National consultant to develop policy advocacy roadmap for purchasing HIV services using state budget

 CALL FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICE

National consultant to develop policy advocacy roadmap for purchasing HIV services using state budget

I. BACKGROUND

The global USAID LHSS project helps low- and middle-income countries transition to sustainable, self-funded health finance systems that support high-performing overall health systems. The LHSS activity in Vietnam will work with the Government of Vietnam (GVN) to advance greater local ownership of HIV and TB prevention and control. Led by Abt Associates, the four-year activity will support Vietnam in increasing its domestic financing for HIV and TB services in the context of declining donor funding, in using government resources more efficiently, and in assuming local ownership of HIV and TB prevention and control activities. Specific objectives are: (1) Support the GVN to strengthen its public financial management systems for public sector health and find greater efficiencies in social health insurance (SHI), (2) Increase and improve the efficiency of domestic financing of HIV prevention and treatment services; (3) Strengthen the capacity of Vietnam's supply chain management system; and (4) Integrate TB services into SHI.

On March 10, 2022, the Ministry of Health (MOH) issued decision No 5466/QD-BYT, followed by Decision No 40/Q?-AIDS, which provided guidance for conducting an HIV social contracting (SC) pilot with community-based organizations (CBOs) and social enterprises (SEs). In June 2022, five provinces launched the SC pilot: Nghe An, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Dien Bien, and Tien Giang. Four additional provinces—Hai Phong, Binh Duong, Can Tho, and Kien Giang—will begin implementing the pilot in April 2023. Evidence generated during pilot implementation, international best practices, and standardized GVN cost norms for social contracting will inform policy development.

HIV/AIDS services are not included in the current Prime Minister’s Decision No 1387/QD-TTg dated July 13, 2016, promulgating the list of public services funded by the state budget in the field of health – population. Therefore, VAAC proposes a revision of the Prime Minister’s Decision No 1387/QD-TTg to include HIV/AIDS services as a public service implemented through social contracting and funded by the state budget. The activity will support the MOH/VAAC in developing a comprehensive advocacy roadmap that the ministry can use to encourage the endorsement of HIV as a public service under the Prime Minister’s Decision. To inform the advocacy roadmap, the activity will work closely with MOH departments (VAAC, Department of Planning and Finance, and Legal Department) to prepare a package of supporting documents. The package will include the Draft Decision, the policy’s social impact report, and a consolidated report of compiled comments from ministries, provincial Departments of Health (DOHs), and the public.

II. TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

2.1.   Tasks:

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Provide technical inputs to VAAC to develop a policy advocacy roadmap for the endorsement of HIV as a public service under the revised Prime Minister’s Decisionusing the state budget.
• Support the VAAC in selecting HIV prevention services to be included in the list of public services funded by the state budget.
• Support the MOH/Department of Planning and Finance in collaboration with VAAC to propose the revision of the Prime Minister’s Decision No 1387/QD-TTg to include HIV/AIDS services as a public service implemented through social contracting and funded by state budget
• Develop a standard checklist to guide CBOs/SEs in the preparation of purchase orders or bidding proposals to apply for service provision under the pilot.
• Provide technical assistance to provincial CDCs in addressing financial challenges throughout the pilot implementation.

2.2.   Deliverables:

• Policy advocacy roadmap for the endorsement of HIV prevention as public service under the revised Prime Minister’s Decision No 1387 using the state budget.
• A standard checklist to guide CBOs/SEs in the preparation of purchase orders or bidding proposals to apply for service provision under the pilot.
• A draft of the revised Prime Minister’s Decision No 1387 with the inclusion of HIV prevention as a public service funded by the state budget.
• Consultant monthly reportson the progress of task implementationand with the inclusion of technical support provided to pilot provinces and CBOs/SEs.
• A final consultancy report upon the completion of the consultancy service.

III.   SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• A degree in economics, finance, public health, or relevant disciplines
• 5- 7 years of relevant work experience, particularly in public health and HIV prevention and control sector.
• Familiar with health policy advocacy.
• Good understanding of social/community organizations in general and in the HIV/AIDS services delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with the MOH, other ministries, government agencies, donors, and NGOs.
• Language requirement: Vietnamese. Basic knowledge of English is an advantage.

IV.   MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSIGNMENT

All deliverables must be reviewed by the Social Health Insurance and Finance Technical Officer and approved by the Technical director. The consultant can direct questions to the Technical director throughout the consultancy.

Contract duration: from April through September 30, 2023, for a total of 50 working days.

To apply, please send your CV and an application letter to the following email: [email protected]

Deadline: April 28, 2023

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.