Developing a Politically Feasible Strategy to reduce the risk of zoonosis diseases related to the hunting, trafficking, wildlife farming and consumption of wildlife in Vietnam, and an Implementation Project Document detailing how to reduce the risk of pandemics by employing preventative One Health approaches using systems methodologies
- BACKGROUND
N4H is a global initiative, working nationally to reduce health risks through environmental determinants. Initial work will focus on strengthening the environmental and preventive aspects of One Health. N4H aims to contribute an improved understanding of the links between the health of people, animals, and ecosystems, to mainstream them into public health approaches and to support decision makers and relevant actors to make use of relevant evidence to help prevent future pandemics and enhance planetary health.
In its first eight years, N4H will work in three overlapping phases in 18 low- and middle-income countries or regions. For its first phase of work, N4H employed an open call to government agencies for Expressions of Interest. Selection criteria centered on the risk of zoonotic disease spillover, political commitment to collaboration and One Health, and potential as an N4H partner. In Phase I, N4H will work in Ecuador, Ghana, Mongolia, Rwanda, Vietnam and Zambia, and operational work will start in 2023.
The operational work in each country will be structured in two stages.
- The scoping stage is designed as a systemic inquiry and will conclude when a co-developed Implementation Project Document is produced that details the activity plan and budget. The scoping stage is a limited exercise estimated to last approximately 3 months (possibly up to 6 months) and to be completed by the end of 2023 or Q1 of 2024.
- The implementation stage is expected to last 2 to 3 years and be based on country interests and priorities, as agreed in the scoping stage, which support the N4H overall outcome areas:
♦ Assess: enhancing evidence on links between biodiversity, climate change, and health for better decision-making
♦ Build: supporting governments to develop effective policies, structures, and frameworks for preventative One Health
♦ Enable: building capacity, knowledge management, and advocacy to implement such policies and frameworks
♦ Sustain: establishing sustainable partnerships and governance
The tropical Asia region, in which Vietnam is located, is regarded as one of the five global “hot spots” for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in humans and animals. Since 2003, Vietnam has endured considerable human and economic impacts from zoonotic EIDs, including SARS and Avian Influenza, as well as agricultural losses from livestock diseases estimated to exceed one billion USD. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which leads to severe acute respiratory syndrome in humans, is a prime example since 2019. Human movement, intricate value chains, and trade in livestock, wildlife, and their products all contribute to the heightened risk of zoonotic transmission and spread of disease.
Building on and expanding earlier efforts, the One Health Partnership (OHP) was inaugurated in March 2016. With the endorsement of the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and 28 international and domestic partners collaborated to develop and sign the One Health Partnership Framework for combating zoonotic epidemics from animals to humans for the period 2021-2025. The overarching goal of the OHP is to enhance Vietnam’s capacity to address zoonotic infectious disease threats at the human-animal-ecosystem interface (including livestock, wildlife, and other species). It consolidates national and international governmental and non-governmental One Health stakeholders under the leadership of the Government of Vietnam.
Numerous agencies and organizations have participated in implementing the One Health Partnership Framework for 2021-2025, including entities such as GIZ, FAO, IUCN, TRAFFIC, WWF, SVW, etc., to examine the relationship between wildlife-related activities like hunting, trading, rearing, rescuing, and releasing wild animals and human health and environmental aspects. These efforts can be construed as the initial steps in implementing the Nature4Health approach in Vietnam. The establishment of the Network of Wildlife Rescue Centers in Vietnam initiated by Save Vietnam’s Wildlife in 2022 and Guidelines for the prevention, detection, response, and remediation of disease risks in and around protected and conservation areas developed by IUCN and EcoHealth Alliance are instances of progressing towards the Nature4Health approach. These materials are available in Vietnamese and English and will be used during project implementation for capacity building and raising awareness for partners and public about Nature4Health.
However, the understanding of One Health as well as Nature4Health differs considerably between partners due to their divergent priorities and perspectives. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a scoping study to identify national priorities for mitigating the risks of zoonotic diseases from wildlife-related activities in Vietnam and develop a project outlining how N4H will reduce the risk of pandemics by employing preventative One Health approaches using systems methodologies in Vietnam.
- OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT SCOPING PHASE 1
The objectives of the scoping stage are to plan and conduct a systemic inquiry that concludes with an Implementation Project Document detailing how N4H will reduce the risk of pandemics by employing preventative One Health approaches using systems methodologies.
This scoping stage will also outline politically feasible strategy to reduce the risk of zoonosis diseases related to the hunting, trafficking, wildlife farming and consumption of wildlife.
- EXPECTED RESULTS AND REPORTING OF THE PROJECT
- Implementation Project Document
The key result is an N4H Implementation Project Document, which details the plan on how to move forward. A template is included in the N4H Phase I Scoping Guide (to be provided). The key elements include:
- Structured according to N4H Theory of Change
- Includes: Project description (objectives, planned activities) • Stakeholder analysis (building on scoping stage report) • Logical framework • Workplan • Budget • Safeguards • Learning & results
- Approved by the N4H Steering Committee
| Project description
|
An overall summary of the project context and what needs to change (i.e. activities) in each sector on
· Assess: knowledge / evidence / understanding · Build: policies and practice · Enable / capacity · Sustain – partnerships and governance |
| Governance | What form of collaboration and the relevant governance structure |
| Stakeholder analysis
|
Provides information on the stakeholders who were involved in the process and the partners who will engage moving forward. |
| Logical framework | Overview of the objectives, activities and resources in a logical framework including the goal, purpose, outputs, activities, indicators, means of verification and risks and assumptions. See template x. |
| Workplan | Who does what / when over 2/3 year timeframe |
| Budget
|
US$ 2 million |
| Safeguards | Link to IKI Safeguards |
- Scoping Stage Process Report
An additional requirement is a short report (approximately 5 pages, 2500 words) that outlines the country’s One Health context and the process that was followed during the scoping stage, with details of the stakeholder engagement, identified activities and lessons learned. A template is available upon request but includes three qualitative questions in addition to specific indicators:
- How did you ensure a systemic approach?
- What challenges did you encounter?
- What lessons did you learn?
- SCOPE OF THIS CONSULTANCY
The consultants will work closely with the IUCN Vietnam Biodiversity Coordinator and other project team members to carry out the work, using the N4H Scoping Guidelines (to be provided by IUCN) to help guide the process in Vietnam.
The consultants will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Task 1: Situation Analysis
- Visit protected areas, rescue centres, wildlife farms, and other sites where human and wildlife come into contact to interview stakeholders and collect written inputs. A feasible number of those sites will be determined based on selection criteria.
- Assess the current status of zoonotic diseases and their links to wildlife hunting, trafficking, farming, and consumption.
- Identify key stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, local communities, and international partners, involved in disease control with wildlife management.
- Task 2: Stakeholder Consultation
- Organize meetings with relevant stakeholders to discuss and gather specific technical inputs and insights.
- Identify the concerns, interests, and challenges faced by different stakeholders.
- Participate in Working Group meetings organised by IUCN Viet Nam
- Help facilitate the national consultation and workshop to develop the implementation project document.
- Please add some written examples of previous work related to One Health.
- Task 3: Draft the scoping phase report
An additional requirement is a short report (approximately 5 pages, 2500 words) that outlines Viet Nam’s One Health context and the process that was followed during the scoping stage, with details of the stakeholder engagement, identified activities and lessons learned. A report template will be provided, but includes three qualitative questions in addition to specific indicators:
- How did you ensure a systemic approach?
- What challenges did you encounter?
- What lessons did you learn?
- Providing inputs and supporting the development of implementation project documents (IPD), working with an International Consultant and IUCN Team
Through the scoping process using the system approach, the consultants, working with an international consultant, and in close collaboration with the IUCN Vietnam Biodiversity Coordinator and the project team to produce the Implementation Project Document (IPD), which details the plan on how to move forward. A template is included in the N4H Phase I Scoping Guide (to be provided). The key elements include:
- Structured according to N4H Theory of Change
- Includes: Project description (objectives, planned activities) • Stakeholder analysis (building on scoping stage report) • Logical framework • Workplan • Budget • Safeguards • Learning & results
- Deliverables
The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:
- A Brief Situation Analysis Report: A comprehensive review of the current situation of zoonotic diseases related to wildlife in Vietnam.
- Short documentation reports of all meetings with stakeholders (who attended, when was the meeting, what was discussed), with photo documentation (template of documentation report of these meetings to be provided by IUCN)
- A Brief Stakeholder Consultation Report: Summarizing findings and feedbacks from engagement with stakeholders.
- A draft the scoping phase report (templated to be provided by IUCN in line with the requirement of Task 3 mentioned above)
- Providing inputs to support the development of the implementation project documents (IPD) as mentioned in the Task 4 above.
- Duration and Timeline
The consultancy is expected to be completed within December 2023-May 2024 with 35 working days
| No | Activities | Deadline | Deliverables |
| 1 | Open call for consultants, arrange the contract | November 2023 (2 weeks and can extend to 01 month) | Consultancy contract signed |
| 2 | A comprehensive review of the current situation of zoonotic diseases related to wildlife in Vietnam. | December 2023 | A brief situation analysis report and presentation are produced |
| 3 | Summarizing findings and feedbacks from engagements with stakeholders. | December 2023-January 2024 | A brief stakeholder consultation report and presentation are produced |
| 4 | Work with Team leader to draft the scoping phase report | February 2024 | Scoping phase report and presentation are produced. |
| 5 | Providing inputs and supporting the development of implementation project documents (IPD), working with an International Consultant and IUCN Team | April to May 2024 | Scoping phase report and IPD are developed |
- Travel and organisations of meetings
The consultant will work with the IUCN Vietnam Biodiversity Coordinator and IUCN Viet Nam Team to arrange travel and organising meetings and workshops with stakeholders.
- Qualifications and Expertise
This consultant should possess the following qualifications and expertise:
- A background in public health, zoonotic, policy development, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in developing plans, study related to zoonotic diseases Vietnam.
- Demonstrated experience in studying wildlife rescue, farming and the zoonotic risk
- Experience in system methodologies (see N4H Scoping Guide, a word document of this will be provided by IUCN)
- Familiarity with the political and cultural context of Vietnam.
- Should have at least 20 years of experiences.
- Strong analytical, research, and communication skills
- Fluency in both writing and speaking in English and Vietnamese
- Reporting
The consultant will report to IUCN Vietnam Biodiversity Coordinator (Nguyen Manh Hiep)
- Application Submission
Interested candidate are invited to submit the following in one document by email to the following email address: [email protected] and with subject “Nature for Health Zoonotic specialist” no later than 11:00 PM, 30 November 2023. The
- A detailed curriculum vitae highlighting specific experience in relation to the subject of this consultancy.
- A written motivation regarding their suitability for the consultancy service and proposed methodology to conduct the tasks.
- A financial proposition in VND for completion of the required tasks, including the daily rate.
- Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: (i) profile and experience in relation to subject of the consultancy, (ii) the methodology proposed for conducting the tasks, and (iii) the financial offer.
- Contact Information
For inquiries and submission of applications, please contact Nguyen Manh Hiep (Biodiversity Coordinator) at [email protected] and
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy (HR manager – Lower Mekong subregion) at [email protected]
