Introduction:

The Fleming Fund (FF) is a U.K. Department of Health and Social Care program to help low- and middle-income countries fight Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). AMR poses a severe global threat, expected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050. With potential costs reaching $100 trillion, its impact on the global economy is significant. Fleming Fund Grants aim to tackle the AMR challenge in developing countries including Pakistan. The grants are funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care and managed by Mott MacDonald for the country, regional, and fellowship grants. Pakistan has received Fleming Fund support since 2019 in the form of two Country Grants, 9 Fellowships, and central and local procurement of equipment, reagents, and consumables. Between 2017 and the end of phase-1 of the program in March 2023, the program has provided financial support to grantees to establish and support local development of national AMR surveillance systems. 

In partnership with the Fleming Fund, DAI's program in Pakistan collaborates with the Pakistani government to strengthen systems using a “One Health” approach – a multisectoral approach to complex health problems that reaches across human health, animal health, and environment sectors. As global leaders in One Health, the DAI team helps incorporate One Health across program interventions. DAI is helping Pakistan become a leader in combating antimicrobial resistance, and a model for better management of antimicrobials in human and animal populations. DAI and its consortium partners have successfully secured an additional round, Phase 2, of the Fleming Fund Country Grant in Pakistan which spans from January 2024 to December 2025. Phase 2 of the FFCG program focuses on achieving four intermediate outcomes: 1) Production of quality AMR/U/C and burden of disease data; 2) Conducting quality data analysis; 3) Sharing quality data analysis with decision-makers; and 4) Contributing to sustainable investments at both the country and global levels to counter AMR.

Position Summary

The Data Analyst will play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. This program aims to optimize the use of antimicrobials to improve patient outcomes, minimize resistance, and enhance cost-effectiveness. The Data Analyst will work closely with the multidisciplinary team to collect, analyze, and interpret data related to antimicrobial usage, resistance patterns, and associated clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Assignment: Data sharing, analysis, and usage are one of the major functions of the AMR Secretariat and also important outcomes of Phase 2 Fleming Fund Country Grant Pakistan. The proposed position will liaise with the DAI team throughout the assignment process to ensure the tasks are being undertaken as per agreed scope and share all interim outputs, tools, reporting formats, and deliverables for review, feedback, inputs, and final approval. 

Assignment Scope

Data Collection and Validation:

• Collaborate with healthcare providers and information systems to gather relevant data on antimicrobial prescriptions, usage trends, and patient demographics.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of collected data through validation processes.

Data Analysis:

• Utilize statistical methods and data visualization tools to analyze trends in antimicrobial usage, identify patterns of resistance, and assess the impact of stewardship interventions.
• Generate regular reports for internal and external stakeholders.

Performance Monitoring: 

Implement key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.

Monitor and evaluate the program's impact on patient outcomes and resistance rates.

Collaboration:

Collaborate with healthcare professionals, microbiologists, and other stakeholders to understand clinical workflows and integrate data analytics into the decision-making process. 

Provide data-driven insights to support continuous improvement of the stewardship program.

 Documentation and Reporting:

Maintain comprehensive documentation of data sources, methodologies, and analyses.

Prepare and present reports on data findings to relevant stakeholders, including recommendations for improvement.

Timeframe/Duration:The initial contract will be for 12 days per month for three months, with the possibility of an extension based on performance and program needs.

Deliverables

The STTA will be responsible for producing a monthly progress report.

Reporting:

The proposed position will report to the National Coordinator (One Health) based at the AMR Secretariat, NIH.

Requirements (Education, Experience, Skills, Languages etc.):

The ideal candidate should possess the following qualifications and skills:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Epidemiology, or a related field.
• Proven experience in data analysis and interpretation within a healthcare or clinical research setting.
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, Python) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in other languages is an asset.