ICAP at Columbia University, a global health leader situated within the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. ICAP has worked in Lesotho since 2005, collaborating with the country leadership through the Ministry of Health (MOH), District Health Management Teams (DHMT), health facilities, educational institutions, and local non-governmental organizations to strengthen health systems. Currently, ICAP at Columbia University in Lesotho is supporting the MOH in Strengthening Strategic Information for Health providing technical assistance and resources to national health system; Tracking new HIV infections with Recency Assays to Control the Epidemic (TRACE), Expanding Access to Quality Laboratory Service (EQUALS), population size estimation for adolescent girls and young women, NIH Study on Promoting HIV Testing and Linkage to Care in Cross-Border Migrants, and supporting the MOH COVID-19 response including Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), laboratory assistance, and data management. ICAP recently concluded the Lesotho HIV Impact Assessment Survey (LePHIA2020).
ICAP is inviting proposals for Developing an Application for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and HIV Prevention for Adolescent and Young People (AYP).
Terms of Reference for Developing an Application for Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV for Adolescent and Young People (AYP)
- Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYP) encounter many obstacles concerning HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH). These difficulties include stigma, prejudice, and restricted access to services geared toward young people, as well as a lack of reliable information, innovative solutions that are suited to the requirements and preferences of AYP are needed to address these issues. Making an AYP-focused mobile application (app) on SRH and HIV offers a chance to give them easily accessible, precise, and youth-friendly services and information.
- Objective: Given this context, ICAP in Lesotho is soliciting for a single developer or company to develop an app (which may include a WhatsApp chatbot) that will educate AYP on sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) and enhance their overall well-being. The proposed app aims to bridge these gaps by offering a dynamic platform that delivers accurate, unbiased, age appropriate and culturally sensitive information. By doing so, the app/chatbot endeavors to empower young individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being and health thus leading to reduction in new HIV infections, early and unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, and child marriage, and safer health choices.
- Scope of Work: Working under the guidance of ICAP in Lesotho Senior HMIS Specialist, The developer(s) will oversee the subsequent assignments:
- Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to understand the information and service needs of AYP regarding SRH and HIV.
- Design and develop a mobile application that is user-friendly, accessible, and culturally appropriate for AYP.
- Include features such as educational content, interactive tools, access to youth-friendly services, peer support forums, and confidential resources for HIV testing and counseling. Ensure the app complies with relevant privacy and data protection regulations.
- Ensure the app is interoperable with existing data systems such as DHIS2 and RapidPro.
- Conduct user testing and gather feedback from AYP to iteratively improve the app.
- Provide technical support and maintenance post-launch, including updates and bug fixes.
- Designing an intuitive user interface for easy navigation.
- Implementing AI algorithms for personalized interactions.
- Deliverables:
- A needs assessment report detailing the AYP’s information and service requirements with reference to HIV and SRH.
- Mobile application design mock-ups and wireframes.
- A mobile application that has been developed with all the features and functionalities required.
- A report on user testing that summarizes suggestions for improvement.
- Completed mobile application prepared for release.
- Training materials and technical documentation for upkeep in the future.
- Timeline: The timeline for this project is as follows:
- Needs assessment: 2 weeks.
- Design and development and user testing iterations: 4 weeks.
- Finalization and launch: 2 weeks.
- The app/chatbot should be fully operational within 8 weeks after commencement of work.
- Experience: The developer(s) should be qualified in the following areas:
- At least three years’ expertise in information technology, particularly in the creation of apps/chatbots.
- Knowledge of HIV and SRH concerns impacting AYP.
- Proficiency in guaranteeing data privacy and security in mobile applications.
- Capability to carry out user-centered design and iterative development.
- Proven communication abilities and the capacity to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders.
- Having implemented at least two comparable-scale apps of chatbot development projects (provide references and portfolio).
- Knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) for tailored and interactive engagements.
- A bachelor’s degree or above in a related discipline, such as software engineering or computer science (for firms, the team leader should have the necessary qualification).
- Budget: The project’s budget will be decided by considering the offers that prospective developer(s) submit. All expenses related to needs analysis, design and development, testing, launch, and postlaunch assistance should be included in the budget.
- Evaluation criteria:
The finished app/chatbot will be assessed according to:
- Information correctness and functionality.
- The usability and design of the user interface.
- The ability to customize.
- Responsiveness and speed.
- Integration of educational resources
- Interoperability with existing reporting systems
- Budget considerations
- Previous experience working on similar projects and with youth populations.
- Submission of Proposals: Interested developer(s) should submit their proposals by Friday April 12, 2024 via ICAP career page – https://icapacity.icap.columbia.edu/
All work completed for this project must meet the strictest ethical guidelines. The goals, requirements, and scope of this Terms of Reference document are intended to help design a mobile application for adolescents and young adults that addresses HIV and sexual and reproductive health issues. It describes how interested developers should submit their ideas and what criteria should be used to choose which candidate or candidates is best suited for the project.