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Ethiopia - Information Technology Consultant
Scope of Work (also available in PDF format)
Country: Ethiopia
Placement site: Drug Administration and Control Authority (DACA)
Assignment Title: Information Technology Consultant
Length of assignment: 6 months - Full time
OVERVIEW OF VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT
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In-country placement site:
The mission of Ethiopia’s Drug Administration and Control Agency (DACA) is to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs and their proper utilization. By providing guidance to Regional Health Bureaus, hospitals, and pharmacies that intend to establish and run a pharmaceutical compounding laboratory, DACA works to improve the system of supply, distribution, and utilization of essential drugs as well as ensure the efficient delivery of high quality, safe, and standardized products and services to consumers. Additionally, DACA promotes and maintains the proper procurement, distribution, and use of pharmaceuticals by overseeing standards of quality, safety, and efficacy of traditional drugs and controlling the quality of raw and packing materials.
Volunteer assignment:
The primary duty of the Twinning Center volunteer Information Technology (IT) Consultant is to help DACA meet its communications and data sharing objectives. To that end, the IT Consultant will liaise with external IT consultants and contractors to ensure goals and timelines are being met. The volunteer will work with DACA senior management to develop job descriptions for a Local Area Network Administrator and Desktop Support Specialist and assist with the preparation of an evaluation and selection methodology for candidates. S/he will also participate in the recruitment and interviewing process to fill these and possibly other open positions.
Other activities include, but are not limited to, assessing the current network environment, preparing a capacity report, and recommending a strategic plan for capacity building, as well as making recommendations to implement a file and print sharing system and a comprehensive data backup and recovery strategy. Working in conjunction with the DACA Desktop Support Specialist, the IT Consultant will assess the current desktop management policies and practices and provide guidance to bring them up to current industry standards, including document storage on local drives, access privileges, and data security. In consultation with DACA senior management, s/he will create a plan for data security and hierarchical access control methods. Furthermore, the volunteer will assist the DACA Desktop Support Specialist in preparing basic and advanced computer literacy courses, and develop a structure to deliver such courses. In addition, s/he will assist the DACA LAN Administrator and Desktop Support Specialist in redesigning the DACA Web site to make it more appealing and user-friendly.
The volunteer’s work will be performed in collaboration with Twinning Center and onsite staff to ensure cohesiveness and integration of all data-related current and proposed future activities.
Length of the assignment:
6 months, assuming a full-time work schedule
Name and title of supervisor: Ato Abraham Gebre Giorgis, Head, Planning and Drug Information, DACA
Name and title of counterpart: TBD
Volunteer Qualifications:
Required:
- Masters degree in information technology
- Minimum of five years work experience in database management, developing an electronic database on chronic medical care
- Experience providing training and hands-on support in database management
- Fluency in English and Amharic
Preferred:
- A self-starter with strong written and oral communication skills
- Previous experience working in a low-resource setting
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to develop cooperative working relationships
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OBJECTIVE OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT
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The objective of the volunteer IT Consultant is to assist DACA in attaining their data communications and sharing needs.
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ACTIVITIES OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT
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- Assess the data management system currently being used by DACA
- Assess the current network environment and prepare a capacity report; if necessary, recommend a path for capacity expansion
- Develop an understanding of DACA’s data management requirements
- Develop job descriptions for the Local Area Network Administrator and Desktop Support Specialist positions and participate in the recruitment and interviewing process
- Assist the DACA LAN Administrator and Desktop Support Specialist to redesign the DACA Web site
- Create a plan for data backup and recovery, security, and hierarchical access control methods
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EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT
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Deliverables:
- Written assessment of DACA’s management system and recommendations for improvement
- A working file and print sharing system
- Redesigned Web site
- A better working relationship between DACA and its IT consultants
- Timeline for implementation of data system improvement plan
- Recommendations for DACA’s data management follow-up support
- Final report
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING STAKEHOLDERS
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Volunteer:
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Complete the scope of work in the timeframe outlined
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Complete Twinning Center’s assessment and monthly monitoring and evaluation reports
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Submit a post-assignment final report and participate in an exit interview
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Adhere to the AIHA Volunteer Standards of Conduct
Placement organization/institution:
- Provide resources necessary for volunteer to carry out assignment successfully
- Identify a placement site for the volunteer to ensure sustainability of his/her activities
- Submit performance assessment reports on the volunteer to the Twinning Center
AIHA Twinning Center:
- Conduct pre-assignment orientation and training for volunteer and placement site staff
- Provide volunteer with safe housing, monthly living allowance, medical evacuation coverage, and travel-related costs to and from placement site
- Provide ongoing support of volunteer as needed
This position has been filled. Please refer to the list of open positions.
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