Objective: There are two intended outcomes of this assignment: 1) a module on biostatistics is taught at TU, and upon completion, students have a better understanding of biostatistics and its use in epidemiology and public health; and 2) a publishable scientific research paper is produced, and students and the research team are capable of independently conducting research in the future

Context: The GIZ’s Health System Strengthening and Epidemic Prevention in Liberia (HSSEP) project started in September 2020 and is focused on: a) strengthening the overall approach to integrated disease surveillance and response; b) improving the quality of care for epidemic-prone diseases; c) boosting public health and clinical laboratory services; and d) support to the development of a strong and gender-balanced health workforce, including support to a university to deliver a strong Public Health Curriculum.

Content: A planning mission was conducted to conduct an assessment with respect to faculty needs and experience in biostatistics and research methods and agree on overall project approach.

The key tasks in relation to biostatistics were to:

• Design a sound curriculum for the two parts of the new module (content development, lessons plan, etc.)
• Develop the associated educational tools for delivery of the modules
• Support teaching staff in delivering the modules for the first time by conducting a ToT
• Modify teaching materials as required based on feedback from TU faculty
• Support students and members of the research team to further develop their knowledge and skills in digital research and communication
• Support faculty to conduct research, including data collection and analysis, and the writing of a scientific paper with the potential to be published.
• Support faculty to develop a syllabus for research methods
• Management of assignment implementation;
• Project administration, monitoring and supervision in line with the GIZ instruments;
• Inception meetings and desk review of relevant documents;
• Identification of best practices and relevant content;
• Capacity needs assessment;
• Project management: select, prepare, train, and steer the experts assigned to perform the advisory tasks, manage costs and expenditure, etc.;
• Coordination with GIZ and TU;
• Technical backstopping of the project/ quality assurance of deliverables;
• Regular reporting to the client;
• Delivery of ToT;
• Ongoing remote support to research team.

The key tasks in relation to research capacity strengthening were to:

A qualitative study was conducted that aimed to address the urgent need for strengthening locally led public health research, especially in low- and middle-income settings.

Type of services provided:

• Management of assignment implementation;
• Project administration, monitoring and supervision in line with the GIZ instruments;
• Inception meetings and desk review of relevant documents;
• Identification of best practices and relevant content;
• Capacity needs assessment;
• Project management: select, prepare, train, and steer the experts assigned to perform the advisory tasks, manage costs and expenditure, etc.;
• Coordination with GIZ and TU;
• Technical backstopping of the project/ quality assurance of deliverables;
• Regular reporting to the client;
• Delivery of ToT;
• Ongoing remote support to research team.