Communications Consultant for USAID/HPI Program

Background

The USAID/HPI project has been implementing activities since 2008 assisting and collaborating with efforts by the Government of Vietnam, USG civil society organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders to develop and implement evidence-based and best practice-driven laws, policies, plans, and programs for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, and impact mitigation in Vietnam. The project aims to achieve three key results:

1. Facilitate the adoption and implementation of national and local HIV/AIDS policies, plans, and programs based on international best practices;
2. Strengthen and support effective public sector and civil society advocates and networks to assume leadership in the policy process; and
3. Develop and deploy timely and accurate data for evidence-based decision making.

To achieve the project objectives, USAID/HPI has worked in partnership with many stakeholders.  Effective implementation requires strategic communication to enable support and meaningful engagement of stakeholders. With a focus on policy advocacy and its development in the remaining months of the project, USAID/HPI proposes to conduct a rapid assessment of key stakeholders to gain insights about partners’ expectation and potential key advocacy messages and channels to advocate for relevant legal framework and policy development. The objectives of the assessment are to:

- Identify key stakeholders who can advocate for the drug control renovation plan
- Explore informants’ understanding and attitude about the renovation plan
- Explore barriers to reaching stakeholders and their preferred way of receiving messages
- Identify effective messages, communication channels and absorptive capacity
- Provide a road map for policy advocacy for the project in coming months.

Methodology
The assessment will employ qualitative methods consisting of individual interviews and focus group discussions. The assessment will be conducted by a local consultant, supervised by the Chief of Party.

Potential key informants will be selected from MOLISA/DSEP and other key partners and will most probably include:
- Leaders of MOLISA and DSEP
- Representatives of MOLISA’s Legal department
- Head/deputy heads of 05 and 06 departments
- Research team members involved in the renovation plan (representatives of GO, MOHA, MOF, MOJ, MOPS etc.)

FGDs will be conducted with junior and mid-level staff while individual interviews will be conducted with senior key policy makers.

Expected deliverables (in English)
- Report with a focus on barriers of reaching key stakeholders, potential advocacy messages and channels
- Suggested communications tools, models, and approaches appropriate for reaching target audiences with salient project messages
- Advocacy workplan for the drug control renovation plan
- Framework for policy advocacy in year 5 related specifically to drug control

Work must be finalized by 30 September 2012.

Required skills:
- Native Vietnamese speaker
- Good English skills
- Experience working with high level Vietnamese officials.
- Demonstrated experience in in depth interviews and focus group discussions.
- Experience in the HIV/AIDS a plus.
- Residing in Ha Noi.
- Available immediately

The Consultant is requested to provide a CV in English with 3 references to [email protected] by August 13, 2012.