Consultant – Developing a National Health Data Dictionary and Minimum Data Set (MDS)

Consultant – Developing a National Health Data Dictionary and Minimum Data Set (MDS) – (2503256)

Contractual Arrangement: External consultant

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 60 days

Job Posting

: Sep 1, 2025, 7:52:06 AM

Closing Date

: Sep 15, 2025, 9:59:00 PM

Primary Location

: Israel-Jerusalem

Organization

: EM_PSE WHO Representative’s Office, Palestine

Schedule

: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.

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1. Purpose of consultancy

The World Health Organization (WHO) seeks to engage a consultant to support the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) in developing a National Health Data Dictionary and Minimum Data Set (MDS). This initiative is crucial for strengthening the national health information system and ensuring data standardization across sectors and enhancing the quality of health data for effective public health planning.

2. Background

Reliable, standardized health data is crucial for effective planning, monitoring, and strengthening health systems to ensure equitable access to quality health services. Health indicators provide an evidence base for understanding health trends, evaluating efforts, supporting informed decision-making, and guiding strategic planning. They are essential tools for evaluating national commitments to health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), monitoring health programs, and shaping policies to improve public health.

Currently, data collection systems in Palestine are fragmented. The last health indicators dictionary in the West Bank was developed in 2005, while the most recent version in Gaza was completed in December 2022. This reflects the broader challenge of inconsistent indicator definitions and parallel health information systems structures in the West Bank and Gaza.

This consultancy aims to address these gaps by developing a unified National Health Data Dictionary and Minimum Data Set that aligns with both national and international standards. This will involve:

1- Conducting a comprehensive review and compilation of health indicators utilized in the West Bank, identifying their respective data collection sources (including software systems, DHIS2, reporting tools, electronic registries, paper-based methods, and spreadsheets) and the responsible entities for collection.

2- Aligning these with Gaza’s existing indicators dictionary to identify overlaps, inconsistencies, and data gaps.

3- Mapping indicators to their specific collection methods (e.g., patient-level data, aggregate service reports).

4- Assessing indicator quality based on completeness, consistency, and relevance.

5- Recommending improvements and action plans for both indicator quality and data governance.

Additionally, where feasible, the work will contribute to the formation of a joint technical working group between the West Bank and Gaza to support harmonization and long-term sustainability.

• This initiative is aligned with WHO’s commitment to data-driven decision-making and aims to advance the development of an integrated, evidence-based national health information system. Developing a national dictionary and MDS is an essential first step toward integrating efforts and building a unified health information framework. The development process will be guided by global references such as the WHO Global Reference List of 100 Core Health Indicators, the RHIS Rapid Assessment Tool, and other relevant frameworks for monitoring Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals, to ensure alignment with international standards and inform future RHIS strengthening and strategic planning.

Through this consultancy, the selected consultant will collaborate with WHO oPt CO, and the Palestinian MoH to deliver the identified deliverables in section 4 below. This work will also empower PHIC and other responsible units within the MoH to make better use of existing data resources, enabling the generation of actionable insights that support health sector planning, and decision making to strengthen population health outcomes.

3. Deliverables

In collaboration with WHO oPt WCO and Palestinian MoH technical staff, the consultant will complete the following following key outputs and deliverables:

Output 1: Draft National Health Data Dictionary and MDS.

Deliverable 1.1: Develop a stakeholder mapping document that identifies key stakeholders in the health sector, including government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations, along with an engagement plan outlining how and when to involve these stakeholders throughout the consultancy process.

Deliverable 1.2: Conduct initial discussions with WHO EMRO, WCO, and MoH technical staff to clarify the scope of work and gather preliminary insights.

Deliverable 1.3: Prepare a brief inception report outlining the consultant’s understanding of the task, the methodology, and a proposed timeline.

Deliverable 1.4: Review and compile all existing West Bank health indicators, identifying their current definitions, disaggregations, and the entities responsible for their collection.

Deliverable 1.5: Document existing data collection tools and programs for these indicators (e.g., DHIS2, other software systems, electronic registries, paper-based methods, spreadsheets) and their associated reporting frequencies.

Deliverable 1.6: Compare West Bank indicators with Gaza’s existing dictionary to identify overlaps, inconsistencies, and data gaps.

Deliverable 1.7: Propose a preliminary national list of standardized indicators with essential metadata fields (name, definition, disaggregation, data source, data type, frequency, responsible department, etc.).

Output 2: Conduct Comprehensive Data Quality and Availability Analysis.

Deliverable 2.1: Map each proposed indicator in the standard list (from Output 1) to its data source and collection method (case-level records, aggregate reports), verifying the feasibility of collection.

Deliverable 2.2: Identify missing indicators and propose collection plans.

Deliverable 2.3: Assess the quality of currently available indicator data based on completeness, consistency, integrity, and relevance for decision-making.

Deliverable 2.4: Propose quality improvement actions and recommendations for better indicator documentation and reporting.

Output 3: Finalize and Validate National Data Dictionary and MDS.

Deliverable 3.1: Share the developed drafts of the National Data Dictionary and MDS in a user friendly format incorporating findings and recommendations from Outputs 1 and 2.

Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate stakeholder consultations and validation sessions (virtual or in-person) with representatives from both the West Bank and Gaza to gather feedback on the dictionary.

Deliverable 3.3: Support the formation of a joint technical working group (the West Bank and Gaza) that will be responsible for the long-term governance and maintenance of the data dictionary.

Deliverable 3.4: Submit a final version of the National Data Dictionary and MDS, incorporating feedback from validation, along with a clear plan for its ongoing management and governance.

Output 4: Development of a Communication Strategy.

Deliverable 4.1: Create a communication strategy to disseminate the National Health Data Dictionary and MDS to stakeholders and the public, developing materials (e.g., brochures, presentations) to support the rollout.

Output 5: Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Deliverable 5.1: Create SOPs for data collection, management, and reporting to ensure consistency and quality in health data handling, providing a manual or guide for use by health facilities and personnel.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Qualifications Required:

• An advanced university degree (master’s level) in public health, epidemiology, health informatics, data science, information systems, or a related field from an accredited/recognized institute.
• Alternatively, PhD in topic relevant to the consultancy, preferably, in public health or relevant field.

Experience Required:

• Essential: 7-10 years of relevant and documented experience in health information systems, health indicators development, or monitoring and evaluation.
• Desirable: Previous experience with WHO, and/or UN agencies.
• Good understanding of, and familiarity with, the health systems context in Palestine or neighboring countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is highly desirable.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Strong analytical and documentation skills.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Public health research and publications
• Familiarity with health indicator metadata, and HIS governance.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English (Read – Write – Speak).

5. Location

Off site: Home based.

The consultancy will be carried out remotely for the majority of the assignment. However, in-person participation may be required for specific activities such as stakeholder workshops or meetings with the MoH in the West Bank, as needed and agreed upon in advance.

6. Travel

The consultant will perform the work at the location of his or her choosing.

Travel is anticipated to occupied Palestinian territory, as needed and agreed upon in advance. If travel is involved, the selected candidate will have to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

7. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a. Remuneration: Payband level – Remuneration currency – Payband range

Band level B: USD 350 – 499 daily rate or USD 7,000 – 9,980 monthly rate

b. Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): currency and rate = N/A

c. Expected duration of contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year): 60 working days over a total duration of 5 months

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html

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