1.Background
USAID’s Avian and Pandemic Influenza Initiative is a three-year project implemented by Abt Associates Inc. (2009-2012). The project aims to build the capacity of the Government of Vietnam (GVN) and its counterparts to identify, prevent, and control influenza outbreaks in both animals and humans. The project leverages village, commune, district and provincial implementation experiences to provide evidence for planners and policy makers. This is done in close consultation with other key players such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations and the Partnership on Avian and Human Influenza (PAHI) in Vietnam.
Activities in Years 1-2 and the early parts of Year 3 focused on developing and testing new models/approaches in five target provinces (Can Tho, Kien Giang, Quang Tri, Ha Nam and Hung Yen). We have now shifted our focus to advocating for wider adoption and replication of these models.
One model that we are advocating for wider adoption of is an Animal Health Worker (AHW) Training Package to build AHW capacity and to help develop AHW networks. The development of this package included:
- A risk assessment in the five original focus provinces by RUDEC, May-July 2010;
- Support for AHW monthly meetings and AHW refresher trainings in the pilot areas;
- A review of existing training curriculum in consultation with local Sub-Department of Animal Health (SDAH)
- Field testing of a training course for 25 new AHW in Quang Tri and refresher training sessions for existing AHWs
- Implementation of Training of Trainers (TOT) courses in Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Quang Tri, Can Tho and Kien Giang
- Roll out of new AHW training courses Quang Tri and refresher trainings in pilot provinces (both with and without cost sharing by local AHWs)
- Finalization and printing the training materials;
- Provision of technical assistance for the replication of the model by Moc Chau (a private company) and Ninh Binh province (working with the SDAH);
- The bulk of the work to develop the training package was implemented by APII subcontractor the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (AFAP) in close collaboration with the APII Animal Health team, and the SDAHs.
2.Purpose
To support advocacy activities and promotion of the AHW training model, it is important to have information regarding its costs and financial sustainability. To analyze the financial sustainability of the model, the project will carry out a costing study to (i) estimate operation costs, institutionalization costs, and cost savings of the AHW model and (ii) simulate the costs of adopting the model by the government under different scenarios.
3.Activities
The consultants will work closely with the APII team (including animal health staff, provincial implementation staff, and F&A staff), as well as AFAP and the SDAHs to undertake the following work:
- Review relevant background documents;
- Define the cost variables and various adoption scenarios to be analyzed and outline the process and tools for data collection and analysis (for APII approval);
- Undertake data collection, including field visits;
- Analyze the data, prepare a draft report and present the preliminary findings to APII and key stakeholders;
- Present findings in advocacy workshops as requested;
- Prepare and submit the final report for APII approval;
- Brief and debrief with USAID as requested.
4.Deliverables
- Research tools and process (in English);
- Trip report (in English);
- Draft report and presentation (in English);
- Final report (in Vietnamese and English) with all raw and processed data.
5.Qualifications
International Consultant
- Graduate degree in agricultural/livestock economics or a closely related field;
- Documented experience with costing and cost-benefit analyses;
- Familiarity with veterinary/health worker system in Vietnam and development/ application of capacity building approaches to strengthen the system;
- Very strong analytical skills;
- Good presentation skills;
- Strong English writing skills.
Local Consultant
- Graduate degree in economics or a closely related field;
- Documented experience with costing and cost-benefit analyses and data collection;
- Familiarity with veterinary/health worker system in Vietnam and development/ application of capacity building approaches to strengthen the system;
- Strong analytical skills;
6.LOE
International Consultant: 20 working days (including travel, desk review, in country field visits for collecting and validating data, data analysis, workshop presentation, report writing in English and translation of the final report into Vietnamese).
Local Consultant: 14 working days (field visits for collecting and validating data, data analysis, contributions to Vietnamese version of final report).
CV and documentation should be submitted electronically to USAID’s Avian and Pandemic Influenza Initiative no later than 5pm Sept 20, 2012 to the following email addresses: [email protected] [1].