Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Zimbabwe (HOSPAZ)

Deadline: 9 April 2021

Background

Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Zimbabwe (HOSPAZ)and its two sub-partners – Tsungirirai Welfare Organisation and Pamuhacha HIV and AIDS Prevention Project (Pamuhacha is implementing an OVC program in Makonde, Zvimba, Chegutu and Mhondoro-Ngezi. The HOSPAZ-led program, HOSPAZ Bantwana’s goal is to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on Zimbabwe’s children by enhancing the sustainability of care and support services as well as contributing to HIV epidemic control for OVC. Using an integrated approach, communities as care and support systems, clinics as hubs for HIV services, schools as safety nets, the HB program has been reaching out to OVC and their caregivers at risk of contracting HIV and affected by HIV. However, the COVID-19 pandemic response measures such lockdowns have challenged the way the program reaches out to its beneficiaries as the traditional physical group meetings at program sites have been prohibited to reduce risk of spreading the disease. The HOSPAZ Bantwana (HB) program intends to have a WhatsApp Virtual Chatbot platform model that will be accessed through WhatsApp to support already existing modes of service provision to its beneficiaries in the four supported Districts i.e. Chegutu, Mhondoro-Ngezi, Makonde and Zvimba. The proposed HOSPAZ WhatsApp Virtual Chatbot is key in providing HB beneficiaries with key information and services they require while in their communities without resorting to physical meetings. The Virtual Chatbot will complement the already existing other virtual platforms in ensuring effective and sustained service provision for the current and future beneficiaries as well as vulnerable members of the communities being served by the program.

HOSPAZ is seeking to engage the services of a Consultant to lead the process of developing the afore-mentioned WhatsApp Virtual Chatbot

Timeframe

The necessary activities will take place over an agreed timeline between 6 and 30 April. The actual number of days to be determined and agreed with the Consultant’s proposal.

Summary

The Consultant will conduct specific activities detailed below, and lead in the development of a WhatsApp Virtual Chatbot for the HB program. This will be useful in enabling beneficiaries served by the program to access services virtually through WhatsApp.

Specific activities for the consultancy

The Consultant will: Review information on the HB program services and the beneficiaries’ subpopulations; Develop a WhatsApp Virtual Chatbot based on the HB program services and beneficiaries; Validate WhatsApp Virtual Chatbot through a trial; Train HOSPAZ and its partners on how to manage the Chatbot, how to assist beneficiaries to access the Chatbot, how to track service accessed and how to generate reports; Conduct a post design and training technical support for Chatbot to ensure smooth functioning.

Final Deliverables

A functional HOSPAZ Bantwana Virtual Chatbot

Methodology

Applicants will be required to submit a detailed proposed methodology and budget with their application.

Requirements for experience and qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related subject; At least 3-5 years of prior work experience in the field of computer science and development of virtual chatbots; Demonstrated knowledge and experience in developing Virtual platforms; Ability to design, develop, implement, and test chatbot applications using machine learning algorithms; Other qualifications for this role include knowledge of languages such as JavaScript, HTML, Python, SQL, and C++; Familiarity with database technology such as MySQL, Oracle, MongoDB.