Government Liaison Consultant – Bangladesh

1. Background Information

With one in four children born without being registered, lack of accurate ID is a key contributing factor to a prevailing immunisation gap. Biometric identification can help solve this global problem. Advancements in biometrics have shown promising results for accurate identification of babies as young as 6 months old.

However, these solutions have not yet been harnessed for last-mile vaccination delivery. In particular, 1) accuracy rates for under-5 year olds have not been proven with significant sample sizes of target populations across Africa or South Asia, 2) existing technology (e.g. algorithms) is proprietary and cannot plug into open systems used by governments and large NGOs, and 3) integrations into leading mobile digital platforms such as OpenSRP are nonexistent.

Simprints is a technology nonprofit that offers health ministries and NGO partners biometric identification solutions to make sure that medical interventions make it to the people who need them most. To date they have deployed in 12 countries across Asia and Africa and reached over 661,000 patients in need of essential services.

In 2018, Simprints and Gavi formed a strategic partnership to improve immunisation coverage using biometrics. They have been developing biometrics , with the support of NEC, for children as young as 1 year old (potentially younger) to support immunisation campaigns in Bangladesh and worldwide, with the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina specifically mentioning this partnership as an example of Bangladesh’s pioneering leadership in innovation. They have now approached UNICEF and the EPI team with an opportunity for Bangladesh to be the world’s first country to trial the accuracy and feasibility of the enhanced child biometrics solution for more effective vaccine delivery and coverage.

Bangladesh is widely-regarded as a leader of innovation in immunisations. The EPI team has been leading the delivery of the much-needed immunisation programme, digitising health services, and protecting the future of Bangladesh by making children safe. EPI has proven that in spite of COVID-related setbacks, vaccination coverage has surpassed pre-COVID immunisation levels.

Relying on this leadership, Gavi proposes to integrate Simprints’ solution into eTracker to validate how biometrics can help EPI track every vaccine dose to every child, thereby ensuring full immunisation.

Key objectives of the project are

• Develop the technology for under-5 biometric identification. Simprints will integrate the technology of NEC (or a similar technology partner) into their mobile fingerprint scanners designed for frontline health workers without access to electricity or internet ~ completed.
• Validate performance of enhanced scanners. Simprints will validate technical performance (accuracy, usability, speed) in two geographically-representative field sites in Tanzania and Bangladesh. The significant sample size (20,000 children), multiple rounds of identification over time, and variance in geographical contexts (ethnic differences in fingerprint profiles) gives the unique opportunity to conduct a comparative performance evaluation and yield a globally applicable and scalable product ~ completed.
• Implement final product in immunisation project with the Bangladesh Ministry of Health (DGHS). Once validation is complete, Simprints will deploy the final biometric identification solution in an immunisation project ~ 2022/2023.

1. Key Responsibilities

• Continue and build a strong relationship with key stakeholders vital for this project, particularly across institutions such as EPI, DGHS, Unicef and GAVI.
• Secure technical cooperation and required support from UNICEF for eTracker and biometrics operations for the project
• Secure the approval of decision makers to deploy biometric solution in up to 50 vaccination clinics
• Coordinate with relevant local authorities to deploy biometric solution in vaccination clinics
• Secure the relevant permissions for and undertake the necessary preparations (logistical and other) to conduct master training of trainers and step-down training
• Support the Country Team in the completion of their deliverables for the success of the project
• Provide support in the development of new opportunities

1. Key Deliverables

Payments will be structured on a deliverables basis

• All approvals required from DGHS / EPI to launch the project
• Master training of trainers (MToT) organised and delivered (by the PM)
• Step-down trainings organised and delivered within 6 weeks of Master ToT

1. Required Qualifications and Expertise

• Significant and relevant experience in delivering projects Government of Bangladesh, preferably with DGHS
• Proven experience in building and developing strategic partnerships
• Experience with technology
• Experience with international development and/or sustainable development goals
• Exceptional communication skills
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills