholders on GIS methodologies (20 days).

The consultant is expected to spend a minimum of 10 days in Narok county for workshops and training.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Geography, or another relevant subject.
• A minimum 5 years of proven experience in the field of GIS for public health or development.
• Strong experience using common proprietary and/or open-source GIS software packages (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS, etc) to perform statistical spatial analysis and prepare custom maps.
• Strong prior experience working with geo-enabled health information systems.
• Proficiency in using common GIS server-based and cloud platforms (e.g. ArcGIS Online, MapServer, etc.).
• Experience working with ICT fundamentals.
• Familiarity with relevant and recent global, regional and Kenyan digital health literature and systems.
• Familiarity with data privacy and safeguarding standards, particularly as they pertain to public health systems.
• Experience working with Kenya government and Ministry of Health in particular.
• Fluency in written and spoken English language is required.

Competencies

• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and produce high quality outputs.
• Sound judgement, strategic and analytical thinking with ability to managing competing priorities.
• Demonstrates strong ability to communicate effectively (e.g. in writing, presentations) and clearly for different audiences.

Evaluation

Evaluation method and criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The contract will be awarded to the consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable
2. Having received the highest score out of a set of weighted technical criteria (70%)
3. Financial criteria (30%)

Technical criteria for evaluation (70 points)

• Criteria 1: Advanced university degree in Public Health, Geography, or another relevant subject. (5 points)
• Criteria 2: Technical expertise on required experience for assignment (45 points)
  • Strong experience using common proprietary and/or open-source GIS desktop software packages (ArcGIS, QGIS, etc.) to perform spatial analysis and prepare custom maps. (15 points)
  • Strong prior experience working with geo-enabling health information systems, including digital health surveillance systems and geo-enabled digital microplans. (15 points)
  • Experience working with ICT fundamentals. (15 points)
• Criteria 3: Technical expertise on required knowledge for assignment (15 points)
  • Familiarity with common GIS server-based and cloud platforms (ArcGIS Online, MapServer, etc.). (5 points)
  • Familiarity with relevant recent global, regional and Kenyan digital health literature and systems. (5 points)
  • Familiarity with data privacy and safeguarding standards, particularly as they pertain to public health systems. (5 points)
• Criteria 4: Understanding of, and experience working within Kenyan context will be added advantage (5 points)

Interviews may be conducted for the technically qualified consultants as part of the validation process. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Price proposal

Consultant must send a financial proposal. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and detail all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, per diems (if any work is to be done outside the designated office location) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the consultant to complete the assignment. In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and per diems should be agreed upon between the Research Officer and the consultant prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Document submission

Interested individual consultants or consultancy firms must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.

• Current curriculum vitae(s) of the individual consultant or individuals within a consultancy firm team, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate/firm and at least three (3) professional references.
• Technical proposal: including
  • a brief description of why the consultant/firm is the most suitable for the assignment;
  • a methodology, on how the consultant/firm will approach and complete the assignment with detailed description of activities to be undertaken.
• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal. Financial Proposal to be submitted in United State Dollars (USD). Financial Proposal must indicate the fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs.

Proposal submission

Interested individual consultants or consultancy firms must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Follow the below link to fill the RFP form and submit.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tx0Bs3fZL0URUVtNRch7mA32NBBLVAv3/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107947469022807160053&rtpof=true&sd=true

• Current curriculum vitae(s) of the individual consultant or individuals within a consultancy firm team, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate/firm and at least three (3) professional references.
• Technical proposal: including
  • a brief description of why the consultant/firm is the most suitable for the assignment;
  • a methodology, on how the consultant/firm will approach and complete the assignment with detailed description of activities to be undertaken.
• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal. Financial Proposal to be submitted in United State Dollars (USD). Financial Proposal must indicate the fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs.