Consultant for Developing or Customizing; and Implementing an e-learning Platform for the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya

Local Consultant for Developing or Customizing; and Implementing an e-learning Platform for the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya

Scope of Work

About USP and the PQM+ Program

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide. USP’s drug standards are enforceable in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration, and these standards are used in more than 140 countries. USP’s focus on global public health extends to lower and middle-income countries with work in over 20 countries through donor-funded programs. Our programs are focused on building the capacity of regulatory authorities and manufacturers in ensuring patient access to quality-assured essential medicines by providing: 1) technical assistance to manufacturers to increase the supply of quality-assured priority medicines for malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) products; and 2) capacity-building activities to regulatory authorities to fulfill their function in ensuring the supply of quality-assured medical products.

USP was awarded the Promoting the Quality of Medicines Plus (PQM+) program, a USAID-funded global program designed to sustainably strengthen medical product quality assurance systems in low-and-middle income countries, including Kenya. PQM+ is currently seeking a local consultant (individual or firm) to assist with developing or customizing; and implementing an e-learning platform for the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), Kenya. This consultancy has a total maximum period of performance of approximately 180 days, ending March 31, 2021.

Brief Description of Purpose and Nature of the Assignment

The PQM+ program in Kenya is contributing to the development of the PPB organizational capacity development platform for self-directed learning. Through previous support, PPB staff underwent several trainings to hone their technical skills in in medicines evaluation and good manufacturing practices, both at USP Ghana and in Kenya. Some PPB staff have also been trained by other partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and other USAID programs on various pharmaceutical regulatory functions. However, PPB lacks an electronic system/platform that contains all the training materials that new and existing staff can access for self-directed learning to build their capacity. In addition, there is no system to monitor whether new staff have undergone on-boarding training, even on basic organizational topics (e.g., human resource policy, benefits policy, code of ethics) or PPB staff have undertaken training on PPB’s quality management system (QMS) documents (e.g., standard operating procedures, quality policy, quality manual).

Currently, PPB is creating its own regulatory information system (the Integrated Regulatory Information Management System). However, it is not clear whether this system, which is under development, is able to serve as a platform to facilitate e-learning. PQM+ is thus working with PPB to assess the feasibility of incorporating self-directed e-learning on pharmaceutical quality-assurance related topics, in the PPB platform. Alternatively, cost-effective open-source options for a learning management system (LMS) such as Moodle, will be explored for customization for the PPB. PQM+ will also work with PPB to ensure that the system can be configured to maintain a record of staff trainings so that management can identify needs for further training or refresher training, moving forward.

To achieve this, PQM+ is seeking the services of a local consultant for developing or customizing; and implementing an e-learning Platform for the PPB. This will entail the consultant to rapidly gather user requirements and preferences for the e-learning platform; develop a dummy or prototype of the platform; deploy and implement the platform, once approved; assist with uploading learning content; develop system documentation and user manual; and train end-users and system administrators. The consultant will also work with PPB and PQM+ team to ensure that learning content is developed, configured, modified and adapted into formats that are compatible with the e-learning platform.

Key Responsibilities/Tasks

The consultant will:

· Develop a detailed activity implementation schedule (Gantt chart), with milestones and deliverables

· Work with the PQM+ and the PPB team to understand and appraise existing PPB IT infrastructure and technical requirements for a cost-effective and sustainable e-learning platform

· Gather and compile user requirements for PPB e-learning platform

· Translate user requirements into technical requirements for PPB e-learning platform

· Design the architecture and main features of the e-learning platform for PPB

· Create a functional prototype of the online learning platform for PPB by adapting and customizing similar systems developed by the consultant/s

· Test developed prototype of e-learning platform for rigor, stability, functionality and security, including subjecting it to stress

· Deploy the final PPB-approved version of e-learning platform

· Assist in the design, adaptation and review ofinstructional material based on recognized global competency framework for pharmaceutical regulation.

· Assist with content development and deployment for learning into the platform

· Compile system documentation

· Compile a user manual

· Train end-users and system administrators in the use and maintenance of the platform

Assignment Deliverables

· Detailed activity implementation schedule (Gantt chart), with milestones and deliverables

· An e-learning platform user requirements report for PPB

· An outline describing the architecture and main features of the e-learning platform

· System documentation

· A functional prototype of the online learning platform

· User manual

· End users and system administrators trained

Project Management Responsibilities

a. Participate in the initial kick-off meeting and other work implementation meetings with the PQM+ and PPB teams, to discuss the activity, agree on activity implementation plan to guide the activity through completion

b. Provide continuous updates to the PQM+ team on progress of assignment

c. Provide technical support to the content development expert/s

d. Compile and submit notes and action points of key meetings

Time frame for the work: The work will be conducted within a timeframe of approximately six (6) months between October 10, 2020 and March 31, 2021 (detailed timeline to be established with the consultant, in consultation with the PPB).

Basic Qualifications and Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Information Management or related field. An advanced qualification in a closely related field will be an advantage

· Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in Computer programing (software development), preferably in Kenya

· Experience in eLearning instructional design.

· Experience managing Learning Management Systems

· Experience working with learning development technologies

· Experience in developing, creating and contributing to the development of e-learning platform and online courses

Other Competencies

· Demonstrates high professional integrity and zeal to work;

· Familiarity with the local pharmaceutical or health sector in Kenya;

· Results driven with demonstrated successful outcomes;

· Ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment;

· Excellent written and verbal communications skills;

· Ability to work flexible hours when needed.

· Ability to complete assigned work/projects on time

Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated according how responsive they are in addressing the technical work (70%) and how cost-effective they are (30%).

Local qualified firms are encouraged to apply. Please download the comprehensive SOW here:

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:29815a8d-9e12-4c64-80e5-08eb6fffaa2…