JOB DETAILS:
Evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity-building services. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Introduction:
On January 19, 2023, USAID/Tanzania awarded International Business Initiatives (IBI) and SI a four-year contract for the Tanzania Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (T-MELA) Activity. This activity is to assist the USAID/Tanzania Mission with strategy- and activity-level performance monitoring, evaluation, and learning. This activity will also provide data gathering and verification, data visualization (including Geographic Information Systems), data quality assessments, impact and performance evaluations, assessments, organizational learning, and collaboration among USAID’s implementing partners and DO teams.

Program Description
The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) is an international collaboration of over 70 countries, focusing on the enhancement of the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations. With the US's significant backing, including a $1 billion commitment targeting 17 key countries, Tanzania is notably a recipient of this initiative. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated approximately $36 million to Tanzania's health security, emphasizing a holistic "One Health" approach. Through USAID's support, Tanzania has been fortifying its capabilities in antimicrobial resistance, biosafety, diagnostics, surveillance, and infection prevention, positioning itself to effectively counter emerging infectious challenges.

Purpose and use of Global Health Security Desk Review:

This desk review aims to guide future activities by performing a meta-analysis of Tanzania's Global Health Security (GHS) data. The analysis will gather evidence and distill best practices, lessons, and recommendations tailored to Tanzania's health security needs. While primarily designed for the USAID Tanzania Health Office staff, the findings will also benefit the Government of Tanzania and other GHS partners, fostering shared insights and enhanced collaboration in the country's health sector.

Position Description:
SI is seeking an Epidemiologist to support T-MELA with the Desk review work related to the Global Health Security Agenda. This is a consulting position with an estimated period of performance of November 2023 – April 2024. The estimated level of effort (LOE) for the Team Leader will be 47 days with expected travel of up to 2 weeks in Tanzania.
The Epidemiologist shall be an English speaker who will play a crucial role in the Global Health Security Desk Review, focusing on the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of health data related to infectious diseases and public health events in Tanzania. This role involves working closely with the Team Lead and other specialists to ensure that epidemiological insights are accurately represented and integrated into the overall review. She/he will support the team through all stages of the desk review, including developing the desk review Design, managing literature search and possible primary data collection, analysis and preliminary report writing, draft desk review Report, Final Desk Review Report, and other key knowledge products. She/he will work under the guidance of the Senior Assessment and Evaluation Specialist in Tanzania and SI’s Project Director in Washington DC.

Responsibilities:
The Epidemiologist will:
• Analyze health data to identify trends, patterns, and significant findings related to infectious diseases and public health events.
• Design and modify data collection tools and methods to ensure the relevance and accuracy of data.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing disease surveillance systems and recommend improvements.
• Work closely with other team members, sharing epidemiological insights and integrating them into the broader review.

• Contribute to the drafting, review, and finalization of the desk review report, ensuring that epidemiological findings are accurately represented.
• Stay updated with recent studies, research, and publications related to epidemiology in Tanzania and globally.

• Engage with health authorities, organizations, and other stakeholders to gather and validate epidemiological data.

Deliverables:
With support from USAID/T-MELA and team members, the Team Lead will be expected to take overall responsibility for the production and management of the following:

Final Evaluation Design: A detailed, full evaluation design and work plan following an initial consultation with USAID that will include chosen methodologies and data collection tools.

Kick-off meeting/In brief: A PowerPoint/Google Slides presentation summarizing the Inception Report for USAID/T-MELA and key partners prior to the launch of data collection.

Findings Conclusions and Recommendations (FCR) Matrix: An analysis tool through which data is triangulated and findings, conclusions, and recommendations specific to each evaluation question are produced. Two FCR matrixes are expected, a preliminary document after the first full week of data collection, and a final matrix at the end of the data analysis period.

Preliminary Findings PPT: The team will present the key findings to the wider USAID/Tanzania Mission through a PowerPoint/Google Slides presentation. The TL is expected to update this PowerPoint after the final report.

Draft Report: A draft report with fully developed findings, conclusions, and recommendations, no longer than 30 pages excluding annexes, will be submitted to the T-MELA COP who will submit to the USAID COR for T-MELA activity. The format will include an executive summary, table of contents, methodology, findings, and recommendations. USAID/T-MELA and key local stakeholders will provide comments on the draft report.

Final Report: The team will submit a final report that incorporates responses to USAID's/partner's comments and suggestions. The report will be submitted electronically in English. The report will be disseminated within USAID and key stakeholders.

Qualifications and Skills:
The Epidemiologist must have/hold:
• Master's degree or higher in Epidemiology.
• At least 5 years of experience in epidemiology, with a focus on infectious diseases and public health surveillance. Experience working on international health projects or with organizations like WHO, CDC, or USAID will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with the health landscape in Tanzania and understanding of the Global Health Security Agenda. Experience in disease outbreak response or health emergency preparedness.
• Proficiency in using epidemiological tools and software for data analysis, such as RevMan, R, Epi Info, or STATA.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with proficiency in English.
• Proven experience in conducting epidemiological research, interpreting findings, and drafting reports.