Project Assistant

VN#035: A Project Assistant to provide support to ‘Improving the Quality of Hospital Care to Reduce Maternal, Newborn and Child deaths in Viet Nam’

1. Background:

In the past decade, many countries strengthened access and coverage of effective interventions for women, newborns and children. Governments and partners invested in scaling up of essential interventions, and through coordinated actions, accelerated the pace of achieving MDGs and SDGs. As a result, global under-five mortality declined by 53% and maternal mortality by 44% since 1990. However, each year nearly 300,000 women still die of complications during pregnancy or childbirth and almost six million children aged 14 and younger lose their lives mostly from preventable causes.

The World Health Organization recognizes that improved quality of maternity and pediatrics care and patient safety are among the highest priorities to reduce preventable deaths and disability. In addition, the available evidence indicates that adverse events in early life play a major role in susceptibility to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood.

To help countries develop best practices and lesson learnt on improving maternal and pediatrics quality of care, the Russian Federation government provided financial support through WHO to four countries, including Viet Nam. The initiative will incorporate quality of care interventions and health systems strengthening in order to improve the entire spectrum of maternal, newborn and child health care and services in four selected countries.

Although Viet Nam has made achievements toward achieving SDGs regarding maternal and child mortality rates, there is still a big parity between remote/rural and urban areas. Infant mortality rates were 8.2/1000 live births in urban and 16.7/1000 live births in the rural areas (GSO 2019). Maternal mortality rates were highest in the mountainous and highland areas, which were from 10 to 20 times higher than in the urban area (MDSR report 2019).

At the request of MOH, WHO will implement this project, which aims to improve quality of maternal and child health care especially in the remote areas, contributing to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in Viet Nam in the next period.

2. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation): 1 year with possible extension

Start date: 25/07/2021

End date: 24/07/2022

3. Work to be performed

The Project Assistant will be based in the Maternal and Child Health Department, Ministry of Health. He or she will work under the direction of the MCH department and report to the Team Coordinator of Universal Health Coverage and Healthy Lifestyle and Environment UHC-HLE, WHO Viet Nam Country Office, with the following Terms of Reference:

- Assisting the focal point of the MCH Department to develop plans and to implement the project under the direction of the MCH Department.

- Providing routine administrative and logistical support for project activities, including gathering materials, logistic arrangement of meetings and workshops, note-taking, minutes writing, translation, etc.

- Participating in field visits and assisting in their preparation and logistics.

- Supporting the focal point in communications with project provinces, closely working with local authorities in the planning process and implementation, troubleshooting any issues, and reporting them to the focal point and the MCH Leaders and consulting with WHO Viet Nam.

- Supporting the focal point of MCH Department in preparing financial and activities reports under the direction of the MCH Department.

- Performing other tasks as directed by the leaders of the MCH Department and WHO Viet Nam when required.

4. Specific requirements

Qualifications requirements:

- University degree in relevant areas including medicine or public health from a recognized university

Experience requirements:

- Experience in project implementation and management in the areas of public health

- Working experience in the public health system in the area of maternal and child health

- Working experience with MOH and/or development partners

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

- Understanding Ministry of Health system from central to local levels, and the reproductive, maternal and child health system, and the project-related field as maternal and child health.

- Good communication skills and the ability to interact with locality, health professionals at various levels, and work with government officials and nongovernmental organizations.

- Good computer skills and word processing software in Vietnamese and English (Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet), ability to draft reports and administrative dispatches.

Language requirements:

- Proficiency in English and Vietnamese

5. Place of assignment

The Project Assistant will be based in Maternal and Child Health Department, Ministry of Health. He or she will work under the direction of MCH department.

6. Medical clearance

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

7. Travel

The SSA is expected to travel to project provinces to monitor and provide technical support for localities. The expected time for travel is expected at about 30%-40%.

8. Budget

Please take note of the following when submitting application:

- The contractor will be responsible for paying taxes, if any.

Those who are interested can submit your most updated CV and application letter indicating post title and vacancy notice # on or before 14 July 2021 and should be addressed to:

Administrative Officer

World Health Organization

UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street,

Hanoi, Viet Nam

wpvnmapplicants@who.int

For further information on this TOR, please contact:

wpvnmwr@who.int