Malaria Indicator Survey Coordinator in Sierra Leone

Scope of Work – Malaria Indicator Survey Coordinator in Sierra Leone

1. Background

Since 1963, Catholic Relief Services has been an integral development partner in Sierra Leone; addressing national needs in Health, Agriculture and Education. The Global Fund Round 10 (GF R10) grant for malaria is co-implemented by CRS Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), including via sub-recipients, and is currently in its second phase, which will last until December 2016. The project is implemented in all 14 districts of Sierra Leone. CRS main responsibilities include strengthening information systems related to malaria medicine and commodities, community behavior change communication, mass-media communication and major research studies.

The overall goal of the GF R10 Malaria project is: By 2015, malaria-related Millennium Development Goals are achieved, not only by national aggregate but also among the poorest groups across Sierra Leone. This goal will be reached by focusing on five key objectives:
1) Increase prompt and effective treatment of malaria from 50% in 2010 to 80% for all age groups by 2016
2) To increase and maintain the proportion of pregnant women receiving at least two doses of Intermittent Preventive Treatment for pregnant women (IPTp) from 12% in 2008 to at least 85% by 2016
3) To maintain universal coverage of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) through 2016
4) To increase to 80% the proportion of population who take appropriate action to prevent and treat malaria (2 doses of IPTp, sleeping under LLIN, timely care seeking) through Information Education Communication / Behavior Change Communication by 2016
5) To strengthen organizational capacity for more effective management of malaria control activities
In order to track progress and impact a national Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) was conducted under the GF R10 grant and another one is scheduled in 2016 under this same grant. Just like the 2013 MIS, the 2016 MIS plans to be inclusive of slide testing to determine prevalence of malaria, and as such the MIS will only be conducted once Sierra Leone has been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization.

This 2016 survey will build on lessons learned from the 2013 MIS. With the support of CRS’ Global Knowledge and Information Management (GKIM) staff, this survey will utilize electronic data collection technology via iPhones to collect information nationwide through an application called iForm Builder. Key partners in the MIS will be the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), possibly Najala University of Sierra Leone, a local research firm such as Statistics Sierra Leone, WHO, UNICEF, and Catholic Relief Services.

1. Objectives of the MIS
   The 2013 Sierra Leone Malaria Indicator Survey (SLMIS) is a comprehensive, nationally representative household survey designed following the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Monitoring and Evaluation Reference Group guidelines.

The key objectives of the 2013 SLMIS are to:

• Measure the level of ownership and use of mosquito nets
• Assess coverage of the intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women
• Identify treatment practices, including the use of specific antimalarial medications to treat malaria among children under 5
• Identify diagnostic trends prior to receiving antimalarial medications for treatment of fever and other malaria-like symptoms
• Measure the prevalence of malaria and anaemia among children age 6-59 months
• Assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of malaria among women age 15-49 years
• Allow tracking of trends over time
• Intended as a simpler, malaria-focused survey alternative to DHS, MICS
  The MIS will be used to report on the following indicators for the Global Fund Round 10 Malaria Grant. It can also be expanded to report on key indicators from the National Malaria Control Programme.
  • Parasite prevalence: children aged 6 - 59 months with malaria infection (detection of parasitemia by microscopy) (percentage) (MAL-I3)
  • Percentage of children under 5 with confirmed malaria in the last two weeks who received ACT within 24 hours of onset of fever [MAL-T7] at the community level
  • Percentage of children under 5 with confirmed malaria in the last two weeks who received ACT within 24 hours of onset of fever [MAL-T7] at the facility level
  • Percentage of children U5 who slept under a Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) the previous night (MAL-P5)
  • Percentage of pregnant women who slept under a Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) the previous night (MAL-P9)
  • Percentage of households with at least two LLIN
  • Percentage of women who received two or more doses of Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for malaria during their last pregnancy (in last 2 years) [MAL-P10]
  • Percentage of people (or target groups) who know the causes of, symptoms of, treatment for or preventive measures for malaria [MAL-P12]
• Methodology
  The MIS will follow the methodology used in the 2013 Sierra Leone MIS, which was guided by the RBM guidelines for Malaria Indicator Surveys. The SLMIS is expected to be conducted from February to March 2016. All women aged 15-49 years in the selected households will be eligible for individual interviews and will be asked questions about malaria prevention during pregnancy and treatment of childhood fever. In addition, the survey will include testing for anaemia and malaria among children aged 6-59 months using a finger prick blood sample. Thick blood smears will be collected in the field and transported to the Laboratory at Lakka Hospital in Freetown, set up for the purpose of this survey, where slides will be tested for the presence of malaria parasites. Given lessons learned from the last MIS, an attempt will be made to identify another laboratory or resolve challenges confronted by team in 2013.

The implementation team will include teams comprising of 4 enumerators and 1 team leader; the exact number of teams and enumerators will be determined by the sample size and logistical plan. Every district will have one coordinator who will supervise teams in the field and ensure timely collection and communication of data. Team composition can be changed as deemed necessary through consultation with key stakeholders.

Similarly to 2013, CRS will be responsible for configuring the final questionnaires on Apple 3GS iPhones using the iFormBuilder platform, a software service application with a companion application (app) for the mobile devices allowing for timely data collection, monitoring, and analysis.

1. Primary responsibilities of the MIS Coordinator

With other ongoing Global Fund project activities taking place at the same time as the Malaria Indicator Survey, CRS/Sierra Leone is seeking a long–term assistance (TDY) to coordinate the survey. Whilst some of the duties can take place outside of Sierra Leone, there are a few critical tasks that will need the coordinator to be physically present in country for both the preparation and data collection phases of the MIS. The Malaria Indicator Survey Coordinator’s primary responsibilities will include, but not be limited to those in the table below corresponding to the X mark in the 3rd column. All activities will need to be done in close collaboration with the CRS/Sierra Leone country program (CP), but for purpose of clear segregation of duties and responsibilities, they have been split below between the MIS Coordinator and CRS/SL CP.
NB: Please note that the tasks below depend on when the MIS coordinator will be recruited.

Timing Workplan for MIS MIS Coord. CRS/SL CP
November Oversee / Review Sampling Plan X
Select with Survey Research Firm (SRF) X
Assemble planning team (CRS and external partners) X
Sign MoUs with planning external team members X
Sign contracts with Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) X
Work with the Survey Research Firm to draft questionnaire X
Draft the initial protocol based on the 2013 MIS one X
Finalize MIS budget with the Global Fund X
Sign contract with SRF X
Hire Principal Investigator (PI) and co-PI X
Hold planning workshop to finalize protocol draft (must be in SL) X
Support PI to submit protocol to ERB X
Procure supplies X
Have storage and tracking plan for all supplies X
Oversee Household Listing with SSL X
Identify and recruit all supervisors with NMCP & SSL X
Program and test digital tool and output database with CRS/GKIM X
Confirm SRF is comfortable with the output database X
Conduct lab assessment with PI or co-PI X
Establish lab to process biomarkers X
Hire all team members and lab team (release letters) X
Dec Pre-Test Training and Tools in the Field (household, women, children, and biomarker questionnaires) (must be in SL) X
Support SRF with the finalization of training manuals (supervisor, biomarker, interviewer) X
Finalize all job aids (med card, referral forms, supervisor tracking tools, brochures, tools for movement of biomarkers, name tags, car tags) X
Finalize movement and logistic plans X
Test digital tool X
Contract transport company X
Contract media company and make / air announcements X
Working with CRS/GKIM on the management of all iPhones – update operating system, update app, synch forms, etc. X
January Full enumerator training (must be in SL for both preparation & training) X
Feb-March Data collection – daily data completion checks and check-in with team leaders, data cleaning on iFormBuilder. (Must be in SL for at least the first 2-3 weeks) X
March-May Receive returned teams, close out remaining data issues and administer payment X X
Respond to any issues raised by SRF X
Review preliminary results X
June Validate data with planning team (must be in SL along with the SRF) X
Review draft report X
July or beyond Present report findings in launch
X

1. Preferred requirements
2. Masters degree in Public Health or related field
3. Past experience managing or overseeing large health survey, such as the MIS
4. Knowledge of iFormBuilder or other database systems/software is an advantage
5. Useful knowledge or familiarity in data analysis in CSPro. SPSS, EPI Info or STATA a plus.
6. Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills.
7. Willingness to travel up to 40% of the time to project field sites when in Sierra Leone
8. Good command of written and spoken English
9. Key working relationships
   Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Global Fund Project Director and the rest of the Global Fund team members, and other relevant CRS SL staff, Global Fund Support Unit, West Africa Regional Office, and Global-level Technical Advisors.
   Supervisory role: Supervise CRS/SL MIS Health Interns
   External: Ministry of Health and Sanitation/National Malaria Control Program, members of the MIS Core Team, WHO, UNICEF, and other partners as necessary.
10. Duration and location of performance
    • At distance; in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and with travel to field sites
    • On and off over the course of nine months, from October 2015 – June 2016
11. Logistics
    Lodging: CRS will make provision of suitable shared accommodation (with other CRS staff) in Freetown. All field trips to other parts of the country will be fully covered by CRS Sierra Leone country program.
    Main contact person: Heather Dolphin, Head of Programs, CRS Sierra Leone (heather.dolphin@crs.org)

HOW TO APPLY:

Send resume and cover letter to heather.dolphin@crs.org