CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY: Individual Consultant — NMDR Training, IDSR Malaria Surveillance and Commodity Tracking

Job Description

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY 

Individual Consultant — NMDR Training, IDSR Malaria Surveillance and  Commodity Tracking 

Client: PSI Sierra Leone / EpiC Project, in collaboration with the National Malaria Control  Programme (NMCP), Ministry of Health 

Duty station: Kailahun District, Sierra Leone | Contract: Individual consultancy Duration: Six weeks from the agreed commencement date, including two weeks of training  delivery 

Application deadline: 5pm GMT, Thursday 29 October. 

Help strengthen malaria data use in Kailahun 

PSI Sierra Leone, through the EpiC project, seeks an experienced individual consultant to lead  technical preparation and delivery of practical training on the National Malaria Data Repository  (NMDR), Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR), data quality and analysis, and  malaria commodity tracking. Working closely with NMCP and designated Ministry of Health  representatives, the consultant will equip health personnel to use reliable data for routine  monitoring, timely decisions and appropriate programme action. 

What you will do 

• Review approved technical guidance; agree the approach with PSI/EpiC and NMCP;  prepare a six-week workplan, training materials, practical exercises, job aids and  assessment tools; and confirm authorized NMDR access and datasets. 
• Deliver two weeks of participatory training in Kailahun using demonstrations, district  data, group exercises and case-based simulations. 
• Cover all seven modules: NMDR overview and dashboards; IDSR malaria surveillance;  data quality and analysis; malaria commodity tracking; surveillance data review and  unusual case changes; alert verification and response; and data use for decision-making. 
• Administer pre- and post-training tests, assess practical competencies, document  participation and feedback, and identify learning gaps and coaching needs. • Facilitate a district action plan with responsibilities and timelines; recommend  mentorship and follow-up; and submit assessment findings and a final consultancy report. 

Who should apply 

• A master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health  Information Systems or a related discipline is preferred. A relevant bachelor’s degree may  be considered with substantial practical experience. 
• Demonstrated malaria surveillance, programme monitoring or public health data-analysis  experience, and previous work with NMCP, preferably in surveillance, reporting, routine  data use or capacity building. 
• Experience training health professionals; using IDSR/eIDSR and HMIS/DHIS2 or other  health information systems; assuring data quality; analysing indicators; and interpreting  surveillance trends. 
• Familiarity with malaria commodity monitoring, including rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs),  artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and severe malaria medicines.
• Strong adult-learning, facilitation, analytical, communication and report-writing skills;  experience developing training materials; knowledge of Sierra Leone’s surveillance  systems; and ability to collaborate with national and district health teams. 

Deliverables and assignment schedule 

Week 1: Inception report and detailed workplan; complete training package covering all seven  modules; and assessment tools, including tests, competency checklists and evaluation forms. Weeks 2–3: Deliver the two-week training; complete and document practical exercises; maintain  attendance and evaluation records; collect assessment data; and develop a draft district action  plan. 

Week 4: Analyse assessment results, practical competencies and participant feedback; document  learning gaps. 

Weeks 5–6: Submit draft reports; finalize the district action plan and mentorship  recommendations; incorporate PSI/EpiC and NMCP feedback; and submit the training  assessment report, final consultancy report and complete deliverable package. 

Note: The schedule is indicative and may be adjusted by mutual agreement within the six-week  period. Follow-up recommendations should address weekly data validation, monthly district  reviews and follow-up within three months. Direct mentorship by the consultant is limited to  activities and effort expressly agreed in the contract; follow-up beyond six weeks is for  designated programme and district teams. 

Reporting and contract terms 

The consultant will report to the designated PSI/EpiC focal person and coordinate with NMCP,  Ministry of Health technical representatives and the Kailahun District Health Management Team,  engaging other relevant health agencies as appropriate. Materials must follow approved national  guidance and available NMDR functionality. All exercises must use authorized data and access,  with applicable confidentiality and data-protection safeguards. Travel or preparation outside  Kailahun requires prior PSI/EpiC agreement. 

All deliverables must be submitted electronically to PSI/EpiC for review and acceptance, with  NMCP technical input as appropriate. Payment terms will be negotiated in the consultancy  contract and payment made upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of agreed deliverables. 

How to apply 

Submit the following complete application package: 

1. An updated curriculum vitae. 
2. A cover letter highlighting relevant malaria surveillance experience and previous work  with NMCP. 
3. A brief technical proposal (Not more than 20 pages, A12 font letters) describing your  approach to preparing and facilitating the training. This should include a proposed six week workplan and level of effort for the lead Consultant and any supporting  Consultant(s) if any. 
4. A financial proposal detailing professional fees for the six-week assignment. Budget  training logistics separately for comparison, including venue, participant transport,  accommodation, meals, materials and equipment. Actual logistics costs will be paid  directly to the service provider by PSI/EpiC.
5. A letter of support from NMCP and contact details for at least two professional referees. 

Send applications to: procurement@psi-sl.org 

Deadline: 5pm GMT on Thursday 29 October 

Email subject: Application – NMDR Training Consultant – Kailahun District 

Clearly label every application document with your name and attach the technical and financial  proposals as separate files. Include your contact details and confirm availability for the six-week  assignment (starting from 2nd of November 2026), including two weeks of training delivery in  Kailahun District. 

Interested? 

Please see the full TOR below. 

1. Background 

Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sierra Leone, with transmission  occurring throughout the year. Effective malaria control requires timely, complete and accurate  data to guide programme planning, monitor commodity availability, identify unusual changes in  malaria cases, and facilitate appropriate public health responses. 

The Ministry of Health, through the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), has  established the National Malaria Data Repository (NMDR) to strengthen the use of malaria  information for decision-making. The repository integrates routine case management data from  the Health Management Information System (HMIS/DHIS2), weekly malaria surveillance data  from the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system, logistics and commodity  data, and intervention data into a common platform with analytical dashboards for national and  subnational use. 

Despite these investments, gaps remain in the dissemination and routine use of the NMDR at  national, district and health facility levels. Strengthening weekly electronic IDSR malaria  reporting, data validation, data analysis and commodity monitoring is essential for improving the  quality of malaria surveillance information, identifying unusual changes in malaria cases, and  addressing shortages of essential commodities, including rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs),  artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and medicines for severe malaria. 

To address these gaps, the NMCP has developed a concept note for disseminating the NMDR  and strengthening capacity in IDSR malaria surveillance, commodity tracking and the use of  malaria data for decision-making. The initiative will build the capacity of health personnel to  access and interpret surveillance data, identify and follow up on unusual changes in reported  

cases, monitor commodity consumption and availability, and translate findings into appropriate  programme and public health actions. 

PSI Sierra Leone, through the EpiC project, intends to engage an individual consultant with  relevant experience in malaria surveillance and previous working experience with the NMCP to  lead the technical preparation and delivery of the training in Kailahun District. The consultant 

will work closely with NMCP and designated Ministry of Health representatives to ensure that  the training reflects national malaria surveillance priorities, established reporting procedures and  approved technical guidance. 

The assignment will use practical exercises, the NMDR platform, available district-level data and  case scenarios to strengthen participants’ ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired  during the training. The consultancy will run for six weeks, with two weeks dedicated to training  delivery and the remaining period allocated to preparation, assessment, action planning,  documentation and final reporting. 

2. Purpose of the Consultancy 

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical leadership and facilitation for training on  the NMDR, IDSR malaria surveillance, data quality and analysis, and malaria commodity  tracking. The assignment will strengthen health personnel’s capacity to use reliable malaria data  for routine monitoring, timely decision-making and appropriate programme action in Kailahun  District. 

3. Specific Objectives 

The consultant will: 

1. Strengthen participants’ understanding of the NMDR, its data sources, dashboards, access  arrangements and applications for malaria programme management. 
2. Build capacity in weekly IDSR malaria reporting, data quality assurance, validation,  analysis and interpretation. 
3. Strengthen skills in monitoring malaria commodity availability, consumption, stock  levels and potential stock-outs. 
4. Improve participants’ ability to review surveillance data, recognize unusual changes in  reported malaria cases and facilitate appropriate verification and follow-up in line with  established national procedures. 
5. Promote the use of NMDR data in routine district and health facility review meetings,  planning and decision-making. 
6. Assess participants’ knowledge and practical competencies and identify areas requiring  further mentorship. 
7. Produce training documentation, assessment results, a district action plan and  recommendations for post-training follow-up. 
8. Scope of Work and Responsibilities 

The consultant will undertake the following activities. 

4.1 Preparatory Activities

• Review the NMCP concept note, NMDR user guidance, IDSR malaria surveillance  procedures, relevant commodity reporting tools and other approved technical materials. • Consult PSI/EpiC, NMCP and relevant Ministry of Health technical personnel to agree  on the training objectives, agenda, methodology and expected outputs. 
• Prepare or adapt training presentations, practical exercises, case studies, job aids and  assessment tools in line with national guidelines. 
• Develop a detailed six-week workplan, including the two-week training schedule for  Kailahun District. 
• Coordinate with the designated technical team to confirm access to the NMDR platform,  relevant demonstration data, district datasets and other training resources. • Prepare pre-training and post-training assessments and practical competency checklists. 

4.2 Lead the Training in Kailahun District 

The consultant will facilitate participatory classroom sessions and practical exercises over two  weeks, covering the following modules. 

Module 1: NMDR Overview and Dashboards 

• Purpose, structure and key data sources of the NMDR. 
• Navigation of NMDR dashboards and interpretation of displayed information. • User roles, access permissions and data security. 
• Application of NMDR information to malaria programme monitoring and decision making. 

Module 2: IDSR Malaria Surveillance 

• Malaria surveillance case definitions and relevant reporting requirements. • Weekly malaria reporting through electronic IDSR (eIDSR). 
• Monitoring reporting timeliness and completeness. 
• Review and validation of weekly surveillance data. 
• Reconciliation and interpretation of weekly IDSR data alongside monthly HMIS/DHIS2  data. 

Module 3: Data Quality and Analysis 

• Identification of missing reports, inconsistencies, outliers and unusual trends. • Assessment of data completeness, consistency and validity. 
• Calculation and interpretation of relevant indicators, including malaria testing rate, test  positivity rate and incidence, as appropriate to the available data. 
• Analysis of routine malaria trends to inform programme monitoring and identify issues  requiring further review. 
• Use of routine data reviews to improve the quality of malaria surveillance information. Module 4: Malaria Commodity Tracking
• Monitoring stock on hand, consumption and months of stock for RDTs, ACTs and severe  malaria medicines. 
• Identification and reporting of potential or actual stock-outs. 
• Reconciliation of RDT consumption with the number of patients tested. • Reconciliation of ACT dispensing with confirmed malaria cases, taking account of  relevant reporting and clinical practices. 
• Review of commodity data from relevant reporting systems and strengthening  coordination with the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services (DPS) and the National  Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA), as applicable. 
• Use of commodity information to inform redistribution, resupply and follow-up actions. 

Module 5: Surveillance Data Review and Identification of Unusual Changes in Malaria  Cases 

• Reviewing weekly malaria surveillance data to understand changes in reported cases. • Comparing current reports with previous reporting periods and available routine data. • Identifying unusual changes, inconsistencies or patterns that require further review. • Reviewing the completeness and reliability of reported information before drawing  conclusions. 
• Referring potential surveillance concerns to the appropriate district and national  authorities for verification in accordance with established NMCP and IDSR procedures. 

Module 6: Surveillance Alert Verification and Response 

• Procedures for reviewing and verifying potential malaria surveillance alerts or unusual  changes in reported cases. 
• Initial investigation and confirmation of unusual increases in cases, as appropriate. • Documentation, escalation and communication of verified surveillance concerns. • Potential response actions, including intensified case management, commodity  

redistribution, targeted vector control and other measures determined by the responsible  health authorities. 

• Documentation of response actions and provision of feedback to reporting facilities and  communities. 

Module 7: Data Use for Decision-Making 

• Conducting routine monthly malaria data review meetings. 
• Interpreting surveillance and commodity information for programme action. • Developing practical action plans with clear responsibilities and timelines. • Communicating findings and feedback to health facilities and communities. • Integrating data review and follow-up into routine district and facility management  processes. 

4.3 Facilitate Practical and Participatory Learning

The consultant will ensure that training is practical and focused on the application of knowledge.  Methods will include: 

• Hands-on demonstrations using the NMDR platform and available district data. • Exercises on weekly IDSR reporting, data review and validation. 
• Group exercises on malaria indicator analysis and interpretation of trends. • Commodity reconciliation exercises involving stock levels, consumption, RDT testing  and ACT dispensing. 
• Case-based simulations of surveillance concern identification, verification, escalation and  response. 
• Group development of a district-level action plan. 
• Pre-training and post-training tests to measure changes in participants’ knowledge. 

All practical exercises will use authorized data and system access and will follow applicable data  protection and confidentiality requirements. 

4.4 Training Evaluation and Competency Assessment 

The consultant will: 

• Administer pre-training and post-training assessments. 
• Monitor participation and assess understanding throughout the sessions. • Evaluate participants’ practical ability to navigate NMDR dashboards, review  surveillance data, conduct commodity reconciliation and interpret malaria indicators. • Identify participants who require additional coaching or technical assistance. • Summarize assessment results and provide recommendations for follow-up training and  mentorship. 

4.5 District Action Planning and Post-Training Follow-Up 

The consultant will facilitate the development of a practical district action plan identifying  priority activities, responsible personnel, timelines and follow-up arrangements for strengthening  routine NMDR use, weekly IDSR reporting, commodity monitoring, data review and  surveillance alert verification. 

The consultant will also provide recommendations for post-training mentorship and supportive  supervision, including weekly data review and validation, monthly district data review meetings,  and follow-up within three months of training, in line with agreed NMCP arrangements. 

Any direct post-training mentorship undertaken by the consultant will be limited to the activities  and level of effort expressly agreed in the consultancy contract. Recommendations for follow-up  beyond the six-week consultancy period will be documented for implementation by the  designated programme and district teams. 

5. Expected Deliverables

No. Deliverable Description 

1. Inception report and workplan Summary of the assignment approach, detailed six-week schedule,  methodology, coordination arrangements and deliverable timeline. 

2. Training package Training agenda, presentations, facilitator notes, practical exercises, case  scenarios and relevant job aids covering all seven modules. 

3. Training assessment tools Pre- and post-training tests, practical competency assessment checklists and  participant evaluation forms. 

4. Training conducted in  Kailahun District 

5. Practical training exercises  completed 

6. Training attendance and  evaluation records 

Delivery of the agreed two-week training on NMDR, IDSR malaria  surveillance, data quality and analysis, commodity tracking, surveillance  review, alert verification and data use. 

Documentation of NMDR demonstrations, surveillance and commodity  exercises, data analysis and case-based verification and response exercises. Completed attendance registers, participant feedback forms, evaluation results  and records of training completion. 

7. Training assessment report Summary and analysis of pre- and post-training results, practical competency  assessments, identified learning gaps and recommendations for improvement. 

Documented action plan identifying agreed priorities, responsible persons,  

8. District action plan 

9. Post-training mentorship and  follow-up recommendations 

10. Final consultancy report 

timelines and follow-up actions for routine NMDR use and improved malaria  surveillance and commodity monitoring. 

Proposed approach for on-site mentorship, supportive supervision, weekly  data validation and monthly district data review, with responsibilities and  timelines. 

Comprehensive report covering activities conducted, topics delivered,  participant performance, challenges, lessons learned, recommendations and  outstanding follow-up needs. 

All deliverables will be submitted electronically to PSI/EpiC for review and acceptance, with  technical inputs from NMCP and other designated stakeholders, as appropriate. 

6. Required Qualifications and Experience 

The consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience. Academic Qualifications 

• A master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health  Information Systems or a related discipline is preferred. 
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline may be considered where supported by  substantial practical experience. 

Relevant Professional Experience 

• Demonstrated experience in malaria surveillance, malaria programme monitoring, public  health data analysis or related surveillance activities. 
• Previous working experience with the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP),  preferably involving malaria surveillance, routine data use, reporting, programme  monitoring or capacity building.
• Experience training health workers, district surveillance personnel, programme officers  or other public health professionals. 
• Practical experience with IDSR or eIDSR reporting and the use of HMIS/DHIS2 or other  public health information systems. 
• Experience in data quality assurance, indicator analysis and interpretation of surveillance  trends. 
• Familiarity with malaria commodity monitoring, including RDTs, ACTs and other  essential malaria medicines. 
• Experience facilitating technical workshops, preparing training materials and writing  training or consultancy reports. 

Technical and Interpersonal Competencies 

• Strong facilitation and adult-learning skills. 
• Ability to translate technical surveillance concepts into practical exercises. • Good analytical, communication and report-writing skills. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with NMCP, district health management teams and  Ministry of Health technical departments. 
• Knowledge of Sierra Leone’s malaria surveillance and health information systems. 7. Duration, Timeline and Duty Station 

The consultancy will be completed within six weeks from the agreed commencement date. This  period will cover preparation, two weeks of training delivery in Kailahun District, participant  assessment, district action planning, documentation and final reporting. 

The indicative timeline is as follows:

The timeline is indicative and may be adjusted by mutual agreement with PSI/EpiC and NMCP,  provided that all activities and deliverables are completed within the six-week assignment  period. 

The duty station is Kailahun District, Sierra Leone. Any travel or preparatory activities outside  the district must be agreed with PSI/EpiC in advance. 

8. Reporting and Coordination 

The consultant will report to the designated PSI/EpiC focal person and coordinate closely with  NMCP and relevant Ministry of Health technical representatives. 

The NMCP will provide technical direction on national malaria surveillance priorities and  relevant programme procedures. Coordination with the National Public Health Agency (NPHA),  the Directorate of Policy, Planning and Information (DPPI), the Directorate of Pharmaceutical  Services (DPS), the National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) and the Kailahun District  Health Management Team (DHMT) will be undertaken as appropriate to the training content. 

The consultant will ensure that all training materials, exercises and recommendations are  consistent with approved national guidelines and the NMDR’s available functionality.