Consultant - Implementation Research - (2302486)

Purpose of consultancy
To provide technical expertise and guidance for the conduct of Operational/Implementation research.    
Background  
The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), is a global programme of scientific collaboration that helps facilitate, support and influence efforts to combat diseases of poverty. 
As part of the Research for Implementation unit (IMP) portfolio, TDR has been working with public health programmes and international partners, to support research efforts in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of the IMP unit is to foster partnerships and collaborations in order to develop, evaluate and optimize intervention and implementation research that generates evidence for the control and/or elimination of diseases of poverty.
Two types of activities are conducted:  
Development of research tools to facilitate the conduct of Operational/Implementation research (OR/IR) projects.
Providing technical assistance to National Tuberculosis Program (NTPs) for the conduct of country-led OR/IR projects.
Deliverables

• Task 1: Development of generic protocols for defining the factors associated with death in TB and TB/HIV patients: 
• Finalisation of the research package in French and English. 
• Technical guidance provided to the NTP of Niger for defining the risk factors of death in TB/HIV patients.
• Task 2: Technical expertise provided to National TB programmes to conduct Operational research for evaluating TB treatment decision algorythm: 
• Finalize the research package in French and English. 
• Liaise with the data management group to develop associated REDCap generic Database.
• Development of generic materials for the set-up of the research projects, their initiation and monitoring.
• Provide implementation guidance to selected institutions/countries, such as Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo, who plan to use the research package and adapt it to their respective contexts.
• Draft research protocols for submission to the WHO ethical committee. 
• Develop a TDR website page for documenting this initiative and for serving as a platform where to find all generic documents that were developed (see the ShORRT initiative TDR page as reference - https://tdr.who.int/activities/short-research-package).
• Draft report for corresponding section in the TDR report.
• Task 3: Technical expertise to finalise the data analysis of the ETAP project (Social protection for TB patients) and RAFAScreen (TB screening in HIV and Diabetic patients): 
• Data analysis: (i) to define key social determinants in TB patients. (ii) to define the most effective algorithms for TB screening in HIV infected patients and diabetic patients in Benin, Guinea and Senegal.
• Draft study reports. 
• Task 4: Contribute to TDR activities with the WARN-TB/CARN-TB and South-East African Regional Network for TB control by:  
• Drafting and delivering training courses for strengthening research capacities of the NTPs. 
• Providing technical guidance to the NTPs for the development and conduct of OR/IR projects.
• Draft report for corresponding section in the TDR report.
   

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in epidemiology, health economics, or any related field.

Desirable:

• PhD in epidemiology, health economics, or any related field.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of experience in the following areas:
• Designing, conducting and analyzing the results of implementation research projects.
• Support to national TB control programmes in LMIC.
• Desirable:
• Experience with TB and HIV patients.
• Experience in the development of generic protocols.
• Experience working in West and Central Africa.
• Experience/familiarity with the WARN-CARN-TB network.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Knowledge of TB disease and TB patient management and care.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent writing skills. 
• Ability to communicate effectively and good inter‐personal skills with a sense of diplomacy.
• Ability to work well in teams, work independently and anticipate, innovate and turn issues into opportunities.
• Attention to details.

Languages required:

Essential:  

• Expert knowledge of English and French.

Location 

• Off-site – Home based.