The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier Africa-based research and policy institution dedicated to generating and promoting rigorous evidence to inform policy and practice on critical issues in population health and wellbeing. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with a regional office in Dakar, Senegal, APHRC conducts research across four thematic areas: Human Development, Health and Well-being, Data Science and Evaluation, and Population Dynamics and Urbanization in Africa. These are supported by complementary units in Research Capacity Strengthening, and Policy Engagement and Communications.
In alignment with its mission to drive data-driven policy and practice, APHRC is implementing the Mental Health Data Prize – Africa (MHDP-Africa) project. This initiative seeks to stimulate data science innovation focused on the prevention, treatment, and management of mental health challenges—specifically anxiety, depression, and psychosis—by African researchers and technologists. The MHDP-Africa project promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence generation that is contextualized for the African experience.
To strengthen this work, APHRC is seeking a Consultant to lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive open-source capacity-building program. This includes supporting prize winners in sharing project progress (e.g., code, datasets, documentation) on open-source platforms and fostering a culture of transparency, collaboration, and reproducibility within mental health research.
Position: Consultant – Open Source Capacity Strengthening for MHDP-Africa
Duration: 3 Months (July 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025)
Location: Remote/As agreed
Deadline to Apply: June 18, 2025
Background on the Project
The Mental Health Data Prize – Africa (MHDP-Africa) initiative is designed to support the development of tangible, scalable solutions that address anxiety, depression, and psychosis through a data-driven lens. By mobilizing multidisciplinary teams and encouraging the use of open-source tools and platforms, the project aims to democratize access to knowledge, promote transparency, and increase the visibility and usability of mental health data relevant to the African context.
The project team includes APHRC staff with expertise in finance, data science, public health, statistics, communication, and grant management. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the MHDP-Africa Project Lead and collaborate with this multidisciplinary team to build open-source competencies among prize winners.
Objective of the Consultancy
The primary objective of this consultancy is to:
- Develop the capacity of MHDP-Africa prize winners in the use of open-source platforms for data sharing.
- Facilitate transparent and collaborative project workflows.
- Support the publication of project outcomes—including code, datasets, and documentation—under open licenses that allow for free use, distribution, and modification.
This will be achieved through needs assessments, training, hands-on technical support, and regular progress monitoring.
Scope of Work
The Consultant will be responsible for:
- Needs Assessment
Conduct an assessment to determine the existing knowledge and skills of MHDP-Africa prize winners concerning open-source tools, licenses, and practices. - Platform Selection and Configuration
Identify and set up suitable platforms such as GitHub (code), Zenodo (datasets), and Jupyter (notebooks) for participant use. - Training Content Development
Create guidelines, templates, and training materials tailored to the prize winners’ needs and aligned with open-source best practices. - Training Delivery
Deliver virtual or hybrid training sessions to upskill participants on topics such as:- Version control
- Open licensing (e.g., MIT, Apache 2.0, CC-BY)
- Metadata standards
- Reproducibility and documentation
- Technical Support
Support participants in creating and maintaining open repositories (e.g., GitHub Organizations and repositories) and provide on-demand consultation. - Publishing Support
Assist teams in publishing their datasets, metadata, and research outputs in accessible formats and platforms to maximize impact and discoverability. - Feedback Loop & Workflow Refinement
Pilot the proposed open-source publishing workflow, gather user feedback, and refine processes accordingly. - Ethics & Legal Compliance
Ensure adherence to data privacy, ethical standards, and legal frameworks governing data sharing. - Documentation & Reporting
- Develop an inception report outlining plans, tools, workflows, and timelines.
- Submit monthly progress reports.
- Draft and publish a write-up summarizing good practices in open-source capacity building and data sharing.
- Prepare a final report detailing achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
Deliverables
- Inception Report
- Includes a comprehensive needs assessment based on a tailored questionnaire.
- Training Materials and Plan
- Custom-developed tools and templates for open-source publishing.
- Training Sessions and Capacity Building Reports
- Documentation of sessions conducted, participant feedback, and learning outcomes.
- Platform Implementation and Monitoring
- Operational open-source platforms and repositories for all participating teams.
- Communication and Technical Support
- Ongoing virtual support and troubleshooting for teams.
- Final Report and User Guide
- A consolidated report including refined workflows and best practices documentation.
Consultant Profile and Experience
The ideal consultant should demonstrate:
- Proven Experience in Open-Source Data Science
- Solid track record of creating and managing publishing pipelines using GitHub, Kaggle, Zenodo, etc.
- Demonstrable collaborations with established research institutions.
- Advanced Software Development Skills
- Proficiency in Python, Jupyter Notebooks, Docker, and scalable system design.
- Effective Trainer and Communicator
- Experience in delivering capacity-building workshops on open-source tools and practices.
- Ability to create rapport and foster engagement with learners.
- Rapid Execution Capabilities
- Ready-to-deploy resources, methodologies, and frameworks.
- Ethics and Compliance Competency
- In-depth understanding of data protection, privacy, and legal compliance in research.
- Community Credibility
- Active contributor or recognized participant in global open-source communities.
APHRC’s Role and Support
The MHDP-Africa project team at APHRC will:
- Provide all relevant project documentation and background materials.
- Coordinate communication and engagement with grantees.
- Facilitate logistical arrangements for training and meetings.
- Act as a partner throughout the planning, execution, and evaluation phases of the consultancy.
Timeline
The consultancy will span three months, from July 1 to September 30, 2025.
How to Apply
Interested candidates or firms are required to submit the following:
- Cover letter detailing eligibility, understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR), and motivation.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) of key personnel involved in the assignment.
- Technical proposal including approach, methodology, and execution plan.
- Portfolio or list of past assignments in reverse chronological order with references.
- A detailed financial proposal inclusive of consultancy fees, travel, and other applicable costs.
Submission Details
Send applications via email to:
[email protected]
CC: [email protected]
Subject Line: “Open Source Capacity Strengthening Consultancy”
Deadline: June 18, 2025
Address your cover letter to:
People and Culture Business Partner
African Population and Health Research Center, Inc
APHRC Campus, Manga Close, off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru
P.O. Box 10787-GPO, Nairobi
Special Notice
APHRC is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, disability status, or any other protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.
Important:
No applicant is required to pay any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.
