HIV Surveillance and Data for Impact Advisor (international)

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Qualifications

1.       Purpose of the Consultancy

This consultancy will support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), through the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) & HIV Unit, the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce (N-HOCRT), and the Data for Impact Committee, to strengthen Fiji’s national systems for HIV, STI, and blood-borne virus (BBV) surveillance and data use.

The consultant will provide technical leadership in epidemiology, surveillance, data integration, and modelling to establish a person-centred, case-based surveillance framework that aligns with WHO and UNAIDS strategic information standards. The role will enhance the quality, completeness, and interoperability of HIV, STI and BBV data systems, including case reporting, cascade monitoring, and epidemiological modelling, to enable evidence-driven decision-making at national and divisional levels.

A key component of this consultancy will be the twinning and mentorship of the National Data for Impact Officer (SRH, HIV, STI & BBV) and the divisional surveillance officers, building local capacity for data management, analysis, and interpretation. Through this partnership, the consultant will institutionalise data-use practices that inform prevention, testing, and treatment scale-up and strengthen Fiji’s ability to track progress towards epidemic control.

The consultant will work in close collaboration with the N-HOCRT, SRH and HIV Unit and its programme leads, and development partners to ensure that surveillance and data systems are harmonised, sustainable, and responsive to Fiji’s evolving HIV epidemic.

2.       Background

Fiji’s HIV epidemic continues to evolve, with a rising number of new infections, late diagnoses, and emerging risk behaviours such as injecting drug use. These trends highlight the need for a stronger, more coordinated surveillance and data system to understand transmission dynamics and guide an evidence-based response.

Many people are still being diagnosed late, and gaps persist along the HIV cascade of care, from testing and linkage, through treatment initiation, to viral suppression. Fragmentation between HIV, STI, TB, and sexual and reproductive health programmes has limited the ability to track individuals across services, while stigma and underreporting continue to obscure the true scope of the epidemic.

Recognising these challenges, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has prioritised a data-driven HIV outbreak response, led through the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce (N-HOCRT) and its Data for Impact Committee. This approach focuses on strengthening strategic information systems to generate timely, person-centred, and actionable data that inform prevention, testing, treatment, and resource allocation.

To support this effort, Fiji is moving toward an integrated SRH, HIV, STI and BBV surveillance framework, combining case-based reporting, cohort monitoring, and epidemiological modelling, to better understand epidemic trends, identify service gaps, and measure programme impact. Strengthened data linkages between laboratories, facilities, and community services are essential for improving completeness and quality.

This consultancy will provide technical leadership to advance the Data for Impact agenda, enabling Fiji to transition from fragmented data systems toward a unified, person-centred platform that drives real-time, evidence-based decision-making across national and divisional levels.

3.       Planned timelines

Start date: 1 February 2026

End date: 31 December 2026

4.      Deliverables

Output 1: Strengthen Fiji’s national HIV surveillance and data architecture.

·         Deliverable 1.1 Conduct a rapid assessment of existing HIV, STI, and BBV data systems—including PATIS, Tamanu, LIS, and mSupply—to map current data flows, gaps, and duplication.

·         Deliverable 1.2 Design an integrated, person-centred surveillance framework aligning with WHO and UNAIDS standards, including case-based and cohort reporting.

·         Deliverable 1.3 Develop or refine standard operating procedures (SOPs), indicator definitions, and data-management protocols for consistent use across national and divisional levels.

·         Deliverable 1.4 Support the development of data-sharing and governance mechanisms to ensure interoperability and data security across MHMS, laboratories, and partners.

Output 2: Strengthen case-based reporting, cascade monitoring, and modelling.

·         Deliverable 2.1 Establish or refine case-based reporting tools to capture data from diagnosis through treatment and viral suppression.

·         Deliverable 2.2 Develop national HIV cascade models with disaggregation by division, sex, age, and key population.

·         Deliverable 2.3 Support development of modelling to estimate resources required to end Fiji’s HIV outbreak and simulate intervention coverage scenarios under different budget envelopes.

·         Deliverable 2.4 Align modelling outputs with indicators defined under the HIV Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

Output 3: Build national and divisional capacity for data analysis and use.

·         Deliverable 3.1 Twin with and mentor the National Data for Impact Officer (SRH, HIV, STI & BBV) to strengthen skills in data analytics, interpretation, and dissemination.

·         Deliverable 3.2 Provide structured mentoring and on-the-job training for Divisional Surveillance Officers, focusing on data quality, validation, and visualisation techniques.

·         Deliverable 3.3 Develop training materials, job aids, and supervision tools to support continuous quality improvement in surveillance and reporting.

·         Deliverable 3.4 Facilitate quarterly data review and learning sessions with divisional and national teams to promote data-to-action culture.

Output 4: Improve data quality, timeliness, and use for decision-making.

·         Deliverable 4.1 Implement national data quality assurance (DQA) mechanisms, including routine audits and data verification at sentinel sites.

·         Deliverable 4.2 Produce analytical outputs and dashboards that visualise epidemic trends, service coverage, and cascade progress.

·         Deliverable 4.3 Prepare quarterly and annual HIV surveillance reports for MHMS, N-HOCRT, and development partners.

·         Deliverable 4.4 Support translation of surveillance findings into programme and policy decisions through evidence briefs and technical presentations.

Output 5: Ensure Sustainability and Institutionalisation of Data for Impact Systems

·         Deliverable 5.1 Develop a sustainability roadmap for maintaining HIV surveillance and modelling systems beyond the consultancy period.

·         Deliverable 5.2 Support alignment of MHMS data systems with regional Pacific Health Information Network standards and WHO person-centred data guidance.

·         Deliverable 5.3 Document best practices, lessons learned, and capacity gains to inform future technical cooperation and funding proposals.

5.       Qualifications, expertise, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

·      Essential:  Bachelor's degree in medicine, nursing, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, general science or a related field.

·      Desirable: Post graduate qualification in epidemiology, public health, health information systems, or biostatistics or one that is related to the above fields. 

Experience

·      Essential: A senior public health professional with 7 years' experience in epidemiology, data analysis and modelling.

·      Desirable: Experience of working with the UN system and experience of working in the Western Pacific Region is an advantage.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

·      Essential

o   Strong expertise in HIV epidemiology, surveillance, and cascade of care frameworks.

o   Experience in modelling HIV epidemics, resource allocation, and scenario analysis.

o   Knowledge of WHO/UNAIDS monitoring and evaluation standards and data management.

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