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PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing heath challenges.
PATH seeks to engage an IT Consultant, as an individual consultant, for the STRengthening Infectious disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) Project in Senegal. STRIDES supports and strengthens surveillance, detection, and analytical capacity for infectious diseases across both human and animal health, including through the development of interoperable digital reporting and data-sharing systems, working closely with the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock and other Government of Senegal (GoS) stakeholders.
The consultant will assess existing digital reporting tools, data flows, and surveillance architecture used across sectors, including DHIS2 and KoboToolbox/KoboCollect; define functional requirements for a shared digital data collection and reporting platform; develop a human-animal health sector integration model and data architecture for a One Health integrated data platform; adapt the existing event-based surveillance (EBS) tool (including the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system and WhatsApp Chatbot) to integrate animal health reporting workflows, based on feedback from animal health authorities; support the configuration, testing, and piloting of Community Event-Based Surveillance CEBS reporting tools and cross-sector data sharing; and develop a multisectoral Early Warning System (EWS), incorporating AIML-based signal scoring capability, for timely signal detection, verification, and response.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct assessments of existing digital reporting tools, data flows, surveillance architecture, and system interoperability across the human and animal health sectors, including DHIS2, KoboToolbox/KoboCollect, and other programs, to identify integration requirements in support of a digital data collection and sharing platform (field reporting and cross-sectoral data exchange) capable of notifying relevant national, U.S., and international partners of cases of priority pathogens within 24 hours of a threat being detected, and to inform operational national outbreak response decision-making.
- Define functional requirements for digital data collection and sharing to support EBS, CBS, and cross-sector information exchange, aligned with national information sharing standards and international commitments.
- Develop a human-animal health sector integration model, defining the data architecture and integration approach for consolidating surveillance data from both sectors into a One Health integrated data platform.
- In coordination with the GoS, configure or adapt existing digital tools to support pilot implementation of EBS reporting and cross-sector data sharing in targeted regions.
- In coordination with the GoS animal health sector, adapt the existing IVR system and WhatsApp Chatbot used for human health reporting to integrate animal health reporting workflows (including updated voice menu options and reporting pathways), based on the feedback received from animal health authorities following the presentation of the tool.
- Develop a multisectoral early warning system (EWS) that supports timely detection, alerting, verification, confirmation, and monitoring of signals, incorporating AIML-based anomaly detection and signal scoring capabilities to enhance and prioritize the system’s existing rule-based triggers.
- Configure the DHIS2 integration (data fields, forms, and automatic mapping) to capture and consolidate animal health event reports alongside the existing human health notification workflows.
- Test digital EBS reporting workflows and data exchange processes, across both human and animal health reporting pathways, to ensure functionality, data quality, usability, and timely reporting prior to pilot rollout.
- Define pilot scope and implementation approach for EBS, including participating sectors, reporting channels, and linkages to laboratory confirmation and response mechanisms and national, U.S., and international reporting on priority pathogens.
- Support implementation of EBS pilot in selected regions using validated SOPs in line with U.S. and international standards and digital reporting tools; provide supportive supervision and technical support to address operational challenges and reinforce correct application of SOPs.
- Train designated GoS staff, from both the human and animal health sectors, on the use, monitoring, and troubleshooting of the adapted digital platform (IVR, DHIS2 integration, and WhatsApp Chatbot).
- Develop or update technical documentation and user manuals covering the adapted platform architecture and workflows, including the IVR user interaction flow (extended to reflect animal health reporting pathways).
Expected Deliverables
- Assessment report of existing digital surveillance reporting tools, data flows, surveillance architecture, and system interoperability across human and animal health sectors, with recommendations for a shared platform developed.
- Functional requirements for digital surveillance data collection and sharing defined.
- Human-animal health sector integration model and One Health integrated data platform architecture developed.
- Digital surveillance reporting and cross-sector data sharing tools for pilot configured and/or adapted.
- IVR system adapted to integrate animal health reporting workflows.
- DHIS2 integration adapted to capture animal health reporting data.
- WhatsApp Chatbot adapted to integrate animal health reporting workflows.
- Digital surveillance reporting workflows confirmed.
- EBS/CBS pilot scope and implementation plan developed.
- Pilot operationalized in target regions and findings documented.
- Multisectoral early warning system (EWS) developed, incorporating AIML-based anomaly detection and signal scoring capabilities, supporting signal detection, alerting, verification, confirmation, and monitoring.
- Technical documentation and user manuals produced, covering the adapted platform's architecture and workflows (IVR, DHIS2 integration, WhatsApp Chatbot).
- Training sessions conducted for administrators and frontline/field users on the adapted platform.
- Final consultancy report summarizing work completed, deliverables produced, challenges, lessons learned, and priority recommendations for scale-up and sustainability.
Qualifications and Experience
The consultant should have the following qualifications and experience:
- Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a related field.
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in digital health systems, software development, or health information systems, ideally in low- and middle-income country settings.
- Experience with health information systems, such as DHIS2, including system configuration and data integration.
- Experience with mobile or telephony-based data collection technologies (e.g., IVR, SMS, or chatbot platforms).
- Experience with system integration and interoperability across multiple data platforms.
- Familiarity with public health surveillance concepts and approaches (e.g., disease surveillance, One Health) is an asset.
- Exposure in advanced analytics or statistical methods.
- Experience developing training materials and technical documentation for end users.
- Prior experience on donor-funded or international development projects is an asset.
- Experience working in West Africa or a similar context is preferred.
- Professional working proficiency in French required; working proficiency in English is an asset.
