TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR SPECIAL SERVICE AGREEMENT
POSITION TITLE:
One Health Expert (Human Health/Zoonoses) - Preparation of
inputs on the Human Health/Zoonoses sections of the Vietnam
Integrated National One Health Plan, 2016-2020 (International
consultant)
DURATION:
25 days during the period 15 February to 30 April 2016
DUTY STATION:
Hanoi, Viet Nam
1) GENERAL BACKGROUND
In recent years, there has been increasing global attention to the risk of new, re-emerging and
recurring infectious diseases (often referred to generally as emerging infectious diseases, or
EIDs) in humans, livestock and wild animals arising at the human-animal-ecosystem interface,
with the potential for substantial, rapid and extremely far-reaching consequences to human
health, livelihoods, economic development and many other issues.
The tropical Asia region in which Viet Nam is located has been identified as one of five global
“hot spots” with a significantly heightened risk for the emergence of new infectious disease
pathogens1, including those that may arise from livestock, wild animals or the environment.
EIDs that have impacted Viet Nam over the past decade include Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS), Avian Influenza A(H5N1) and pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009. During
the same period, livestock diseases such as Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome
(PRRS), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) have caused
significant economic impacts2, and some of these have also posed risks to human health.
Human and livestock interactions with wildlife have also been identified as a potential risk3. In
a globalized and urbanized world, together with modern transportations, other current or
future zoonotic EID outbreaks arising outside Viet Nam may also pose a risk to the country.
A One Health approach recognizes that the health of humans, the health of animals (including
livestock, wildlife and other animals), and the environmental health of ecosystems are
inextricably linked. It aims to bring together the key related actors across multiple sectors and
1
"Global trends in emerging infectious diseases". Nature. February 21, 2008.
2
The economic impact of livestock diseases in Viet Nam may have been as much as one billion
US dollars in the decade to 2013 (A. McLeod, Hoang Xuan Trung & Nguyen Van Long,
Estimating the economic impacts of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in animals in Viet Nam,
2013).
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Wildlife trade in a country neighbouring Viet Nam was implicated in the transmission of SARS
from animals to humans.
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disciplines to identify potential public health risks related to infectious disease and to
undertake aligned and coordinated prevention and control actions.
Successive national programmes in Viet Nam have provided an overall framework for the
progressive development of a One Health approach. Key aspects were initially developed
through Viet Nam’s response to avian influenza, within the framework of the Viet Nam
Integrated National Operational Program on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (OPI), 2006-2010.
Following the call for further development of “national strategies, plans, and interventions to
stimulate whole-of-society, multi-sector, multi-disciplinary, and community-based actions
when addressing disease threats that arise at the animal-human-environment interface” in the
Hanoi Declaration adopted by consensus at the International Ministerial Conference on
Animal and Pandemic Influenza (IMCAPI) in Hanoi in April 2010, and building on
recommendations from the 1st National One Health Conference in October 2010, the
Government of Viet Nam and international partners cooperated to develop the Viet Nam
Integrated National Operational Program on Avian Influenza, Pandemic Preparedness and
Emerging Infectious Diseases (AIPED), 2011-2015.
Key national developments and milestones during the AIPED implementation period have
included:

Adoption by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development (MARD) of Joint Circular No. 16/2013/TTLT-BYT-BNN&PTNT providing
guidelines for coordinated prevention and control of zoonotic diseases;

Organization of the 2nd and 3rd National One Health Conferences, in April 2013 and
February 2015 respectively;

Monitoring and surveillance directed to external disease threats in animals and
humans, including MERS-CoV, Ebola and new influenza strains such as H7N9;

Continued development of the Viet Nam One Health University Network (VOHUN), the
Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FEPT) and related training activities;

An increased focus on wildlife as a potential source of new zoonotic diseases, and
gradual strengthening of the related legal and policy framework for state management,
and overall mapping of national One Health stakeholders;

Gradually increasing discussion on broader aspects of One Health and linkages with
Ecosystem/Environmental Health;

Review of national coordination mechanisms for avian and pandemic influenza and
other EIDs, and development of a proposal for a new overall national coordination
mechanism with high-level chairing;

Approval by the Prime Minister of a proposal to revise the Partnership for Avian and
Human Influenza (PAHI) as the One Health Partnership for Zoonoses (OHP);

Government of Viet Nam’s commitment to participate in the Global Health Security
Agenda (GHSA), in particular as a lead country for the Zoonotic Disease Action Package
(ZDAP) and a contributing country for the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Action
Package;
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
Development of the draft national 5-year GHSA Roadmap (commencing 2015); and

Viet Nam’s hosting and co-chairing the International Conference on Zoonotic Disease
Prevention & Control Addressing Health Threats Posed by Zoonotic Diseases: Regional
& Global Collaboration and Technical Exchange in Hanoi in August 2015.
In the final year of AIPED implementation, the PAHI Office (now to be known as OHP Office)
mobilised senior national consultants and worked with national and international partners to
develop a One Health roadmap for the period from 2015 to mid-2016. A key activity set out in
the Roadmap is the development of a new national five-year plan for One Health for the period
2016-2020. This plan is expected to set out the overall framework for strengthening One
Health in Viet Nam during this period, incorporating relevant top-line milestones from related
national and international efforts in Viet Nam.
Support to facilitate and mobilize technical and policy inputs for the drafting of the new plan
is supported through the extension period of the project Strengthening capacity for the
implementation of One Health in Viet Nam (SCOH), implemented by MARD in cooperation with
MOH, with funding from USAID via UNDP. The SCOH will mobilise key international and
national experts to support this process, and support a series of key planning workshops and
related meetings.
National planning activities will be focused on the period from December 2015 to April 2016.
The overall Vietnam Integrated National One Health Plan, 2016-2020 will be prepared by a
national drafting team and will consolidate the inputs from related national plans and
agencies, taking into account inputs from international and national expert consultants. The
final draft of the consolidated plan is expected to be completed by May 2016.
2) OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The assignment will provide high-level technical and policy inputs into the development of the
Vietnam Integrated National One Health Plan, 2016-2020, building on ongoing national efforts
and international support in Viet Nam, and drawing on current international understanding,
experience and initiatives. The specific inputs of the International One Health Expert (Human
Health/Zoonoses) will focus on the human health domain, and its interactions and alignment
with the animal health and environmental health domains and other elements of an overall
One Health approach to zoonotic diseases.
3) SCOPE OF WORK AND SPECIFIC TASKS
The Contractor will work closely with other consultants to be mobilized separately by the
SCOH project during the same period, as follows:

01 International One Health Consultant (Animal Health and Production)

01 National One Health Consultant (Human Health/Zoonoses)

01 National One Health Consultant (Animal Health and Production)
The consultant team will identify the optimal approach to the assignment to ensure wellaligned and consistent overall products, taking into account the specific contributions and
availability of each member as well as related activities (e.g. workshops, meetings, field visits)
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and the overall assignment deadlines.
Specific activities to be carried out by the Contractor, together with the other consultants, are
outlined at point (6.) below.
OHP Office will support the practical arrangements for mobilisation and coordination of the
consultants.
4) DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT, DUTY STATION AND EXPECTED PLACES OF TRAVEL
The duty station for the assignment is Hanoi, Viet Nam. Some desk-based activities may be
undertaken at the Contractor’s home location.
This assignment is to be completed during the period from 15 February to 30 April 2016. As
far as is practicable, timing of field visits will be coordinated with the other international and
national consultants to be mobilized to support the development of the national plan.
Applicants should also take note of the timing of Vietnamese public holidays, in particular for
the Lunar New Year.
5) FINAL PRODUCTS
The final products for this assignment will be prepared in the form of a draft and then final
written assignment report, as follows:
1. Draft human health and related sections of the Vietnam Integrated National One Health
Plan, 2016-2020, together with the national One Health consultant (human health).
2. Final versions of the human health and related sections of the Vietnam Integrated
National One Health Plan, 2016-2020, taking into account comments received on the
draft.
Supporting annexes and other explanatory notes to these deliverables should be provided by
the Contractor where necessary. These should include (i) information on people/agencies
consulted during the assignment, and (ii) analysis, clarification and justification for the
proposed directions and activities in the plan, including analysis and elaboration of technical
and policy issues and perspectives of key stakeholders, particularly where different opinions
exist.
The human health and related sections of the Vietnam Integrated National One Health Plan,
2016-2020 will include:
a. Review of key achievements, challenges, lessons and emerging issues during the
implementation of the AIPED during the period 2011-2015, focusing on the human
health sector, and their interactions with other related One Health sectors, agencies
and issues. Specific sections on interactions between the human health sector and (i)
animal health, (ii) environmental health, and (iii) other related sectors and actors,
should be included. Key lessons learned, best practices, advantages and challenges
should be identified.
b. Proposed One Health goal and specific objectives for the human health sector and its
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interactions with other related One Health actors and issues for the coming 5-year
period.
c. A chapter on the strategy for the human health and sector and its interactions with
other related One Health actors and issues for the coming 5-year period, outlining key
agencies, activities, outputs and outcomes, as well as mechanisms and other key
considerations for implementation, to support the proposed One Health goal and
specific objectives. This strategy should give due attention to existing national
initiatives and international cooperation (e.g. GHSA/EPT2, EU regional One Health
activities, etc.) and to priority areas for which national or international resources have
not yet been identified.
d. Expected challenges and risks for achieving the overall goal, objectives and outcomes,
an analysis of the likelihood an impact of these risks and challenges, and proposed
solutions/mitigations (this may take the form of a table with explanatory notes).
e. A proposed framework for overall monitoring of the One Health plan for the human
health sector during the period 2016-2020.
The final human health and zoonoses sections products will be merged and aligned with those
of the animal health and production sections contributions to result in a combined One Health
document.
6) ACTIVITIES
The Contractor will conduct the following activities:
1. Prepare a workplan for the assignment. 2. Collect relevant documentation, with the support of UNDP, OHP Office, MOH
Department of Preventive Medicine (GDPM), WHO, USAID, US CDC and other
stakeholders.
3. Conduct a desk review of background documents including relevant sectoral and crosssectoral plans and international programs and projects.
4. Conduct interviews with key informants at central level (national agencies,
international partners). 5. Present initial findings and undertake further consultations at a meeting of national
and international stakeholders to be organized by OHP Office.
6. Lead the drafting of human health and related sections of the Vietnam Integrated
National One Health Plan, 2016-2020, together with the national One Health consultant
(human health/zoonoses), for review and comments from the other consultants, OHP
Office and core drafting team.
7. Complete the final draft of the human health and related sections of the Vietnam
Integrated National One Health Plan, 2016-2020, taking into account comments
received on the draft, together with the national One Health consultant (human
health/zoonoses).
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7) PROVISION OF MONITORING, REVIEW, QUALITY CONTROL AND PROGRESS
CONTROLS
The Contractor will report formally to the National Programme Director (NDP) of the SCOH
project, who is the OHP Secretariat Director. The Contractor will work closely with a small
working team comprising of the NPD, the OHP Secretariat Manager, the International Advisor
to the Partnership, and the UNDP Programme Officer. Arrangements for the assignment will
be coordinated by the OHP Secretariat Manager.
Taking into account the overall timing for the consultancy indicated at item (4.) above, the
detailed schedule for monitoring and receiving deliverables shall be based on the workplan
prepared by the consultant, on acceptance by the project.
Key monitoring stages for progress on the consultancy will be:




Agreement of the workplan. Presentation of initial findings. Submission of the draft assignment report. Submission of the final assignment report. The working language for this assignment will be English. All updates and draft and final
versions of reports/products will be submitted in English.
The final report will be approved by the project.
8) DEGREE OF EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The criteria for assessment and selection of the contractor will be:

An advanced degree and a minimum of 15 years of proven experience relevant to One
Health, with specific expertise in Human Health/Zoonoses;

Strong existing familiarity with key global and regional One Health initiatives and
networks and active involvement in One Health policy and planning discussions over
the past decade;

Experience in planning and development of complex programmes in the human health
sector, including formulation of high level technical recommendations taking into
account feasibility in terms of political, economic, human resource capacity, cultural
and other factors.

Experience in working with a range of stakeholders including international and
regional governmental, academic and civil society partners and national governments;

Experience working with countries in Southeast Asia (experience working with Viet
Nam on One Health issues will be an advantage); and

Expertise and demonstrable experience in the preparation of high quality reports.
9) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
The selected contractor is required to fulfil all necessary tasks and deliver the agreed
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products.
The project will make available relevant materials available to the project. The project will
assist with necessary formal introductions to stakeholders and experts/specialists with whom
the contractor is required to meet.
The project will support the Contractor to share and receive comments on draft products,
including the organization of the stakeholder consultation meeting (as noted under activity 5.
of section 6. above).
All other costs will be paid by the contractor, and the cost of such activities should be included
in the financial offer.
10) REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
The following reference documents are available to all bidders:
•
•
Integrated National Operational Program for the Avian and Human Influenza 2006 –
2010 (OPI - The Green Book).
Viet Nam’s Integrated National Operational Programme on Avian Influenza (AIPED),
2011-2015.
11) REVIEW TIME REQUIRED AND PAYMENT TERM
The project will review/approve any outputs prior to authorizing payments.
The project shall organize payments to the contractor in three instalments, upon acceptance
of the outputs/deliverables defined in the ToR by the project:
•
1st payment: 20% of total contract value upon submission of products related to
activity 1;
•
2nd payment: 40% of total contract value upon submission of products related to
activity 6; and
•
3rd and final payment: 40% of total contract value upon submission of the final
products related to activity 7.
12) CONSULTANT PRESENCE REQUIRED ON DUTY STATION/UNDP PREMISES
The presence of the contractor at the project office is not required, aside from specific agreed
meetings with the project team.
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