Designing an open-source and open-standards CRVS software solution for Niue

BACKGROUND

A functioning Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system is foundational to Sustainable Development. The development of CRVS systems is a regional priority for the Pacific, recognized under objective 1 of the Ten-Year Pacific Statistics Strategy (TYPSS), and under the regional health strategy i.e., the Pacific Healthy Islands Monitoring framework, endorsed by Pacific Ministers of Health in 2015. The commitments under these frameworks are further echoed by the ‘Regional Action Framework’ (RAF) on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific adopted by the region's governments in 2014. The RAF outlines the shared vision that, by 2024, all people in Asia and the Pacific will benefit from universal and responsive CRVS systems that facilitate the realization of their rights and support good governance, health, and development.

Built by Plan International and partners, OpenCRVS is a software solution for CRVS that is freely available and specifically designed for low resource settings to increase registration coverage and support inclusive service delivery. OpenCRVS has been registered as one of only seven digital public goods, the only open-source and open-standards CRVS solution that meets the nine indicator requirements set by the United Nations' Security General Roadmap to Digital Cooperation’. OpenCRVS was recognised by the Pacific Civil Registrar's Network (PCRN) as the only suitable CRVS software solution that does not have lock-in licensing fees.  

Since launching OpenCRVS, several countries in the Pacific have come forward and requested the product for their country context. WHO and partners want to first support monitoring and investing proof of the concept because it is relatively inexpensive to learn about the software potential and identify the narrower pool of promising approaches to continue monitoring and investing resources in strengthening the civil registration system. Due to the strategic goal of promoting regional solutions to CRVS, Niue has been selected as the first Pacific implementation of OpenCRVS to enable a software solution that could be utilized across the Pacific. 

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

Working closely with the Government of Niue, and BAG partners (such as WHO, the New Zealand Civil Registrar’s office, the Pacific Civil Registrars Network (PCRN), and the Pacific Community) the contractor will support the designing of OpenCRVS Proof of Concept for Niue; ensuring it meets Niue’s unique CRVS needs and requirements and is in line with international standards and digital Principles for Development.  

The contractor will be responsible for gathering research and insights in Niue to better understand;

• • Current birth and death registration services
• • The capacity of current and future staff involved in the civil registration process
• • Identify digitisation opportunities based on unique country needs, including a data exchange interface with the New Zealand Civil Registry
• • Streamlining CRVS registration with health systems and services.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

In collaboration with WHO and the Government of Niue, and BAG partners (the New Zealand Civil Registrar, PCRN, and SPC) the contractor will need to conduct the following activities:

• • Desk research into the current state of CRVS in Niue and NZ realm countries
• • Develop design research tools that can inform the configuration of OpenCRVS for the Niue context
• • Conduct local design research to understand user needs
• • Document existing as-is processes, including current bottlenecks and barriers
• • Conduct stakeholder consultations to gather business and technical requirements
• • Lead stakeholder design and review workshops to inform the design of a future digital state of CRVS in Niue that will use OpenCRVS
• • Based on research and analysis findings, recommend the design of a future digital state of CRVS in Niue that will use OpenCRVS
• • Develop the OpenCRVS birth notification and workflow for Niue, including CRVS and the health sector
• • Develop POC M&E plan for implementation and document in detail implementation experience and lessons learned for regional and cross-country learning and potential scaling-up 
• • Produce a short article on the POC project for publishing on the Pacific Health Information Network webpage and support a regional webinar on health identification and CRVS strengthening.

Planned timelines:

• Start date: April - May 2021
• End date: Up to 4 months

Technical Supervision:

• Responsible Officer: Katri Kontio
• Manager: Dr Akeem Ali

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

The methods to carry out the work should include:

• • Human-centred design research with end-users (service providers and customers of civil registration services)
• • Interviews with key stakeholders including Registrar General, Health Representatives, and other relevant resources
• • Workshop with key stakeholders to review and validate findings and develop recommendations for future state of digital CRVS in Niue using OpenCRVS
• • Develop low-tech prototyping of a digital CRVS system for Niue and POC design

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  

• • At least 10 years of working experience, including international work experience, in CRVS and CRVS digitisation and data integration with health sector
• • Experience supporting Governments to strengthen the supply of, and demand for, civil registration services in low resources settings and/or Pacific islands.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:  

• • Extensive knowledge and experience in CRVS system strengthening
• • Experience designing digital CRVS systems for low resource settings
• • Strong knowledge of how to effectively use open source systems and open standards
• • Experience to conduct human-centered design research
• • Strong track record of facilitating design workshops remotely for low and middle-income countries

Desirable:

• • Experience in using the CRVS Digitisation Guidebook (http://crvs-dgb.org/) 
• • Previous experience in low-resources settings and conduction online/virtual trainings

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE:

• • Excellent communication skills;
• • Excellent analytical, planning and organizational skills;
• • Ability to work in a team with limited supervision; and
• • Ability to work under pressure.

LANGUAGES

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential;

COMPETENCIES

• • Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond;
• • Moving forward in a changing environment;
• • Ensuring the effective use of resources;
• • Fostering Integration and team work; and
• • Communication in a credible and effective way.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Place of Assignment

Remote, home station and with potential travel (if possible)

Travel (travel dates to be determined)

No travel required

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 17 April 2021

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee, total contract cost and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 125018 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.