STC for Reaching the unreached and ICOPE

Job Title: To support the development of the National operational framework for Reaching the Unreached (RTU) in VNM and the piloting of Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) model in Viet Nam in conjunction with RTU approach.

1. Background: [Information provided herewith should be general to people outside of WHO to understand, must not contain internal information]

Reaching the un-reached population has been identified as one of four priority thematic areas and is well presented in the Regional strategic programmatic paper “For the Future”. Unreached population is defined as the people who have less access to effective, quality health improving actions and services and poorer health outcomes than is possible within their country. This focus is not just limited to populations who lack access to health improving actions or services. It also includes populations who may have access, but the services available are insufficient nor responsive for their need and/or lacks the quality necessary to equalize outcomes with the better off in a country (UNDSG 2019).

Moreover, reaching the un-reached is regarded as a cross-cutting theme across the other priorities (health security; NCD and ageing; and climate change), and require a whole of Government and whole of health system approach. VNM country office plans to step up with more activities, in conjunction with the Government, in learning from past experiences, unpacking the remaining and underlying systemic and service delivery issues, and come up with a workable strategic approach to reach a sustainable system that can cover everyone.

Up to now the VNM Government has mostly used vertical approaches in reaching the most vulnerable as well as the highest prioritized population groups such as mother and child, people living with or facing the high risk of HIV, TB, malaria, while using other system-wide interventions such as subsidies to cover people who are poor, ethnic minority, children under 6 and older people. For the groups that are affected by specific diseases, these vertical programs are reaching their last miles and the vertical interventions are now being streamlined into the national service delivery system and covered under the national public financing system. The remaining issues now are 1) to improve the availability and quality of care, especially the services provided at primary and community level and these issues are applied in both rural/mountainous and urban areas; 2) the financial protection for patients while using these services; and 3) the creation of new services that are needed but not yet developed such as a) services that address the specific health and social care needs of older people amid the rapid population ageing in the country; b) mental health care; c) rehabilitative and palliative care.

Most of the above services can be provided at primary care level by a primary care team and can be covered adequately from government budget and/or social health insurance funds. In other words, reaching the un-reached can be best implemented via strengthening of primary care system particularly the district health system, but what services to provide and how they should be provided, need to be reviewed and revised, so that any patient, with specific need, can be effectively reached and receive health improving interventions, without barriers whether that is financial or social. In other words, the country now needs to develop a new operational framework that guides the implementation and the relevant system changes that are necessary to meet the current and future health needs.

Over the last few month, the VNM CO has come up with a draft concept note on reaching the unreached and training materials targeted at commune health workers to build their skills in provision of comprehensive and integrated care model. In continuity of the work done in the past, the WHO VNM CO is planning to facilitate the discussion and the development of the operational framework for reaching the un-reached as an integral part of PHC strengthening in the country. Further, the implementation of integrated care for older people at commune level will be piloted in few selected sites as an illustration of how new services can be created, and how they can be delivered to effectively reach out to people, who live in different context and have different specific needs. The work will follow and adapt the guidance from WHO HQ and the regional office, and as the continuity of the activities accomplished during 2021 by the VNM CO in the area of PHC, RTU, and Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE).

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the country office in moving the work in the above areas.

2. Work to be performed [All tasks and outputs to be listed here] Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 1 Feb 2022
End date: 31 Dec 2022

Method(s) to carry out the activity

Under the supervision of the Coordinator, Universal Health Coverage and Healthy Lifestyle and Environment Team at the WHO Representative Office for Viet Nam, the consultant is required to report to the WHO Representative Office for Viet Nam at full time basis and deliver the following outputs.

Outputs Output 1: Provide technical assistance to the MOH in policy discussion and development of the National Action Framework in reaching the un-reached, including organising and facilitating a national consultation.
Deliverable 1-1: Draft national framework, based on technical guidance from WPRO
Deliverable 1-2: National consultation to review the national framework and summary report
Output 2: Provide technical assistance in piloting the model of integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) in selected sites, using the operational plan developed by the CO in 2021.
Deliverable 2-1: Report on the pilot implementation monitoring
Deliverable 2-2: National workshop to disseminate the lessons learnt from the pilot and implication for health policy change

3. Specific requirements

📍 Qualifications required:

Essential: A University degree in relevant fields such as medicine, public health, social science or economics from a recognized university
Desirable: A master’s degree in relevant areas including medicine, public health, social science or economics from a recognized university

📍 Experience required:

Essential: - At least five (5) years of experience in relevant areas including medicine and public health Desirable: - Experience working in or with Government Agency, UN organizations or NGO

📍 Skills / Technical skills and knowledge: - Knowledge on health system, health policy, health equity - Knowledge on prevention and management of main communicable and non-communicable disease of public health importance in Viet Nam - Knowledge on the role and current challenges of Vietnam health service delivery system including grass root health care system - Proven skills in interacting with various government levels and facilitating policy discussions

📍 Language requirements: Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English and Vietnamese

📍 Competencies - Good coordination and communication skills across different technical programmes and partners. - Ability to establish harmonious working relationships and teamwork and adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain high level of personal conduct. - Ability to demonstrate gender equality and cultural appropriateness within the office and among partners. - Fostering integration and teamwork

5. Place of assignment Ha Noi, Viet Nam (the consultant is expected to work full time at the WHO Representative Office for Viet Nam)

6. Medical clearance The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

7. Travel The Consultant is expected to travel where and when required by the Manager. Any travel will follow the appropriate WHO rules and regulations for travel and be arranged by WHO.

Those who are interested can contact our focal person with contact detail at the end of the announcement before/by 04 January 2022.

The application and supporting documents should be received on/or 04 January 2022 and should be addressed to: