Consultant to Develop Communication Strategy (HAIVN)

TERM OF REFERENCE

Development of communication strategy and provide communication TA to HAIVN’s partners

1. CONTEXT

The Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam (HAIVN), a collaboration between Harvard Medical School (HMS), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), seeks to develop capacity for high quality medical education, medical research and healthcare quality in Vietnam. HAIVN has been working to improve the health systems in Vietnam since 2003.

HAIVN, through a cooperative agreement with the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), provides technical assistance to the Vietnam National HIV program. HAIVN collaborates with the Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) and provincial Departments of Health to build capacity in HIV prevention, care and treatment, improve the quality of care provided to people living with HIV, scale up antiretroviral therapy, and reach the goal of 90-90-90. HAIVN is seeking a Communication Consultant or a Team/Agency, responsible for developing a communication strategy to be used by USCDC/HAIVN’s partners.

2. OBJECTIVES

Over the past years, HAIVN has worked with VAAC and community partners to develop HIV prevention communication materials and to implement successful public health campaigns focusing on Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U), antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) for prevention, status neutral, and COVID-19. In this year, we will work with VAAC and other USCDC partners to develop a comprehensive communication plan to guide USCDC partners (the Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC), Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EPIC), Hanoi Medical University (HMU), Department of Health (DOH) of HCMC, IRD, community based organizations (CBOs) to conduct HIV prevention messaging in a more coordinated and standardized manner following agreed upon and evidenced-based key messages.

We are looking for a national/international consultant/team/agency to develop the well- coordinated and standardized communication strategies for our partners, which will accelerate reach with young people, especially among MSM, and promote linkages to HIV/STI related services.

3. SCOPE OF WORK, DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

3.1. Specific tasks:

In finalizing a well-coordinated communication strategy, the consultant should include some activities below, but not limited to:

Review the current strategy and plan to identify gaps for target groups and key messages.
Aworkshop with VAAC/US CDC/HAIVN to align the objectives of the communication plan with the country’s national HIV strategy and annual goals.
Based on collected data, develop a communication plan, including specific aims, content strategy, content bucket, key messages, and dissemination strategy including partner implementation/adaptation plan.
A workshop with VAAC/US CDC/HAIVN and partners to review and finalize the communication plan and agree on roles and next steps for each partner.
Provide technical assistance in quarterly workshops with USCDC partners for planning, sharing, and capacity building.

All drafts and finalized version should be developed in both English and Vietnamese and will be reviewed and approved by USCDC/HAIVN.

3.2. Expected outputs:

A well-coordinated communication strategy, including standardized plan and key message to accelerate reach with young people, especially among MSM, and promote linkages to HIV/STI related services, is developed and agreed upon implementation among stakeholders.

The communication strategy should include, but not limited to:

Audience segmentation
Communication objective
Communication plan
Key message
- Standardize communication copywriting materials
- Copywriting guideline
- Consolidate available materials
Guide on 5 most popular communication activities (best practices and execution steps) for partners
M&E template

3.3. Timeframe:

The communication strategy should be finalized by mid of December 2022, the consultant then available to provide TA in HAIVN quarterly meetings planned for December 2022, March, June and September 2023.

Activities	Output	Time
Activities	Output	Oct, Nov, Dec	Mar	Jun	Sep
Review current strategy and plan to identify gaps for target groups and key messages		x
Workshop with VAAC/US CDC/HAIVN to align the objectives of the communication plan with the country’s national HIV strategy and annual goals		x
Develop Communication masterplan & standardized communication copywriting materials (including strategy, objectives, content strategy, content bucket, key messages, partner plan)		x	x
A workshop with VAAC/US CDC/HAIVN and partners to review and finalize the communication plan and agree on roles and next steps for each partner.		x
Provide TA in Quarterly workshops with CDC partners for planning, sharing, and capacity building.		x	x	x	x

3.4. Specific conditions:

The consultant will work closely with HAIVN teams, the communications officer, who will provide support and guidance, including introductions to stakeholders to develop and craft communications materials. Final report will be approved by USCDC/HAIVN.

4. QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

BSc in Marketing, Communication, Business Administration, Public Relations, or relevant field. Master’s degree is preferable.
Experience in developing communication strategy and plans.
Have knowledge and understanding about HIV and PEPFAR program in Vietnam.
Experience in working with Vietnam government agencies and community-based organizations is preferable.
Excellent presentation skills.
Excellent command of written and spoken in both Vietnamese and English.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well in multicultural teams and partners.
Able to generate creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.

5. APPLICATION

Interested candidates are invited to submit an application letter with CV, sample of previously developed communication plan/strategy, supporting documents, proposal and workplan with tentative timeline to demonstrate skills and experience to Ms. Dam Thuy Huong at thuyhuong@haivn.org no later than November 20, 2022.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview. The selected one is expected to start work on December 1, 2022.