Technical Service Agreement to Carry out Pilot Project of Web-based HIV Self-testing Model and Submit Report at the end of Pilot Period

Call for Expressions of Interest and Proposal

Job Title: #009

Technical Service Agreement
to carry out a pilot project of web-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) model in Hanoi
and submit a report at the end of the pilot period

1. Background:

HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been recommended by WHO since 2016 to facilitate access to HIV testing especially for key populations who may hesitate to access facility-based testing due to being fear of stigma discrimination, confidentiality issue and/or inconvenience. Viet Nam introduced HIVST since 2017 starting with a pilot project in selected provinces. The results from
pilot supported MOH in development of the national guidelines on community-based HIV testing including HIVST which was approved by MOH in 2018. Results from implementation of HIVST demonstrated that HIVST can reach young and first-time testers with the high yield of HIV positive and good linkage to care.

Up to date, community distribution model is used to distribute HIVST. This model requires peer educators to handling HIVST kits to clients at the testing sites or at their house. While this approach can optimize follow-up client after testing and link them to prevention and/or care facilities, it can reach limited number of key populations due to constraint of human resources and may not reach key populations who may not willing to meet face to face with peer educators.

To address this gap, WHO and Viet Nam Authority for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) developed a web-based HIVST model which has been piloted in Can Tho since November 2020. The primary target population of Can Tho pilot is HIV positive individuals. Based on early success from Can Tho pilot, WHO and VAAC will extend this pilot to Hanoi city with focusing linkages to PrEP for those with HIV negative results, in addition to ART for HIV positive individuals. Hanoi is one of the two cities has largest MSM communities in Viet Nam with high and increased HIV prevalence among MSM. The experience gained from this pilot will inform national program in scale-up of HIVST in Viet Nam to reach the national target of 95-95-95 by 2030.

WHO is calling for a capable institution to carry out a pilot project of web-based HIVST model in Hanoi and submit a report at the end of the pilot.

2. Work to be performed

The TSA contract partner will work independently to carry out a pilot project of web-based HIVST model developed by WHO and VAAC at HIV clinic(s) in Hanoi under the overall guidance from the responsible officer of WHO Representative Office in Viet Nam.

The TSA contract partner will be given access to a web-site developed by WHO and VAAC for this web-based HIVST model pilot.

WHO will procure test kit for HIVST and provide them to the TSA contract partner.

The inception period of maximum one month will be given to the TSA contract partner to train project staff to familiarize the web-based HIVST model.

During the pilot period, the TSA contract partner will perform the following tasks:

• Promote the web-based HIVST approach to MSM network and create testing demand
• Receive test kits order, confirm clients, send the test kits and upload data in the website
• Provide counselling before, during and post-testing to ensure the key populations understand, perform the test kits and more importantly be linked to PrEP and ART services.
• Follow-up with key populations through phone call, messenger to remind HIVST users to upload their test results and refer to HIV services (PrEP and ART). Provide support for linkage to HIV services if needed to ensure HIVST users received appropriate HIV services based on their HIV status. Successful linkage need to be documented for end project evaluation.
• Manage the website including update the data on HIVST

At the end of the pilot project, the TSA contract partner will submit a technical report on the results of the project including but not limited to the following indicators disaggregated by age, sex, education,, risk behaviours: 1) # of HIVST distributed; 2) # HIVST performed and results reported; 3) # and % of HIVST by results; 4) % KP clients with HIV negative results linked to PrEP; 5) % of KP clients with HIV positive received ART; documented challenges during implementation and provide recommendations for improvement.

3. Specific requirements

The TSA contract partner should submit the following documents:

• Technical proposal on how to carry out the pilot
• Financial proposal
• Documents to prove the following requirement

Requirements for the institution:

• Good working relationship with an HIV clinic providing comprehensive HIV services such as HIV counselling and testing, ART and PreP;
• Strong network with MSM community;
• At least 2 years of experience in counselling and linking HIVST users to other HIV services (PrEP, MMT and ART);
• At least 2 years of experiences in providing HIV online services;

Requirements for the project leader:

• At least 5 years of experiences in directing operational study/pilot in public health programme
• Expert level in both English and Vietnamese

4. Place of assignment
Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Medical clearance
N/A

6. Travel
N/A

7. Budget

Please take note of the following when submitting application:

• The contractor will be responsible for paying taxes, if any.

Those who are interested can send letter of interest and resume to:

Administrative Officer
World Health Organization
UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street
Hanoi, Viet Nam

OR

[email protected]

Before/by 2 March 2021

For further information on this TOR, please contact:
[email protected]