Purpose of consultancy
To develop a tool for analysing data from household surveys and other sources to assess data quality and produce estimates of a subset of micronutrients/biomarkers (e.g. haemoglobin (anaemia) and ferritin). The tool will be developed based on R&Shiny, building on an existing prototype.
Background
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a solid ambition in nutrition for the coming years, with the vision of a world free from all forms of malnutrition where all people achieve health and well-being. Part of WHO's mandate is to assess the nutritional status of populations, monitor and evaluate the impact of strategies for the prevention and control malnutrition, and to track trends over time. Understanding the magnitude and distribution of malnutrition and its determinants requires up-to-date high-quality information systems to guide the successful scaling up of nutrition actions. Likewise, tracking progress and trends holds governments and partners accountable for their actions to improve nutrition, and informs future priority setting. Setting targets and defining systems to track their achievements are essential steps for defining policies and strategies and for establishing accountability systems. Countries have agreed on three interrelated sets of global targets: Global Nutrition Targets 2025, Noncommunicable Disease Targets and SDG targets 2030. Measuring progress will require developing national targets and reporting on their achievement. The Monitoring Nutrition Status and Food Safety Events Unit (MNF) Unit, within the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, defines indicators and nutrition surveillance systems, hosts and maintain nutrition databases, monitors nutrition trends and measures the impact of country food and nutrition policies.
MNF hosts the upgraded and expanded Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System (VMNIS), which was established following a request by the World Health Assembly to strengthen surveillance of micronutrient deficiencies at the global level. One component of VMNIS is the Micronutrients Database that compiles national, within-country regional and first-administrative level summary data on vitamin and mineral nutritional status of populations in Member States. This Database is used to monitor micronutrient status around the globe, provide global estimates of the burden of micronutrient deficiencies, and calculate trends in micronutrient deficiency over time. The Database has been expanded into a more comprehensive surveillance system that includes most indicators of micronutrient status being used worldwide today. It also has been updated to allow for additional stratification aiming to support inequality analysis, informing more tailored actions. Major efforts will be needed to include the stratified estimates for the various micronutrient indicators. At the moment, available tools are scattered and data quality assessment is limited. The WHO-UNICEF Technical Expert Advisory Group on Nutrition (TEAM) has stablished a working group that will advise on the development of data quality criteria to be considered for strengthening data quality and thus availability, as well as to provide guidance on data collection and harmonized analyses.
Currently, the Micronutrients database uses summarized reported data from publications and unpublished reports. Re-analysed data from this tool will complement the data already existing in the Micronutrients database. Data from the Micronutrients database feeds global estimates for assessing Micronutrients status of populations.
Following the example of the WHO Anthro Analyzer, a R&shiny-based tool widely used for the analysis of anthropometric data for estimating child malnutrition, accompanied by data quality assessment and pre-filled report template, the analysis of survey micronutrients data requires similar approach to strengthen data harmonization and quality. The to-be developed tool will contribute also to the Micronutrients database expansion towards including equity related disaggregation that will be analysed from individual level data considering different stratifiers.
A prototype of the WHO Micronutrients Survey Analyser was developed based on R&shiny for two of the micronutrients/biomarkers, namely haemoglobin (anaemia) and ferritin. The prototype was presented to a group of experts in micronutrients data analyses and feedback was gathered.
The purpose of this current consultancy is to implement key elements agreed upon and submit again for review until a version is ready to be shared more broadly with key stakeholders. Following publication of the analyser with the two initial biomarkers/indicators, the tool will be expanded to other micronutrients/ biomarkers, starting from the most commonly collected, building on the already included, with necessary adjustments.
Deliverables
Deliverable 1. To enhance the prototype of the Micronutrients survey analyser.
The current prototype includes two micronutrients/biomarkers: ferritin and haemoglobin (anaemia). Enhancements on tool’s design and functionalities include:
- Output 1.1. Improved mapping of variables to increase useability,
- Output 1.2. Increase completeness of output files for enhanced transparency
- Output 1.3. Fine tuning of data quality checking features
- Output 1.4. Include the generation of pre-filled data quality assessment and output summary reports.
- Output 1.5. Facilitate/support UAT of the new version of the tool and bug fixes for 3 weeks
- Output 1.6. Publish final version on WHO Shiny space and avail all well-annotated code in WHO GitHub
Deliverable 2. Once the first version of the prototype is agreed upon, to develop a new version of four to ten micronutrients indicators including micronutrient-specific adjustments necessary for their assessment.
- Output 2.1. Expanded version with all elements included in the tool, outputs and reports
- Output 2.2. Facilitate/support UAT of the new version of the tool and bug fixes for 3 weeks
- Output 2.3. Publish final version on WHO Shiny space and avail all well-annotated code in WHO GitHub
Deliverable 3. Provide technical input based on a maintenance period of six months for small enhancements and bug fixes.
Consultant will be requested to provide updates every two weeks on progress of the tool development throughout the contract.
Qualification, experience, skills and languages
Education
Essential: First university degree in business information systems, computer sciences, public health, statistics, or related field.
Desirable: Advanced university degree in business information systems, computer sciences, public health, statistics, or related field.
Work experience
Essential
- 5 to 10 years of experience in the development of applications or software development in a public health context.
- Proven experience on R&Shiny development tools for epidemiological data, that include analyses and reporting.
Desirable
- Experience in the development of data analysis tools in nutrition, with focus in biomarkers of micronutrients status.
Technical skills and knowledge
- Expertise in R&shiny applications and open-source R packages.
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills
- Ability to work and produce results in a fast-changing environment
- Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct
Languages and level required
Essential: Expert knowledge of English
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of any of other UN official languages.
Location
Offsite: home based
Travel
No travel is required
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)
- Remuneration: Payband level B – USD 350 – 499 per day
- Expected duration of contract: 11 months
- Target start date: January 2023
- Work-schedule: Part-time (80 days over the contract period)
How to prepare and submit a proposal in reply to this tender?
Content of proposal
- A cover letter explaining the bidder’s motivation for applying to this position.
- A copy, in .pdf format, of the bidder’s updated WHO Stellis CV or Personal History Form (detailed instructions on how to do this through the following link: http://www.who.int/careers/process/instructions-for-candidates.pdf?ua=1).
PLEASE NOTE: The selected candidate(s) will be asked to produce copies of all degrees/diplomas/certificates as mentioned in their Stellis CVs or Personal History Forms, as well as a copy of their passport and other documents as appropriate. - Full contact details
- Description and contact details of at least two recent references (the references shall be related to the present Terms of Reference).
Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
- Questions during preparation of proposal
A prospective bidder requiring any clarification on technical, contractual or commercial matters may notify WHO via email (nfs@who.int ) no later than 23 December 2022. - Deadline for submission of proposal
The deadline for final submissions of proposals is 3 January 2023 at 16h00, Geneva time. - Email address for submission of proposal
Final duly completed proposals should be submitted in electronic format by email to: nfs@who.int.
Please include "Consultant- Development of R&Shiny-based tools for nutrition data" in the subject matter of your email application. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.