Short-Term Consultant – Legal and Policy Landscape Analysis for Data Sharing at Resolve to Save Lives

Summary

• RTSL, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) under the Collaborative Surveillance Project, is seeking a qualified legal and policy expert to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the legal and policy landscape governing data sharing. The consultant will assess existing frameworks, identify gaps, and generate actionable recommendations to align data governance, including the review of current data privacy laws and provide clear guidance that defines the agency’s stance on data use and access, in line with national and international best practices.
• This is a six-month consultancy (96 working days), with deliverables that will be defined by and reported to the Senior Technical Advisor, Health Security and Event-Based Surveillance, RTSL Nigeria. Deliverables will be led by the consultant in collaboration with the NCDC Legal Team, the RTSL Public Health Legal Team, the RTSL Nigeria Country Office, and relevant members of the Prevent Epidemics (PE) Global Team.

Scope Of Work

The consultant will:

• Conduct a comprehensive mapping and analysis of existing laws, regulations, and policies related to data sharing and cybersecurity 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.
• Engage with key stakeholders (NCDC, government agencies, private sector, and civil society) to understand practical challenges and opportunities for improving legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks for data governance and architecture in the country.
• Compare the existing legal landscape with international and regional best practices in public health data sharing
• Provide strategic level support and aid in stakeholder engagement for new or existing legal or regulatory initiatives to improve data governance and coordination
• 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

• Concept note outlining the context, workplan, and proposed methodology for the project;
• Comprehensive landscape document, providing an overview of current Nigerian laws, regulations, and policies relating to data access, use and sharing of public health surveillance and related data. In particular, this should address legal authority for and restrictions on:
• Data sharing between federal and subnational levels;
• Data sharing within NCDC
• Data sharing across MDAs, within and outside of the health sector

Based on interviews with key stakeholders (NCDC, government agencies, private sector, and civil society), 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 Nigeria. This should address both vertical (national – subnational) and horizontal (across MDAs) 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.

• The final report will be validated by and jointly published with NCDC.

Experience
Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Law
• At least 10 years of experience in legal analysis, policy development, or regulatory compliance.
• Experience engaging with government agencies, health sector stakeholders, and international organizations.

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, 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

• Fluency in English is required
• 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