Technical Assistant

Workplace Circumstances

• Environment: Office
• Languages: English, Khmer
• Location: Phnom Penh

Position Summary

Objective and Justification

The primary objective of hiring a Technical Assistant (TA) is to support integrating and ensuring interoperability between the Malaria Information System (MIS), commune databases, and the National Institute of Statistics.

The specific objectives are to:

• Assess relevant ministry platforms and databases that can support MIS planning and decision-making.
• Support integration of the MIS with commune and population databases from the Ministry of Planning and other relevant ministry platforms, as appropriate.
• Establish mechanisms for secure and standardized data exchange and interoperability.
• Support the use of integrated migrant, village distance to the nearest health center, forest goer, population, and other relevant data within the MIS.

Scope of Work

The selected TA will work closely with the Head of the MIS Unit and relevant CNM teams, as well as designated technical counterparts from relevant ministries and institutions. The TA will assess existing systems and data structures, identify integration requirements, design and implement appropriate interoperability mechanisms, and support testing and implementation of the integration.

Reporting

The contractor shall be expected to submit activity and technical reports in line with the set deliverables. The reports and deliverables shall be submitted for review and acceptance by the National Malaria Program before any payment is made.

Schedule of Payments

Payment shall be made based on the agreed milestones and approved deliverables as communicated in the contract.

Period

The work is to be concluded within 105 working days from the date of signing the contract. The contractor shall share their proposed implementation schedule in line with the set deliverables.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assessment and Planning
• Review the existing MIS architecture, database structure, relevant modules, and current data exchange mechanisms.
• Identify relevant ministry platforms and databases for potential integration, with particular attention to commune and population databases from the Ministry of Planning.
• Assess data availability, data structures, standards, update mechanisms, access requirements, and technical readiness for integration.
• Identify gaps, challenges, risks, and requirements related to interoperability, data quality, security, and governance.
• Develop a proposed integration methodology, architecture, and implementation plan.
• Integration Design and Interoperability Framework
• Design an appropriate technical approach for interoperability between the MIS and relevant ministry platforms and databases.
• Define data elements, data mapping, identifiers, formats, and standards required for data exchange.
• Develop procedures for matching, harmonizing, and maintaining consistency between relevant datasets.
• Recommend appropriate approaches for managing data ownership, access, privacy, security, and data-sharing arrangements in coordination with relevant institutions.
• System and Database Integration
• Develop and configure the required integration mechanisms between the MIS and relevant external platforms or databases.
• Support integration with commune and population databases from the Ministry of Planning, subject to data availability, authorization, and technical feasibility.
• Develop or configure APIs, data exchange services, automated data synchronization mechanisms, or other appropriate integration methods.
• Ensure that integrated data can be appropriately stored, accessed, and used within the MIS.
• Data Harmonization and Quality Assurance
• Support the harmonization of commune, population, and other relevant data for use within the MIS.
• Establish validation and quality assurance mechanisms for integrated data.
• Identify and address inconsistencies, duplication, missing values, and other relevant data quality issues.
• Support procedures for updating and maintaining integrated datasets.
• Testing and Implementation
• Conduct technical testing of the integration and data exchange mechanisms.
• Verify the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and reliability of integrated data.
• Work with relevant CNM and ministry stakeholders to gather feedback and address identified issues.
• Refine the integration mechanisms based on testing results and stakeholder feedback.
• Provide recommendations for sustainable implementation and future expansion of interoperability with additional platforms.
• Documentation and Capacity Building
• Develop relevant user and technical guidance for CNM staff.
• Provide recommendations for ongoing maintenance, governance, and future system integration.
• Expected Outputs
• Assessment report and implementation plan for MIS interoperability and integration with relevant ministry platforms.
• Integration design and interoperability framework, including relevant data mapping and data exchange requirements.
• Technical integration mechanisms established between the MIS and approved relevant external platforms or databases.
• Integration or data exchange mechanism for commune and population data from the Ministry of Planning, subject to authorized access and technical feasibility.
• APIs, data exchange services, synchronization mechanisms, or other appropriate technical components developed or configured.
• Harmonized and validated datasets available for appropriate use within the MIS.
• Tested and refined integration mechanisms.
• Recommendations for ongoing maintenance and future expansion of interoperability.

Languages

• Khmer - Good
• English - Good

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Health Informatics, Data Management, or another related field

Work History

• Information system development, database management, or system integration for 7 years as a minimum

General & Technical Skills

• Demonstrated experience in developing and integrating databases, web-based information systems, APIs, or other interoperability solutions.
• Strong knowledge of database technologies, data exchange, APIs, and information system interoperability.
• Experience in data mapping, data harmonization, validation, and data quality assurance.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, including secure data exchange, access control, and protection of sensitive information.
• Experience with health information systems or government information systems is an advantage.
• Ability to work and coordinate effectively with multiple government institutions and technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the health system in Cambodia is desired.
• Experience in malaria or public health is desired.