Consultant (WHO)

Job Description

Job title: VN058 Short term consultant to support pertaining to vaccine, immunization and biomedicals in the development of the proposal dossier for the development of the new Law on Disease Prevention.

Location: Ha Noi, Vietnam

Deadline: 24/10/2023

Background

The Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (ID Law) was approved by the National Assembly on November 21st, 2007 and came into effect on July 1st, 2008. The ID Law focuses on prevention and control of communicable diseases, including: communication and education, hygiene, surveillance, biosafety in laboratory testing, use of vaccine and biomedicals, infection prevention and control (IPC) in hospitals, border health quarantine, outbreak control measures, and other relevant regulations.

During the period 2016-2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Viet Nam supported GDPM in the development of the proposal dossier for the development of the revised ID Law, which was appraised by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and submitted to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for consideration in 2018. However, the revised ID Law Project was not included in the 14th National Assembly agenda because priority was given to the revised Medical Examination and Treatment Law Project. This delay, though seemed unfortunate at the time, actually has presented us with a better opportunity to strengthen the legal framework for prevention and control of communicable diseases, taking into account the lessons identified from the COVID-19 pandemic response during which many shortcomings of the ID Law were revealed in the application of preventive and control measures. The Government and MOH have now given this task a high priority, with the approval of Decision No. 2215/QD-BYT dated 17/5/2023 of the Minister of Health promulgating the Plan for formulation of application for the Law on Disease Prevention Project (the Law Project), which sets the target for the Law Project to be included in the 15th National Assembly law development agenda for 2025.

The objective of this short-term consultant position is to provide expertise inputs in the areas of vaccine, immunization and biologicals to support GDPM in the development of the proposal dossier for the development of the new Law on Disease Prevention as described below.

Planned timelines

Start date: 15/11/2023

End date: 31/12/2023

Work to be performed

Under the overall supervision of the Acting Team Coordinator Disease Control of the WHO Viet Nam Country Office (WCO), in coordination with the Division of Vaccine Management and Biological Safety as the assigned focal point at GDPM, related government units and other key partners, the consultant is expected to undertake the tasks as described below.

Provide strategic advice and support to GDPM in compiling the proposal dossier for the development of the Law on Disease Prevention.
Work with GDPM in the process of review and revision of the proposal dossier based on the comments received from relevant stakeholders, particularly for the provisions of vaccine, immunization and biologicals.
Participate in seminars, workshops, technical consultation meetings, etc. in the law development process and provide expertise inputs pertaining to vaccine, immunization and biologicals.
Perform any other related duties, as required by the respective responsible officer and manager.

Methods to carry out the activities

The consultant shall collaborate with other WHO and National Experts and professional staff at GDPM in carrying out major steps in the law development process (See Annex) which cover steps I.1-3. These include the development of the proposal dossier, provide justification or revision to the proposal dossier pursuant to comments from Ministries, sectors, stakeholders, and Ministry of Justice’s appraisal report pertaining to communicable disease surveillance and health quarantine. If all these steps can be completed before the end of the consultancy contract, the consultant will continue to support step I.4 until the end of the contract.

Output 1: A draft proposal dossier for the development of the Law on Disease Prevention (Expected date of delivery: 15 Nov 2023)

Delivery 1.1: Review and update the Report on the 15 years implementation of the ID Law, taking into account the lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on vaccine, immunization and biologicals.
Deliverable 1.2 Review and update contents related to vaccine, immunization and biologicals in other documents in the proposal dossier including the Report to the Government, impact assessment reportand draft outline of the new Law on Disease Prevention.

Output 2: A revision of the proposal dossier for the development of the Law on Disease Prevention, ready to be submitted to the Government (Expected date of delivery: 15 Dec 2023)

Deliverable 2.1: Provide explanation and justification pursuant to the comments from Ministries, sectors, stakeholders, and Ministry of Justice’s appraisal report pertaining to vaccine, immunization and biologicals.
Deliverable 2.2: Provide feedback, justification pursuant to the comments from the Government (if still within contract duration) pertaining to vaccine, immunization and biologicals.

Output 3: Expertise inputs into all technical consultations in the process of the Law development pertaining but not limited to vaccine, immunization and biologicals components and the final consultancy report (Expected date of delivery: the earliest between 31 Dec 2023 and the end of the consultancy)

Deliverable 3.1: Participate in seminars, workshops, technical meetings, etc. in the Law development process and provide expertise inputs in the discussion.
Deliverable 3.2: Perform any other related duties, as required by the respective responsible officer and manager.
Deliverable 3.3: End-of consultancy report.

Specific requirements

a. Qualifications required:

Essential: An advanced degree (Master’s level or above) in public health, epidemiology, medicine or related field from an accredited/recognized institute. Desirable:

Specialized training or education in biological, vaccine and immunization
Advanced degree in medicine or public health.

b. Experience required:

Essential:

Experience in developing and implementing strategies and policies on health including Laws, Decrees, Circulars.
At least 10 years of experience in the field of preventive medicine.

Desirable:

10 years working experience in state management agencies in the field of preventive medicine.
Experience in working and coordination with Departments under the Ministry of Health, relevant Ministries, Office of the Government and agencies of the National Assembly.
Experience in having presided over the development of legal document(s) in the field of preventive medicine.
Involved in the development of the ID Law 2007.

c. Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Ability to work independently and in groups.

d. Language requirements:

Fluent in written and verbal English .
Knowledgeable in English for public health related majors.

Place of assignment

The consultant will work from home office when not attending relevant meetings, workshops etc. and report to WHO office at least 2-4 days per month.

Medical clearance

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

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel upon request from GDPM and in an agreement with WHO.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Budget

Please take note of the following when submitting application: The contractor will be responsible for paying taxes, if any.

How to apply

Those who are interested can contact our focal person with contact detail at the end of the announcement before/by 24 October 2023 and should be addressed to: Administrative Officer

World Health Organization, UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam OR

wpvnmdc@who.int

For further information on this TOR, please contact: wpvnm@dcwho.int