Roster of consultants – Data Management and Dashboard Development for Communicable Diseases

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Qualifications

Area of expertise:  Roster of consultants – Data Management and Dashboard Development for Communicable Diseases

Purpose of consultancy  

The Communicable Disease Surveillance Unit (CSR) within the Department of Communicable Diseases (CDS) is creating a roster of qualified consultants to support CSR in strengthening data management, visualization, and GIS integration across multiple disease areas, enabling effective surveillance, programmatic support, and resource allocation in the WHO South-East Asia Region.

Background 

The WHO South-East Asia Region faces a significant burden of communicable diseases, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), vector-borne diseases (VBDs) such as dengue and kala-azar, as well as other priority diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and hepatitis. These diseases collectively pose a major public health challenge across the Region. Effective disease surveillance, data collection, management, visualization, and analysis are critical for informing public health actions and supporting Member States to monitor, prevent, and control these diseases.

To strengthen regional surveillance efforts, WHO has developed and expanded regional databases and dashboards, including the xMart system, which supports the standardization of data collection for various diseases. However, there remains a need to further enhance capacity in data management, reporting, visualization, and geographic information system (GIS) integration to support programmatic areas within the Communicable Diseases Department (CDS).

The consultant will play a key role in supporting the work of CDS by improving the management and visualization of data for various disease areas, including NTDs, VBDs, TB, HIV, hepatitis, and other communicable diseases. This includes standardizing data reporting templates, ensuring quality and completeness of data submitted by Member States, visualization of data and integrating GIS-based tools for better geographic analysis of disease trends. By creating and maintaining dynamic dashboards and supporting SEARO and Member States in data management processes and facilitating real time data transmission, the consultant will enable more effective risk mapping, programmatic support actions, and resource allocation at national and regional levels.

This vacancy aims to establish a roster of qualified candidates to support future work across multiple disease areas in CDS. 

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to perform a variety of tasks, not limited to the following:

1. Database Design and Development

• Design databases that compile historical and current data on priority communicable diseases in formats enabling progress monitoring at national and sub-national levels.
• Extract and integrate relevant data from existing sources (e.g., Excel/Word files, online platforms) into the database.
• Update and adjust xMart databases and reporting templates based on Member State (MS) feedback, including subnational reporting, varying age groups, and reporting schedules (e.g., weekly vs. monthly).
• Establish automated validation rules for data entry forms to ensure data quality and consistency.

2. Data Transmission and Integration

• Establish pipelines for automated data transmission from Member States using APIs.
• Liaise with SEARO and WCO technical teams to integrate disease-specific indicators into existing systems.
• Combine data from multiple xMarts and sources into comprehensive regional databases for specific diseases.

3. Dashboard Development and Maintenance

• Design and develop dashboards to visualize key indicators for communicable diseases at national and regional levels.
• Develop automated calculations and visualizations (e.g., CFR, incidence rates) based on programmatic needs.
• Adjust dashboards to reflect program manager requirements and feedback.
• Integrate additional data sources, such as vector surveillance, climate, and clinical management data, into dashboards as necessary.
• Incorporate GIS-based tools to visualize geographic trends and distribution of diseases at various administrative levels.

4. Capacity Building and Presentations

• Prepare presentations (e.g., PowerPoint) showcasing the features and functionalities of developed dashboards.
• Present dashboards and their functionalities during webinars or stakeholder meetings to enhance capacity.
• Provide training and guidance to Member States on data submission, reporting, and dashboard usage.

5. Collaboration and Support

• Liaise with SEARO technical teams and Member States to ensure alignment with programmatic and technical requirements.
• Provide ongoing technical support to Member States for data entry, reporting, and dashboard use.
• Support Member States in establishing and operationalizing automated data pipelines for real-time reporting

Specific deliverables will be pre-defined for each consultancy.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:  

Essential:

• For band level A: First university degree in science, mathematics, information system engineering, information technology, computer science, health informatics, technology management, knowledge management, or other related field from a recognized university
• For band level B: An advanced university degree in mathematics, information system engineering, information technology, computer science, health informatics, technology management, knowledge management, or other related field from a recognized university.
• Knowledge of website and app development using programming/scripting language
• Knowledge of data dashboard development using R Shiny including using various R packages required for developing interactive dashboard (e.g. shiny, shinydashboard, bs4Dash, echarts4r, plotly, dplyr, ggplot2, jsonlite etc) and interactive maps
• Knowledge of using application programming interface (API) for data integration and web applications

Desirable: Knowledge of geographical information system (GIS) software (QGIS, ArcView/ArcGIS)

Experience 

Essential:

For band level A:

• 2 to 5 years of relevant experience in health information, data management and in developing data dashboards with various features using R Shiny and Power Bi;
• 2 to 5 years of experience in database management (xMart, SQL, etc.)

For band level B:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in health information, data management and in developing data dashboards with various features using R Shiny and Power Bi;
• At least 5 years of experience in database management (xMart, SQL, etc.)

Desirable:

• Proven experience in statistical analysis of public health data
• Experience working in low- and middle-income countries
• International working experience

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Database management system (e.g. SQL/MySQL/xMart)
• Excellent knowledge on major business intelligence tools (Tableau, Power BI)
• Website and app development using programming/scripting language
• Data dashboard development using R Shiny
• Skills in using various R packages required for developing interactive dashboard (e.g. shiny, shinydashboard, bs4Dash, echarts4r, plotly, dplyr, ggplot2, jsonlite etc)
• Skills in handling special data in R and creating interactive maps
• Skills in using application programming interface (API) for web applications
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational and scheduling skills
• Self-discipline with the ability to work with autonomy and as part of a team
• Able to exercise mature judgment and sensitivity in dealing with complex situations and issues

Desirable:

• Working knowledge on DHIS2
• Geographical information system (GIS) software (QGIS, ArcView/ArcGIS)

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential: Expert knowledge of English (reading, writing, and speaking).

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

1. Remuneration:

• • Band level A: USD 3’955 to 6’980 per month.
  • Band level B: USD 7’000 to 9’980 per month.

2. Expected duration of contract:

• • Actual duration of contract will depend on the needs of the Unit. Minimum 3 months is preferred. Maximum contract duration is 11 months.
  • Both full and part time assignments with different durations could be offered. For part-time employment remuneration will be pro-rated, accordingly.

Additional information

• This vacancy notice is being issued for establishing Roster of consultants – Data Management and Dashboard Development for Communicable Diseases.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to  [email protected]
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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