Job Description

PEPFAR Reporting, Strategic Analytics and Data Pipeline Specialist -

South Africa

Company Profile

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 3,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.



Palladium develops and delivers innovative, locally relevant, evidence-based solutions to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. Since 1971, we have assisted governmental and non-governmental agencies, foundations, and the private sector by designing, implementing, and evaluating programs in HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, population and family planning, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, and gender. Palladium has deep expertise in policy and advocacy, research and strategic information, health markets and private sector engagement, modeling and economic analysis, patient monitoring and management/HMIS, strategic consulting, and program management.

Background

Palladium is implementing the USAID-funded Translating Data for Implementation (Data.FI) award. Data.FI is a $180 million, 5-year project which serves as USAID's primary mechanism for data, technology, and health information systems to support HIV activities across strategic PEPFAR countries. Data.FI is part of a suite of large-scale global HIV programs that USAID has awarded and represents the next generation of HIV/AIDS programs. Data.FI plays a key role in USAID's goals of helping partner countries on their Journey to Self-Reliance and transitioning local organizations to prime recipients of USG funding.



The overall goal of the Data.FI project is to improve global, regional, and national in-depth analyses of HIV epidemiologic and program data that can be directly applied to expedite the achievement of PEPFAR targets to attain and sustain control of the HIV epidemic. The focus also includes directly supporting host country governments and implementing partners to further enhance existing health information system platforms to inform management responses to well-defined gaps in HIV/AIDS programming. In order to ensure rapid access to high quality data, Data.FI works towards: accelerating data utilization to rapidly course correct and take to scale cost-effective and impactful activities, models and approaches required to attain and maintain HIV epidemic control; scaling and optimizing in-country health information system capabilities to collect, exchange, adapt, govern, and visualize information in order to track the attainment and maintenance of HIV epidemic control; and supporting the transition of prime funding and implementation to capable local partners.

Position Summary:

Palladium, through Data.FI, is currently seeking an experienced and motivated short term consultant to join our team as a PEPFAR Reporting, Strategic Analytics and Data Pipeline Specialist to support the implementation of the revised Data.FI award in South Africa (SA) under the terms of the PEPFAR -GHSD Waiver.



Data.FI South Africa supports the National Department of Health Digital Health Unit (DHU) in its role of

providing strategic leadership for the country's Digital Health activities which includes as a critical core component activities to ensure availability of data to use in addressing its HIV epidemic and associated opportunistic diseases such as TB. Within this mandate, the DHU manages various health datasets and their associated data products, including the patient level HIV and TB dataset.



In the last four years, Data.FI South Africa has provided direct support to National DHU the enhance existing HIS platforms and governance, thereby informing management responses to well-defined gaps in HIV and TB programming and sustaining impact by supporting the transition of activities to local departments and partners through a central HIV and TB reporting service with custom analyses and user interfaces. A cornerstone of Data.FI's support in this area is driving efficiencies in HIV and TB program planning by making key data available for resource planning and decision making, as well as introducing machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to automate manual tasks, thus saving on costly human resource costs through robust, future proof digital systems. A critical element in PEPFAR's accountability to the American people, the PEPFAR Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting (MER) indicators for HIV and TB are drawn from this system and form the basis for PEPFAR's annual reporting to Congress. The MER reporting is provided by These MER reports are produced by the NDOH DHU with key technical support from Data.FI South Africa.



This consultancy provide technical expertise to the NDOH DHU to ensure a single source of truth for HIV and TB reporting in order to ensure quality data with which to monitor and manage the life-saving clinical program in the country through the conceptualization, development and deployment of targeted reports in NDOH analytics platform for use by HIV and TB program managers to manage programs and plan resource allocation and through updates and improvements to the D2D data pipeline in line with database requirements and performance measures.



Another key component of this activity relates to the mandated and legislated PEPFAR quarterly, semi-annual and annual reporting. It is essential for the MER data to be available in the USG DATIM reporting system in for the USG (PEPFAR Coordinating Office, CDC and USAID) Strategic Information teams to further process the data to inform internal program oversight and compliance. This includes the monitoring and resumption of reporting according to new updated guidelines, with specific guidance as stated in and informed by the PEPFAR-GHSD waiver.



The consultant requires technical expertise in health information systems policy development, systems design and implementation as well as health data flows and processes being able to support data completeness and quality, development and upkeep of data analytics products and ensure stability and sustainability of data pipelines.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Ensure data completeness and quality

Make updates and improvements to the D2D data pipeline in line with database requirements and performance measures Ensure the on time submission of dispatch files and co-ordinate communication on data completeness Ensure the quality of data for PEPFAR reporting through enforcement and follow up of data validation protocols in D2D Write code to extract data indicators in line with the PEPFAR waiver language and specification Update the PowerBI MER reports to account for updated MER 2.8.2 indicator guidance Support NDOH to manage the facility list for PEPFAR reporting, ensuring there is alignment between MHFL, TIER.Net facility lists and past reports Provide guidance to NDOH in the creation of analytics products to support PEPFAR priorities and program management objectives Ensure the quality of data for PEPFAR reporting through enforcement and follow up of data validation protocols in D2D Use ML and other relevant data validation techniques to improve data quality and provide feedback down the data chain Conceptualize, develop and deploy targeted reports in HIC for use by HIV and TB program managers to manage programs and plan resource allocation. Develop guidance and support materials to support sustained utilization of data analytics by district support partners, HIV and TB program managers. actors at all levels, as well as dissemination of, and adherence to, those guidance materials. Prepare a handover package and plan for dissemination of key information to relevant stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

A post graduate (NQF 8) qualification in Informatics, Data Analytics or Public Health is highly advantageous. At least seven (7) years' working experience in health data analysis, with knowledge of national indicator definitions. Experience working with large and varied health information systems and analytics is essential, while the additional s skill of public health knowledge is advantageous Demonstrable knowledge of data analytics packages PowerBI, Python, SQL, Advanced MS Excel Knowledge of PowerBI DAX functions Knowledge of Data Science supervised and unsupervised functions Past experience in supporting health information systems as a consultant Proven knowledge of health-focused software development and deployment in the South African context is also an advantage. Knowledge of Azure platform features including ETL and user management features Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the NDOH DHU data ecosystem and pipeline Excellent data analytics and report writing skills are necessary, including the ability to navigate, extract and synthesize data from various information systems and sources for high level reports Knowledge and understanding of TIER.Net facility List, PEPFAR reporting, the NDOH MHFL and the NDOH D2D pipeline are required Ability to write code (SQL and PostgresQL) to extract MER indicators in line with the updated MER guidance required Good communication (written and verbal) skills are required, along with proven facilitation and negotiation skills especially at the executive leadership level in government Demonstrable understanding of the public health, specifically the HIV and TB program, landscape in South Africa is highly advantageous. Knowledge and understanding of Results Based Management techniques is an advantage Experience with project management and stakeholder expectation management is highly advantageous. A driver's license is required


Please note that this is a short term, full time seconded consultancy position.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding

We define Safeguarding as "the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm". We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.



Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.



Please note that interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.