Procurement Notices

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

UNDP contributes to public health and development partnerships through collaborations with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the ‘Global Fund’), Roll Back Malaria, Stop TB Partnerships, and special programmes on human reproduction and infectious diseases that disproportionately affect poor populations.  As part of its wider engagement with the United Nations, the Global Fund has partnered with UNDP since 2003 to ensure that grants are implemented, and services are delivered in countries facing complex challenges. The partnership focuses on three closely linked areas of work: implementation support, capacity development, and policy engagement. For implementation support UNDP serves as an interim Principal Recipient (PR) (currently in 25 countries) in a variety of settings including countries that face capacity constraints, complex emergencies, poor governance environments, political upheaval, or donor sanctions. It does so upon request by the Global Fund and/or the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and when no national entity is able to assume the role at the time. UNDP’s role as PR is an interim arrangement until national entities can assume full responsibility for implementation and the capacity of national partners (Government and CSOs) is also strengthened to ensure long-term sustainability of health outcomes.

In December 2020, UNDP was once again nominated by the PIRMCCM for the role of PR for two grants in the Western Pacific region: 1) Malaria, covering Vanuatu only; and 2) Multi-Country HIV/ TB Programme covering 11 Pacific Island Countries (PICS) namely Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The current funding cycle is for 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2023.

The Project Goals are:

• To halt the spread of HIV among the population of the Western Pacific and maintain HIV incidence rates below 0.1 percent annually;
• To reduce AIDS-related mortality by strengthening HIV case finding and case management;
• To reduce the prevalence, incidence and mortality from all forms of TB in the 11 Pacific Island Countries, thereby contributing to the post-2015 global TB strategy; and
• To promote universal and equitable access to quality diagnosis and appropriate treatment of TB, MDR-TB, TB/DM and TB/HIV patients across 11 Pacific Island Countries.

In 2021, the Global Fund approved additional funding under the Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism (“C19RM Funds”) to be utilized towards activities responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project supports national and regional efforts across 11 Pacific islands countries (PICs) including Kiribati to scale up and improve the response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) through prevention, treatment, care and support services, with special attention to key and vulnerable population groups.

Kiribati context

 Kiribati is a nation of almost 120,000 persons living on an archipelago of 31 small atolls (and one coral island) spread over five million square kilometers of ocean. Of these persons, approximately 90% concentrate on the Gilbert islands, one of three island groups along with the Phoenix and Line islands. Population density varies greatly between the urbanized Tarawa Island and other much less densely settled islands.

Kiribati’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) acknowledges that Kiribati’s geographic context complicates the effective delivery of public health services but asserts that this represents a strong incentive to digitize its health eco-system and “leapfrog” intermediate technologies. Accordingly, since 2018 Kiribati’s MHMS has been implementing a Digital Health Roadmap to modernize ICT infrastructure in MHMS facilities in order to automate data collection and concentrate decision-making power in the hands of local, especially primary, health care workers.

As a part of these digitization and localization efforts, the MHMS has requested support from the UNDP to strengthen the use of geospatial information in its microplanning processes using funds available under the Global Funds’ Covid 19 Response Mechanism (C19RM). The MHMS itself has limited internal GIS capacity and experience working with geospatial technologies, but extensive knowledge of locations, facilities and patterns of disease. Thus, the MHMS requires expert input to assess, advise and strengthen GIS data and processes as applied to the health information system in Kiribati.

Beyond MHMS and the health sector, GIS methods are employed primarily by the National Statistics Office and by other Ministries such as those responsible for fisheries and environmental management. These methods employ remote sensing, image analysis and survey data sources rather than relying on capture of spatial/location data during a face-to-face interaction as might occur routinely in health service provision. Residence/address is the default spatial datum captured during these interactions. However, there is no standardized system of addresses that is well known, understood and available for use (postal codes, street addresses). This complicates spatial data capture during health service provision and presents an opportunity for collaboration with other government services and communities.

The consultancy’s primary goal will include but not be limited to the planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive archive of health GIS data (reference layers specifying catchment areas, facility locations etc) and a GIS -based health management system built on existing tools and national expertise.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

The consultant will assist the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) with planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive archive of health GIS data (reference layers specifying catchment areas, facility locations etc) and a GIS -based health management system built on existing tools and national expertise.

Assessment Preparation and Planning

• Identification of available GIS data. Assess existing spatial datasets/layers/objects for health in Kiribati including defined clinic catchment areas in relation to existing government spatial data, enumeration numbers (census tracts), defined names and point locations for health facilities and health-relevant fixed infrastructure.
• Provide a comprehensive listing of health spatial data, including gaps and recommendations.
• Provide a comprehensive analysis of current spatial/location data capture processes in paper and digital (eg ‘address’), as well as spatial/location data currently present in existing digital health data repositories.
• Assess capacity and needs for ‘as needed’ spatial data analysis and presentation (QGIS is the preferred option for spatial data visualisation and manipulation)
• Assess capacity and needs for ‘automated’ spatial data analysis and presentation – dashboards, coding, server infrastructure – including current examples (SPC, Tupaia, COVAX mSupply)
• For each aggregator, review plans for related mapping, as well as any data management plan.
• In coordination with Kiribati project team, co-construct qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, ensuring GIS project requirements are met.

Stakeholder and community consultation

• Consultation with government, non-government and development stakeholders to assess opportunities for collaboration and efficiency by utilizing existing standards or GIS initiatives in other sectors.
• Dissemination of findings/plans from assessment, preparation and planning steps to relevant stakeholders
• If agreed with MHMS, identification of a pilot village or area for GIS strengthening and facilitate consultation with the community representatives in the pilot area on location/address data, expectations for feedback and opportunities to involve community members in GIS strengthening activities

Surveying, capture and production of standardized health GIS data

• Following initial analysis of health GIS data (facility locations, catchment areas, any other relevant GIS data for health) identify critical gaps or inconsistencies in health GIS data
• Develop a plan for surveying, data capture and/or reconciliation of inconsistencies in existing health GIS data throughout the country
• Provide technical advice and oversight of surveying, data capture, reconciliation and production of standardized health GIS data
• 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 & Analysis Plan

• When relevant, during pilot ensure that support is provided to the Kiribati project team and aggregators for the identification and collection of standardized/strengthened GIS data during health data capture.
• When relevant, during pilot ensure that support is provided to the project team and aggregators in overseeing data collection, in line with data management plan, including spatial verification and validation as part of daily assessment checks.
• Ensure that collected health data is geo-referenced at the point of capture, enabling the production of maps and related products by analysis of data held in existing/strengthened health data systems.
• In coordination with the Kiribati project team, ensure that all changes in data collection that lead to a modification in beneficiary data are documented; and that the aggregators are informed and agree on the modifications.
• Ensure that all collected data is stored in line with global best practice Data Management Guidelines
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality and protection of collected information.

 GIS Products (Including maps and web-products)

• Ensure accurate linkages between spatial databases and MHMS data are maintained.
• Ensures that the produced maps meet the requirements of the international standards and concerned partners/ aggregators.
• Ensure regular communication maintained with Kiribati project team on progress and deadlines for GIS products.
• Ensure to validate the competency and accuracy of GIS products, which comply with GIS software.
• Provide specifications for all the GIS product before procurement or development.
• Provide plans for regular maintenance and update of web GIS products.

 Product dissemination and evaluation

• In coordination with Kiribati project team, MHMS HIU and development partners, develop the dissemination plan for standardized MHMS health GIS data: layers, file types, metadata, versioning and any other relevant information.
• Ensure the strictest confidentiality of data and data processes. Develop measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of information and data.
• In coordination with Kiribati project team, MHMS HIU and development partners, develop the dissemination plan for automated and exportable maps of health data, as well as processes to request ad hoc GIS products from MHMS GIS officers.
• In coordination with Kiribati project team, ensure that GIS information is uploaded in relevant data portals for ease of access by aggregators and partners.
• In coordination with Kiribati project team, ensure that lessons learned are gathered and documented at the end of the consultancy.
• Recommend a workplan to address gaps identified, conduct stakeholder consultation and community awareness activities in the area of spatial data capture and relevance to decision making.

** Note: The deliverables can be done simultaneously.  

Expected Outputs

• GIS data identified, and data management and mapping plans confirmed with aggregator partners.
• GIS data is collected as per data management plans along with spatial verification and validation in line with the production of maps and related products.
• Maps and web mapping applications are developed in line with program objectives.
• Serve as the central focal point for all data MRV (measuring, reporting and verification).
• Ensure timely dissemination of GIS products to aggregators and partners

Institutional Arrangement

• The consultant will report directly to the Programme Manager of the Multi-County Western Pacific grant.
• The Consultant will work closely with UNDP PMU team, Deputy Director Public Health (GIS Steering committee Chair), Kiribati MHMS executives and national programmes, Health Information System unit, National M&E officers, CSOs, GIS steering committee, technical working groups, Partners and stakeholders of programme, WHO technical team etc.
• The consultant is required to provide his/her own computer.

Duration of the Work

• The assignment duration is for 5 months, and services will be required for 64 working days only.
• The start date is upon signing of contract and consultant’s availability but no later than 14 November 2022.
• The end date of the contract is 19 March 2022.

Duty Station

The consultancy is home based. The support to be provided through email communications, skype and other online means. If needed, the consultant maybe required to travel to Kiribati. The associated travel cost will be provided by UNDP and SHOULD NOT be included into the consultancy fee.

Organizational Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional:

• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products

Project and Resource Management:

• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs
• Sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities

Partnership building and teamwork:

• Excellent diplomacy, negotiating and networking skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

Communications and Advocacy:

• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly
• Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences

• Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically

Educational Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in the fields of Public Administration, Public Health, Geography, Medicine, social sciences or any other relevant subject.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years proven experience in the field of GIS for public health or development
• Strong experience using common proprietary and/or open-source GIS desktop software packages (ArcGIS, QGIS, etc.) to perform spatial analysis and prepare custom maps.
• Strong prior experience working with geo-enabling health information systems, including digital health surveillance systems and geo-enabled digital microplans.
• Familiarity with common GIS server-based and cloud platforms (ArcGIS Online, MapServer, etc.)
• Experience working with ICT fundamentals and government IT systems in particular, both hardware and software.
• Familiarity with relevant recent global and regional digital health literature
• Familiarity with data privacy and safeguarding standards, particularly as they pertain to public health campaigns
• Experience working with governments and Ministries of Health in particular
• Work experience in Western Pacific highly desirable

Language requirements

• Fluency written and spoken English language is required.

Evaluation method and criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of a set of weighted technical criteria (70%), and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical criteria for evaluation (maximum 70 points)

Criteria 1: Advanced university degree or equivalent in the fields of Public Administration, Public Health, Geography, Medicine, social sciences or any other 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 and government IT systems in particular, both hardware and software. – 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 and regional digital health literature. – 5 points
• Familiarity with<