Consultants to Support new Activity Design NACCET Project

USAID Learns
Monitoring, Collaboration, Learning, & Adaptation

Apply here:
https://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp02/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=SOCIIMPA2&cws=1&rid=2995
Subject: Scoping
Act: 73.03 - Support to new Activity Design NACCET Project

USAID Learns Background

The scope of the five-year project is to support USAID/Vietnam staff and partners to implement more efficient, effective, and transparent programs by improving: (1) USAID and IPs capacity to achieve expected results; (2) USAID’s understanding
and tracking of projects performance; and (3) collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA).

Disability Program Background

The U.S. government has contributed more than $100 million in assistance to persons with disability in Vietnam over the past 30 years. Currently, USAID/Vietnam is partnering with the National Action Center for Chemical and Environment Treatment, Ministry of National Defense (NACCET) to implement a five-year, $65 million project to support persons with (severe) disabilities in provinces sprayed with Agent Orange. This project will improve the capacity of relevant local organizations to implement and manage activities that benefit local people with improved rehabilitation, health and social services, as well as enforcement of disability regulations.

USAID and NACCET are working to develop the required project documents by the government of Vietnam (GVN). NACCET requires technical support from local consultancy services to design a project document to obtain GVN’s mplementation approval. Tentative timeline: March – May 2020.

Activities

This is a new project but should be designed to incorporate lessons learned from previous disability projects USAID has supported in Vietnam. The team will be working closely with USAID and NACCET throughout the activity:

Specific activities to design the project include (but are not limited to):

• Develop outline of plan with key questions to answer through activities listed below.
• Desk review of key documents. Including (but not limited to): award agreements of past and on-going USAID-funded disability projects, previous USAID workplans and evaluation reports in similar technical areas, agreements between USAID and GVN counterparts for disability assistance. Review achievement to date, constraints, and challenges.
• Field visit to selected provinces to collect information of the needs of persons with disability from target provinces to inform the project design.
• Participate in technical meeting(s) with NACCET and USAID to understand internal structures including (but not limited to): project design, operations and finance protocols, internal and external communication protocols, and reporting structure.
• Consultation workshop to bring together different stakeholders and engage implementers, funders, and beneficiaries in the initial design stage.
• Consultation meetings with USAID, NACCET, and key ministries and relevant agencies that may include: Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MOLISA), Ministry of Health (MoH), Vietnam Federation of Disabilities, Vietnam Federation for Agent Orange Victims, Vietnam Red Cross and local disability rights CSOs/CBOs.
• Drafting a final strategic plan and a proposed project document in Vietnamese that focuses on assessment of  information and data for people with disabilities including their need for support. This should include approach, possible and practical and effective support measures. Identifying the project expected results and key strategies, a five-year project framework, main categories, priorities, and key interventions.

Staffing

Consultant Requirements - Team Lead

• Experience writing proposals for GVN’s ODA-funded project. Experience with GVN’s USAID-funded project in Vietnam is an asset, (5-10 years of experience working with ODA providers)
• Experience working, coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and relevant GVN agencies, preferably related to disability issues;
• Demonstrated familiarity with the regulations of the GVN in general and of MoD, in particular regarding signing a technical assistance agreement with a donor;
• Experience working with USAID-funded projects and the GVN; (participated in at least two ODA projects funded by USAID or other donors)
• Experience coordinating initiatives across multiple GVN ministries;
• Demonstrated excellent Vietnamese writing skills and in-depth knowledge of the operating environment in Vietnam preferred; and,
• Demonstrated fluent spoken and writing English skills are required.

Consultant Requirements - Rehab Specialist

• Experience in/with health care and rehabilitation sector (with at least 3 years of experience);
• Demonstrated ability to review and access programs and activities in the sector of health care and rehabilitation;
• Demonstrated familiarity with the regulations of the GVN in general, and of MoLISA and MoH, MoD in particular in implementing health care and rehabilitation programs and support activities for people with disability;
• Familiarity with Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs), Association of Agent Orange Victims, Vietnam Red Cross, and other key actors in areas impacted by Agent Orange;
• Experience working with USAID-funded projects and the GVN;
• Demonstrated excellent Vietnamese writing skills and in-depth knowledge of the operating environment in Vietnam preferred; and, 
• Demonstrated fluent spoken and writing English skills are required.

Consultant Requirements – Social Services/Policy Advocacy

• Experience in/with Social Services/Policy Advocacy; (knowledge of local contractors is an asset);
• Demonstrated ability to propose priorities and key interventions in the social and policy advocacy sectors;
• Experience designing/implementing advocacy programs targeting both central and local government agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze public policy at the national and provincial level to identify key policy priorities for advocacy groups regarding social services and policy enforcement;
• Experience working with USAID-funded projects and the GVN;
• Demonstrated excellent Vietnamese writing skills and in-depth knowledge of the operating environment in Vietnam preferred; and,
• Demonstrated fluent spoken and writing English skills are required.

Deliverables in Vietnamese and summaries in English

1. Reporting on stakeholder consultations
2. Prioritization memo based on the assessment of needs to support for people with disability at provincial level.
3. Strategic plan focuses on results and key strategies for implementation of the disability assistance project and the project document in Vietnamese focusing on assessment of information and data on people with disability and their need for support including approach, and possible, practical, and effective support measures. Identifying the project expected results and key strategies, a 5-year project framework, main categories, priorities, and key interventions.
4. Advise and support the investor to prepare relevant legal documents when developing investment proposal and project document.
5. Finalize project documents to be submitted to the Government for approval.

The closing date for application: February 28, 2020. Selection and interview will be performed constantly and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com. SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. 

Interested candidates could send an email request to [email protected] for an unofficial Vietnamese translation of this SOW.