Geographic Health Information System Study at Helen Keller International

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.