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ToR for the development of a web-based platform for the mapping of DP and
INGO contributions to the health sector in Viet Nam
1. Background:
As a result of its rapid economic development, Viet Nam is experiencing demographic and epidemiologic changes, rising expectations of the health system’s performance, and changes in the level and modalities of development assistance.
Since Viet Nam attained Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC) status in 2010, the Global Financial Crisis has impacted both donor budgets and Viet Nam’s own economy, and health Official Development ODA has dropped from approximately 3% to 2.4% of total health expenditure (THE). Government expenditure on health has also dropped from 45.2% to 40.8% of THE (DPF, 2014).
In this context, a number of donors/development partners are withdrawing. Some development partners (DPs) are now discussing a shift away from financial support towards technical assistance; others are already replacing grants with loans. These changes are compounding the fragmentation and inefficiency that have come with a long-standing vertical/projectized approach to DP support as well as weak
coordination and harmonization between DPs, in support of national health policies, strategies and plans. In the face of these challenges, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its in-country health development partners (DPs) have continued to demonstrate a strong commitment to development cooperation effectiveness through the forum of the Health Partnership Group (HPG) and by developing and endorsing the Viet Nam Health Partnership Document (VHPD) in 20131. In doing so, the HPG (i.e. made up of Government, DPs and INGOs) has acknowledged that now more than ever, development cooperation effectiveness is a moral imperative.
The VHPD seeks to operationalize the commitment of Viet Nam and its DPs to the principles of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation2, agreed in Busan; and the IHP+ seven behaviours3. It emphasizes in particular, the need for harmonized financial and technical support that is closely aligned to government policies, strategies and plans – and the need for more strategic and better coordinated technical support. It sets out 10 milestones for joint implementation by the MoH and DPs (i.e. the HPG) towards, improved development cooperation. Milestone 9 describes the need for web-based donor (DP) and INGO database for improved monitoring of development co-operation in the health sector.
This milestone aims to build on previous efforts to map and develop a database of the contributions of development partners undertaken in 2010 and a repertory of INGO support. It seeks to address some of the challenges and limitations of this earlier work, by ensuring:
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The VHPD replaces the 2009 Statement of Intent and is available at:
http://hpg.icdmoh.gov.vn/attachments/article/377/SachdoitacyteEngFINAL.pdf 2
The Busan principles include: 1) country leadership and ownership of development strategies; 2) a focus on results that matter to developing countries; 3) inclusive partnerships among development actors based on mutual trust; and 4) transparency and mutual accountability.
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The IHP+ seven behaviours of DPs are available here:http://www.internationalhealthpartnership.net/en/news-events/ihp-news/article/seven-behaviours-how-development-partners-can-change-for-the-better-325359/.
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• As ‘complete’ a picture as possible, including DP and INGO contributions at the provincial level and below.
• Content that responds to the different needs of the stakeholders (Government4, DPs, INGOs, funds/foundations working in or with the country).
• A user-friendly, easily updatable platform to ensure that data remain up-to date and utilized; and from which a hard-copy ‘registry’ can be generated on a regular basis.
2. Purpose/objectives:
The purpose of a web-based donor (DP) and INGO database for improved monitoring of development co-operation in the health sector (i.e. Milestone 9) is to contribute to the attainment of the goals of the VHPD by providing information on development cooperation that can be used (by the government, DPs, INGOs) to ensure that going forward, financial and technical support is better harmonized, and more closely aligned to government policies, strategies and plans.
In addition to better harmonization and alignment, an easily accessible and updatable online mapping will contribute to operationalizing principles of transparency and mutual accountability towards results. It will provide the Government with information that they can use as evidence/a basis for their requests for support; and to plan for the anticipated withdrawal of support (financial and technical) from other donors. It will facilitate assessment of the following:
• Transparency – by providing an overall picture of health development cooperation in Viet Nam, in terms of thematic areas, geographic area, financial and technical contribution, funding modality etc. that will help with the prioritization and allocation of resources (see Section 3. Content, below).
• Alignment – by providing an overview of the national health priorities supported by DPs and INGOs (financial and technical); and the extent to which it currently supports/reinforces national health priorities (is this the support that is actually needed?)
• Harmonization – by providing information to assess complementarity and overlap in DP/INGO contributions; and linkages between development cooperation at central and decentralized levels.
• Complementarity – by providing information that will highlight gaps between health sector
priorities and currently available external support (financial and/or technical); and how DP funding is complementary to government spending.
• Predictability – by providing information about DPs/INGOs’ planned support in the short and medium term for proper planning; and for the monitoring trends in health development cooperation (changes in the level of funding for specific areas; changes in the number of DPs/INGOs supporting the health sector; changes in the modalities of support etc.).
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Especially MoH departments (DPF, ICD, technical departments), provincial peoples committees and departments of health, and PACCOM.
3 3. Content of the database/online platform
To meet the above objectives, the integrated DP and INGO online database – which can be easily accessed and maintained by both the Government and DPs – will capture the following information:
• The name of the development partner/INGO • The typeof DP/INGO
• The vision/mission of their support to Viet Nam’s health sector • The title of each programme/project
• The timeframe for the programme/project
• A summary of the technical areasof cooperation (according to priorities of the Five Year Health Sector Plan).
• The type of financing
• Funding for the programme/project • The programme/project modality • The location (and level) of support 4. Description of activities to be carried out:
I. Review and input into template and guidelines
II. Develop specifications document for an appropriate web-based platform for the database, that can be easily updated on an annual basis and generate hard-copy summaries of DP/INGO support (according to variables such as DP, location, area of support etc.)
III. Develop a mock platform for feasibility testing and validation
IV. Develop guidelines for the operation of the database and capacity building materials for training of Government counterparts
V. Undertake face-to-face training of relevant Government technical staff, as well as key DPs, to ensure ongoing updating and use of the mapping/database
VI. Finalize the web-based database, including a mechanism to facilitate regular updating of the database
Handover and migration of the database would be as a second step, once the database is operational. 5. Deliverables
I. Specifications document, considering the framework for data collection, including template and guidelines for collecting, inputting and validating data developed by MoH and PACCOM
II. Mock-database for validation by DPs/INGO and testing by all stakeholders III. Guidelines for operation and capacity building/training materials
IV. Face-to-face training of MoH technical staff and development partners and training
evaluation/report including objectives outcomes, participants etc. to ensure MoH and DPs are equipped to maintain an updated online database
4 6. Methods to carry out the activity
• Collaboration with MoH and PACCOM to identify expectations and provide guidance • Face-to-face and email based support during data collection, validation and cleaning • In person training of technical staff from MoH as well as development partners to ensure
maintenance/regular updating of the platform
• Electronic consultation with key stakeholders to test functionality and refine/finalize the web-based database
7. Timeline/duration of the assignment 24 August to 11 December, 2015
Steps August Sept. Oct. Nov.
Work with MoH/Government departments on the development of a framework (including variables), guidelines and tools for data collection and management Develop specifications document based on agreed variables
Develop mock-up online platform for functionality testing and feedback Make revisions to online platform (based on feedback on mock-up)
Develop guidelines and training material for training MoH/ Government to input data
Train staff on how to use web platform/database
Input relevant data into the system based on agreements during training of
Government counterparts Ensure final database is live for dissemination by 11 December
5 8. Education/qualifications
University level qualification in information technology and at least 5 years of experience developing websites, web-based applications, online databases/platforms.
Proven experience developing similar online platforms/database required. Experience working with government agencies/ministries preferred.
