Consultant to Provide Technical Assistance for the Development of New National HIV Strategy 2021-2030

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Local consultant to provide technical assistance to Vietnam Administration
of HIV/AIDS Control for the development of the new National HIV Strategy 2021-2030

I. Background of the assignment

1. USAID Sustainable Financing for HIV

The USAID Sustainable Financing for HIV is a two-year project (2018-2020) in Vietnam funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by Abt Associates. The project started on October 1, 2018 and will end on September 30, 2020. The project builds on USAID’s existing support to the Government of Vietnam (GVN) to provide a program of targeted, innovative, evidence-based, and results-driven technical assistance. Building on its predecessor project, USAID’s Health Finance and Governance (HFG), the purpose of the project is to help Vietnam mobilize and organize host country financing for HIV programs. This includes strengthening the capacity of GVN to achieve financial protection for health, and minimizing the out-of-pocket burden for people living with HIV (PLHIV) as they use comprehensive HIV services.

The project has the following four technical components:

1. Provide technical assistance to complete HIV treatment facility integration and inclusion of ARVs for SHI reimbursement in fiscal year 2019 (FY19);
2. Provide technical support to implement an ARV copayment subsidy for advancing financial sustainability for PLHIV, providers, and the SHI fund;
3. Generate evidence to advocate for SHI coverage of HIV prevention services, including innovative financing approaches for domestic resource mobilization for the HIV response; and
4. Monitor funding flows for centralized procurement of ARVs, including the provision and reimbursement of ARVs through the SHI fund.

2. Context of this assignment

Viet Nam government is committed to achieve the UN target “90-90-90”. In order to achieve this goal, VAAC recognizes the need to have a favorable legal framework for implementing HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities including legal documents: laws, circulars, decrees, guidelines, and a National Strategy for HIV/AIDS. “National Strategy for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control to 2020 and Vision 2030" is an important legal document in which key priorities for the national response to HIV and targets were set up. After 8 years of implementation, there are significant achievements in controlling the HIV epidemic and improve coverage of HIV services, including HIV testing, ARV treatment, and methadone maintenance therapy for PLHIV. However, certain challenges and gaps still remain. In addition, the investment for the HIV/AIDS program is still low and depends on foreign support. It is now time for the development of a new National Strategic Plan for HIV, which is an opportunity to identify new strategies and priorities in a new context and to achieve the ambitious target of ending AIDS by 2030 as set in the current National Strategic Plan for HIV.

This year, Viet Nam will develop a new National Strategy aimed at the target of ending AIDS by 2030. Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS control (VAAC) is assigned by MOH to be the focal agency for the development of a new National Strategy on HIV Prevention and Control. In order to develop the strategy, VAAC requires the USAID Sustainable Financing for HIV to provide technical evidence to support VAAC in developing the new National HIV Strategy 2021-2030.

The USAID Sustainable Financing for HIV seeks to hire a local consultant/expert in health financing who is responsible for providing financing inputs and technical evidence for VAAC to develop the National Strategy on HIV/AIDS 2021-2030.

II. Tasks

• Review existing funding sources and budget allocation for HIV program at national level in consultation with senior experts of Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), to explore potential state budget allocation for HIV/AIDS;
• Technical assistance to VAAC in the development of a sustainable financing component in the new National HIV Strategy for ending AIDS in 2030;
• Provide comments and technical inputs on the provincial sustainable financial plan for HIV response in selected provinces that SFA currently supports.

III. Qualification requirements

• An advanced degree (minimum MA/MSc) in health financing, health economics, economics or equivalent, and at least 10 years of relevant work experience, particularly in health financing.
• Strong quantitative, financial analysis, and health financing skills, especially for HIV/AIDS programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government counterparts and coordinate various actors such as different Ministry of Health units, other ministries and government agencies, donors and NGOs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Vietnamese.

Note: This position is based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

To apply, please send your application documents to Ms. Thanh Hien with the following email: [email protected]

Deadline: open until filled

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.