PAHO Consultant - "Regional HEARTS Monitoring, Evaluation and Digital Systems Architecture"

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

February 26, 2026

Closing Date:

March 14, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

NMH Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health

Schedule:

Part time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Under the supervision of the Senior Regional Advisor for Cardiovascular Disease Management, and in close coordination with the HEARTS Regional Technical Team, relevant PAHO technical units, and implementing countries, the Consultant will provide highly specialized technical support for the development, maintenance, and continuous updating of the digital architecture of the HEARTS regional monitoring and evaluation system, ensuring interoperability, sustainability, and long-term institutionalization of its core digital components. This includes the consolidation and optimization of the DHIS2-based regional system, programmatic evaluation at the country level, quality self-assessment and certification tools, the cardiovascular risk calculator API (Cardiocal), and the HEARTS mobile application as an integrated regional digital ecosystem. The consultant will provide technical accompaniment to countries in the implementation, adoption, dissemination, and structured use of the monitoring and evaluation system, supporting its operational integration and sustained utilization across implementing countries.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Consultant will be responsible for delivering the following products & services with input from the respective project manager: Pedro Ordunez

Scope of Deliverables:

· Strengthen and consolidate the regional HEARTS Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system, ensuring its institutionalized, regular, and sustainable use across implementing countries, and reinforcing evidence-based decision-making.

· Ensure interoperability, integration, and centralization of the HEARTS digital ecosystem through the strengthening of the DHIS2-based technical architecture, including data governance standards and regional scalability.

· Consolidation of the regional hierarchical database architecture including, including systematic georeferencing and the standardization of unique identifiers (UIDs) for primary health care (PHC) facilities to strengthen interoperability with national information systems and ensure traceability of HEARTS implementation across the Region.

· Maintain and update the Cardiovascular Risk Calculator (Cardiocal) in alignment with HEARTS 2.0 standards, ensuring methodological consistency, facilitation of national integration, promotion of regional adoption, and long-term technical sustainability including technical documentation and maintenance including the API.

· Update the official HEARTS Mobile Application (HEARTS App) as a regional digital governance and integration platform.

· Generation of scientific evidence derived from aggregated regional HEARTS data to document implementation progress and support accountability and technical publications.

Description of Deliverables:

1. Deliverable 1. Administration, Maintenance, and Optimization of the Regional HEARTS Monitoring and Evaluation System

Planning and execution of system updates, optimization and technical management actions to ensure operational stability, security, performance, and sustainability of the DHIS2-based regional HEARTS monitoring and evaluation system in response to sustained platform growth and increased regional demand. This includes evaluation and implementation of infrastructure improvements, updated technical documentation, consolidation of the 2026 technical roadmap, and annual system evaluation with definition of sustainability plan.

2. Deliverable 2. Technical Accompaniment to Implementing Countries and Institutionalization of System Use

Provision of specialized technical accompaniment to all HEARTS-implementing countries to strengthen regular and institutional use of the regional DHIS2 system, with prioritization in 2026 of Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador, and continued consolidation support to Cuba and El Salvador. This includes strengthening data quality and consistency, consolidation of the quality self-assessment as a core monitoring axis, support for semiannual evaluation processes, promotion of evidence-based monitoring adoption, and measurement of system adoption indicators.

3. Deliverable 3. Structural Integration and Operational Implementation of the HEARTS Quality Self-Assessment and accreditation Module

Design, structuring, and operational implementation of the Quality Self-Assessment module within the regional information system under the certification and continuous quality improvement framework, including systematic measurement of fidelity, feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of HEARTS implementation in primary health care centers; automated linkage to performance, maturity, and implementation indicators; integration of results into national and regional dashboards; and implementation of the 2026 self-assessment cycle.

4. Deliverable 4. Consolidation of the Unified Regional PHC Facility Database with Standardized UIDs and Georeferencing

Continuous georeferencing and validation of primary health care centers, standardization of unique identifiers (UIDs), and consolidation of a unified regional PHC facility database with interoperable structure aligned with national systems and strategic partners. This includes validation of structural consistency, expanded interoperability, and documentation ensuring regional traceability of implementation and technical follow-up.

5. Deliverable 5. Consolidation and Regional Adoption of the Cardiocal API and Automated Reporting Mechanisms

Consolidation and promotion of the Cardiocal cardiovascular risk calculator API, ensuring methodological consistency with HEARTS guidelines, programmatic integration into national systems, updated technical documentation, and continuous technical support to facilitate progressive regional adoption. This deliverable also includes consolidation of centralized regional data architecture and automation of semiannual performance and implementation reports through structured system mechanisms (APIs and analytical views), ensuring methodological consistency and information traceability.

6. Deliverable 6. Development, Implementation, and HEARTS 2.0 Alignment of the Official HEARTS App

Coordination of the design, development, implementation, and consolidation of the official HEARTS App as a regional digital platform aligned with the HEARTS ecosystem architecture, including definition and validation of functional and technical requirements; supervision of interoperability with regional system components; coordination with development teams; validation of deliverables and quality control; design of a centralized digital repository of tools and materials; integration of communication mechanisms; supervision of usage analytics panels; development of a functional prototype; and official regional launch and implementation. The updated version shall be aligned with HEARTS 2.0 and integrated within the regional ecosystem architecture.

7. Deliverable 7. Generation and Dissemination of Scientific Evidence from Aggregated Regional Data

Generation and systematization of scientific evidence derived from aggregated regional HEARTS data to document implementation progress, strengthen accountability, and contribute to technical and scientific publications. This includes definition of the methodological framework for data analysis, production of preliminary technical outputs, preparation and/or submission of scientific products, and dissemination of results derived from regional system analysis.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education:

A degree in statistics, information systems, computer science, or a related discipline is required. Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, health information systems, data science, monitoring and evaluation, or a related field, with training in health information management, digital health, or data analytics, is desirable. Doctoral-level training or additional specialization in health information systems or interoperability will be considered an asset.

Experience:

At least 13 years of experience in the design, implementation, and administration of health information and monitoring and evaluation systems, including digital platform development, data management, systems integration, and database architecture.

Demonstrated experience supporting countries in the adoption, deployment, and optimization of digital health and M&E platforms (e.g., DHIS2), including data standardization, information quality assurance, interoperability, and capacity building in collaboration with national health authorities' technical teams.

Proven track record leading end-to-end digital and data-driven initiatives, strengthening regional monitoring frameworks, supporting multi-country public health programs, and promoting data use for decision-making and continuous system improvement.

Technical knowledge/skills:

Development and maintenance of web and mobile applications supporting health information and monitoring and evaluation systems.

Administration and management of relational databases (Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL).

Demonstrated experience in DHIS2 configuration, implementation, data analysis, and data quality assurance processes.

Use of analytical and data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI, R) to support monitoring, reporting, and decision-making.

Proficiency in programming languages and technologies including Java, PHP, JavaScript, API development, and application servers (e.g., Tomcat, GlassFish).

Expertise in system integration, interoperability standards, data architecture, and data modeling.

Experience coordinating digital health projects and providing technical cooperation with Ministries of Health and multi-country stakeholders.

Language and level required:

English: Advanced

Spanish: Advanced

Portuguese: Desirable

French: Desirable

Band Range: Band C US$ 369 – US$449 per day Part-time

Expected Duration: 8 Months

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
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• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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