Short-Term Consultant – Legal and Policy Landscape Analysis for Data Sharing (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a global health organization that partners locally and globally to create and scale solutions to the world’s deadliest health threats. Millions of people die from preventable health threats. We collaborate to close the gap between proven, life-saving solutions and the people who need them. Since 2017, we’ve worked with governments and other partners in more than 60 countries to save millions of lives. We work toward a future where people live longer, healthier lives, communities flourish, and economies thrive. This is an ambitious vision, and it inspires us and our partners to make progress every day. 

Position Title: Short-Term Consultant – Legal and Policy Landscape Analysis for Data Sharing 

Work Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  

Summary:  

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health under the Collaborative Surveillance Project, is seeking a qualified legal and policy expert to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the public health legal and policy landscape governing data sharing. The consultant will assess existing frameworks, identify gaps, and generate actionable recommendations to align data governance, including data privacy laws and data use and access, in line with national and international best practices of public health data. The deliverables will contribute directly to MoH’s strategic objectives on digital health transformation, surveillance system strengthening, and legal preparedness. It will also ensure that Ethiopia’s evolving data governance framework is aligned with national priorities and international standards, including WHO guidelines and other relevant instruments.  

This is a six-month consultancy (96 working days), with deliverables that will be defined by and reported to the Technical Advisor, Prevent Epidemics and to the legal Head Executive at the Ministry of Health. During this assignment, consultant will collaborate with the MoH Legal Executive, the RTSL Public Health Legal Team, the RTSL Ethiopia Country Office, and relevant members of the RTSL Prevent Epidemics local and global team.

Scope of Work: 

The consultant will: 

1. Conduct a comprehensive mapping and analysis of existing laws, regulations, and policies related to data sharing with a focus on implications for public health and surveillance data. Identify gaps and challenges in the current legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks relevant to collaborative surveillance efforts. These should relate to data use, sharing, and access. 
2. Analyze legal frameworks governing consent, data subject rights, and emergency data use, including cross-border data sharing where applicable. 
3. Review existing enforcement mechanisms and identify implementation challenges related to data sharing laws and policies. Engage with key stakeholders (government agencies, private sector, and partners) to understand practical challenges and opportunities for improving legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks for data governance and architecture in the country. 
4. Compare the existing legal landscape with international and regional best practices in public health data sharing. 
5. Provide strategic level recommendations to improve data governance and coordination from legal perspectives. 
6. Develop a detailed report with recommendations for aligning data use and sharing with data governance strategies, including any necessary legislative and regulatory reforms to enhance collaborative surveillance efforts.  

Deliverables 

1. Concept note outlining the context, workplan, and proposed methodology for the project.
2. Comprehensive landscape document, providing an overview of current Ethiopia laws, regulations, and policies relating to data access, use and sharing of public health surveillance and related data.  This document should address legal authority for and restrictions on: 

(a) Data sharing between federal and subnational levels

(b) Data sharing within health sector

(c) Data sharing across directorates, within and outside of the health sector 

Based on interviews with key stakeholders (MoH, MoA, EPHI, AHI, other government agencies, private sector, and partners, the landscaping document will include a stakeholder consultation summary which sets out any practical challenges, including around real and perceived legal limitations on data sharing within or between agencies.  

Finally, the landscape document will identify recommendations for improvements in the legal and regulatory landscape for data governance in Ethiopia. This should address both vertical (national – subnational) and horizontal data sharing.  Such recommendations may address regulatory gaps requiring new or amended legal instruments, enforcement issues, or the fact that laws or regulations are being incorrectly perceived as prohibiting data sharing.

       3. The final report will be validated by and jointly published with MoH. 

Required Qualifications:  

Experience: 

• LLM degree or higher in law or health related laws  

• At least 10 years of experience for LLM degree holders in legal affairs especially related to legal research, legislative formulation, analysis of policy, legislation and regulatory compliance. Research experience in health data sharing is an additional asset.  

• Experience engaging with government agencies, health sector stakeholders, and international organizations.    

• Familiarity with national government structure and functions relating to public health, legislative framework, and processes

 Skills & Abilities: 

• Expertise in data governance, cyber security, privacy laws, and regulatory frameworks related to data sharing, particularly in public health. 

• Strong analytical and technical writing skills with experience producing high-quality reports. 

• Familiarity with international best practices in public health data sharing and governance (e.g., WHO guidelines, general data protection regulation (GDPR), Open Data principles, etc.) 

• Excellent communication, analytical, report writing, presentation and interpersonal skills for engaging and influencing non-governmental partners, donors, and multilateral agencies 

• Results and impact-oriented, with a problem-solving attitude and attention to detail

Other: 

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with government leadership on strategy development and alignment on commitments and timelines is desirable 
• Experience working in low-resource or emergency response settings 

RTSL accepts and reviews applications on an ongoing basis. We are grateful for your interest in our work and for your application. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications, we are unable to respond to every applicant. Someone from our talent team or hiring team will contact you if your qualifications match the role.

RTSL believes its programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We encourage applications from and provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, organ donor status, or status as a veteran. Resolve to Save Lives complies with all applicable US EEO laws.