Diagnostic Consultant

CONSULTANT SCOPE OF WORK

1. BACKGROUND

The Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance (IDDS) Project is a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project whose purpose is to assist countries to strengthen their infectious disease diagnostic networks and surveillance systems at national and subnational levels to effectively detect priority infectious diseases. The IDDS project supports partners in the following areas: (1) strengthening the detection of diseases of public health importance and identification of anti-microbial resistance in priority infectious diseases through an accessible, accurate, adaptable, timely, and integrated diagnostic network system; (2) improving the quality of real-time surveillance systems for pathogens of greatest public health concern, including zoonotic diseases; and (3) generating evidence-based guidance and innovative solutions to strengthen in-country diagnostic networks and surveillance systems. The IDDS project implementation is carried out by a consortium of partners lending assistance in 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. 

The project is being implemented by a consortium led by ICF International which is the Principal Recipient, and with PATH, FHI360, ASLM, Abt Associates, Gryphon Scientific and Metabiota as members. In Vietnam, PATH is the lead partner The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh city (PIHCM) and Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang (PINT) under Ministry of Health of Vietnam are among the key implementation partners. The Department of Animal Health (DAH) under Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is another key partner in activities to enhance collaboration between animal health and human health sectors.

IDDS-GHSA (Global Health Security Agenda) project will aim to achieve two overarching objectives throughout the life of the project with key outcomes as follows:

Objective 1: National diagnostic network strengthened to be accessible, accurate, adaptable, timely, and integrated.

• Outcome 1: Strengthen the human health specimen referral system (SRS)
• Outcome 2: Create a sustainable animal health specimen referral network

Objective 2: National indicator-based surveillance system and event-based surveillance (EBS) system developed and capable of detecting events of significance for public health, animal health, and health security.

• Outcome 3: Increase the use of the Vietnam Animal Health Information System (VAHIS)
• Outcome 4: Expand EBS for human health
• Outcome 5: Improve EBS systems through a One Health approach

PATH is seeking an experienced diagnostic consultant to provide technical support to IDDS staff in implementing specimen referral system (SRS) related project activities.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

• Provide technical support to IDDS staff in implementing the pilot SRS in 3 provinces (Binh Dinh, Dong Thap, and Thai Nguyen)
• Collect, analyze, and summarize SRS data to support an evaluation the pilot human SRS in the 3 provinces
• Prepare a draft presentationfor the evaluation data of the pilot human SRS in the 3 provinces   

3. DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE

The consultant will work for up to 105 days. The consultant is required to submit to IDDS deliverables with timeline set below:

• Period of Consultancy: 20 February to 20 August 2022

4. REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Being a Vietnamese citizen
• Having experience in public health or laboratory science
• Experienced in working independently to full-fill short term deliverables
• Having strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience in developing health information system is preferred, but not required.
• Preference to individuals who have experience or knowledge on the specimen management in Vietnam and/or other software used for tracking laboratory information system.

5. PAYMENT

Payment will be made to individual bank account after the final deliverables are sent and approved.

6. TECHNICAL CONTACT

Nguyen Hoai Thu, Position: IDDS-GHSA Diagnostic specialist.

Applicants will submit their application package to me, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Nhung via email at [email protected] [1]

The closing date for application is Feb 15, 2022