Health Data Use and Training Technical Specialist

**Health Data Use and Training Technical Specialist - South Africa**

**Project Overview and Role**:
Palladium is implementing the USAID-funded Translating Data for Implementation (Data.FI) award. Data.FI is a $180 million, 5-year project which serves as USAID’s primary mechanism for data, technology, and health information systems to support HIV activities across strategic PEPFAR countries. Data.FI is part of a suite of large-scale global HIV programs that USAID has awarded and represents the next generation of HIV/AIDS programs. Data.FI plays a key role in USAID’s goals of helping partner countries on their Journey to Self-Reliance and transitioning local organizations to prime recipients of USG funding.

The overall goal of the Data.FI project is to improve global, regional, and national in-depth analyses of HIV epidemiologic and program data that can be directly applied to expedite the achievement of PEPFAR targets to attain and sustain control of the HIV epidemic. The focus also includes directly supporting host country governments and implementing partners to further enhance existing health information system platforms to inform management responses to well-defined gaps in HIV/AIDS programming. In order to ensure rapid access to high quality data, Data.FI works towards: accelerating data utilization to rapidly course correct and take to scale cost-effective and impactful activities, models and approaches required to attain and maintain HIV epidemic control; scaling and optimizing in-country health information system capabilities to collect, exchange, adapt, govern, and visualize information in order to track the attainment and maintenance of HIV epidemic control; and supporting the transition of prime funding and implementation to capable local partners in order to meet the PEPFAR goal of 70% of funding to local partners by 2020.

***Position Summary**:
In this pivotal role, you will be at the forefront of providing technical assistance to the South African Department of Health, focusing on fostering a culture of data use through data analytics and quality improvement initiatives. You will support with activities that foster and institutionalize strategies for data use for the TB and HIV program as well as other programs as determined by the NDOH DHU. Your efforts will be instrumental in empowering the Department of Health to make informed decisions at central, regional, and district levels, ultimately driving effective policy-making, strategic planning, and day-to-day decision-making within the context of TB and HIV programs. Your expertise will be paramount in steering our commitment to improving health outcomes through strategic data-driven decisions and sustainable program enhancement.

If you are a dynamic and seasoned individual driven by the passion to harness data analytics for meaningful impact within the realm of public health, we invite you to join our team at Data.FI. Your role will be pivotal in enhancing the efficacy of TB and HIV programs through evidence-based decision-making and sustainable strategic planning.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Collaborate closely with the National Department of Digital Health Unit to champion the promotion and seamless integration of TB and HIV analytics. This collaboration will be pivotal for driving policy development, strategic planning, and day-to-day decision-making within the Department of Health.
- Harness your profound technical health expertise, especially in the areas of HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) provision, policies, and strategic information. Through this proficiency, you will be a catalyst in driving programmatic enhancement and elevating the standards of data management.
- Working closely with technical visualization and data analysts, translate the complexities of activities within the South African HIV and TB programs into actionable insights. These insights will serve as guidance for program implementation and program decision making.
- Provide invaluable technical guidance to ensure that all activities within the HIV and TB programs align harmoniously with those of the Department of Health’s’ data management and use policies.
- Offer specialized training in extracting insights from datasets with an emphasis on those focused on HIV or TB. These trainings will empower health staff to use data to improve program outcomes and guide making initiatives.
- Actively contribute to the development of comprehensive training curricula tailored for the analysis and interpretation of TB/HIV health data at a National, Provincial and District level. These curricula will be built around the South African Department of Health TB/HIV information system, serving as tools to uncover trends, gaps, and program optimization opportunities.
- Lead interactive and comprehensive training sessions that pivot around the analysis and interpretation of TB/HIV health data. These sessions will empower participants to unearth trends, identify gaps, and conceive tra