OptiMA Research Referent – Headquarters – M/F At ALIMA

OPTIMA PRESENTATION

OptiMA (Optimizing Acute Malnutrition) is a simplified protocol for the management of acute malnutrition developed with the aim of treating more children, earlier in the fall into acute malnutrition with the same amount of nutritional inputs in order to respond to the shortcomings of the current system which does not allow very low coverage and which often supports children in the advanced stages of severe acute malnutrition. OptiMA is based on 3 principles:

1) early detection of malnutrition through training families in the use of the arm circumference bracelet and the detection of edema

2) an intake protocol that admits and discharges children based on MUAC measurement

3) the use of a single therapeutic food (RUTF) for all children with acute malnutrition at doses which decrease as the child recovers his nutritional status.

ALIMA has already conducted several studies to test this protocol. The first pilot study took place in Burkina Faso, Yako in 2017. Since then, two therapeutic randomized clinical trials have been implemented in the DRC in 2019-20 and in Niger in 2021-22, in Mirriah in collaboration with our research partners , PACCI and INSERM U 1219 (Bordeaux). At the same time, pilot, operational studies for the implementation of this protocol have been implemented in Mali (Bamako), Niger (Mirriah), Burkina Faso (Barsalogho) with a slightly different protocol. An operational study was launched in Chad (N’Djamena and Ngouri) at the beginning of 2022 and treated more than 28,000 children over the last 15 months. These projects aim to document the implementation of a simplified protocol in different contexts at the scale of a health district (large scale). These various projects are all carried out in full collaboration with the nutrition departments of the various ministries of health, which actively participate in the steering committees that monitor these projects. Given the initial success, ALIMA secured 3-year funding to implement 3 more district-wide projects: Keita Nigeria, Dakoro and Mirriah in Niger.

It is also possible that other OptiMA projects will be implemented in the countries of ALIMA intervention over the next 3 to 4 years.

Each of the OptiMA projects requires rigorous monitoring. For each project implemented, we write a study protocol which is submitted to the ethics committee of the country concerned. We conduct Baseline surveys and annual monitoring to document the coverage of program activities, and measure the prevalence of acute malnutrition and retrospective mortality. There is a data management system which allowed the creation of an individual database for each child treated under OptiMA. The technical team of OptiMA, based in Dakar, is currently composed of an OptiMA Regional Coordinator as well as 2 data managers, responsible for technical support to the ALIMA Desks which manage these projects. This OptiMA team writes protocols for new projects, conducts Baseline and annual surveys,

Other actors are working on simplified protocols, including Unicef, IRC, ACF and MSF. Collaboration with these actors is essential in order to build a common base of scientific evidence on simplified protocols and, on this basis, to nurture advocacy during the revision of national protocols.

Given the growth of the OptiMA activity and the prospects for expansion over the coming years, we are looking for an epidemiologist to support the OptiMA coordinator in the drafting of protocols, the conduct and analysis of field surveys and production. reports that analyze the activity of specific projects.

JOB TYPOLOGY

**PLACE OF MISSION:**ALIMA’s operational headquarters in Dakar with long trips to the field (40-50% of the time to be expected in the field/in OptiMA projects)

FUNCTIONAL AND HIERARCHICAL LINKS:

Hierarchical links

You report to the OptiMA regional coordinator

You are the direct supervisor of the data analyst and the data manager of the OptiMA division

Functional links

You have functional links with the research manager and the nutrition referent.

You collaborate with the research donor referent, the OptiMA advocacy officer, the OptiMA operational project managers.

MAIN MISSIONS AND ACTIVITIES

The OptiMA scientific project manager is responsible for drafting OptiMA operational study protocols in new projects and for monitoring the collection, monitoring and analysis of data from OptiMA operational projects. He/she supports their implementation as well as their ongoing monitoring. He/she is responsible for producing analytical reports on the operation of projects for donors and/or other bodies involved in the development of simplified protocols (ie UNICEF, WFP). For example, the individual database allows the analysis of functioning indicators by weight/height index and by MUAC on admission. The epidemiologist on this post must be able to produce such an analysis.

1. Ensure the preparation and support the implementation of OptiMA operational studies

• Ensure the completion of the preparatory stages for the implementation of OptiMA studies; (drafting of the protocol and CRFs, submission to the ethics committee, recruitment, support to field teams for planning and discussions with the various actors, etc.);
• Carry out preparatory field visits;
• Coordinate baseline and annual surveys;
• Ensure the role of technical referent for the project coordinators and the medical coordinators of the missions where there is an OptiMA project.
• Contribute to the drafting of project proposals and donor reports

2. Ensure data integrity including individual databases and coverage surveys, in collaboration with the data team

• Coordinate with the data, the integrity of the data circuit for the individual databases for each project (update and use of collection tools, maintenance of source data, update of collection applications and their understanding, entry of data) ;
• Carry out external monitoring of the data collected and communicate with the regional coordinator and the project coordinators of the missions where OptiMA is implemented in order to ensure the continuous cleaning of the databases (production of requests, processing of requests);
• Perform statistical analyzes comparing the performance of OptiMA projects (coverage, program operating indicators) to PCIMA programs;
• Carry out periodic international field monitoring in accordance with the study protocol for each field;

3. Ensure communication around OptiMA projects and results

• Improve internal communication on OptiMA projects by producing analyzes of operating indicators in collaboration with the data manager;
• Work with medical coordinators and heads of mission to follow the schedule of project steering committees;
• Prepare periodic project statistics as well as reports of survey results to fuel discussions at various meetings.

4.Any other analysis activity related to OptiMA operational projects

• Contribute to database analyzes and annual surveys to write manuscripts describing OptiMA’s activity in one or more countries;
• Prepare posters for submission to conferences or seminars.

EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS

You hold a Master’s degree in public health or epidemiology, you have knowledge of nutrition and ideally one or more simplified protocol projects. You are comfortable with handling databases and using statistical analysis software (R, SAS etc.). You are familiar with CommCare and Power Bi software and have the ability to write quality reports and make oral presentations. You have an appetite for representation in scientific conferences and seminars.

LANGUAGES

• Good command of French (read, written, spoken) essential
• Proficiency in a local language is an asset

TERMS

Duration of the contract : CDD Senegalese law of 12 months, renewable

Starting date : 09/01/2023

Duration and type of contract : CDD under Senegalese law

Salary :

• Level 8 of the internal Salary grid
• A gross monthly salary of 2,000,000 CFA francs;
• A travel allowance of 612,462 CFA francs;
• A housing allowance varying between 2 and 5% of gross monthly salary depending on family composition for employees recruited internationally.

Other advantages :

• Complementary health cover for the employee and his dependents
• Contribution to tuition fees (children from 2 to 18 years old) / crèche (0 to 2 years old) according to the policy and the ceilings in force.
• A second individual annual return ticket for the return to the country of usual residence
• Telecommuting policy
• 6.5 weeks of paid vacation per year, recuperation days based on time in the field

How to apply

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

To apply, please send your CV and Cover Letter online

Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. ALIMA reserves the right to close the offer before the term initially indicated if an application is accepted. Only complete applications (CV in PDF format + Letter of Motivation) will be considered.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged