Consultant – Exploring through a consultative process the most appropriate option for the transition

Exploring through a consultative process the most appropriate option for the transition of HelpAge International Country Programme to Locally-Led Development

Vietnam

Background

HelpAge International – HelpAge International is a global network of organisations working towards a fairer world for older people so they can live safe, healthy and dignified lives. In addition to working with more than 150 network members in 86 countries, HelpAge operates country programme offices in 13 countries across Asia, Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe. In line with HelpAge International Global Strategy 2030, our commitment to locally-led programming and the Charter for Change, a key step is to transition our country programmes to a Locally-Led Development option.

Locally-Led Development – HelpAge International has committed to embracing and advancing Locally-Led Development. This commitment was expressed in HelpAge’s 2030 strategy and re-emphasised and clarified in a position paper on Locally-Led development issued in November 2021.

HelpAge’s vision for Locally-Led Development is, “Humanitarian and development initiatives designed, led and delivered by national or local actors and older people within countries”. At country level, the commitment to Locally-Led Development requires a genuine transformation, to shift the power from HelpAge International to local actors. In order to identify the most appropriate Locally-Led Development option for each country, HelpAge International has designed a process that promotes transparency and accountability and ensure that decisions are based on robust evidence and analysis. This consultancy will ensure that the perspectives of country teams and external local stakeholders are collected and fully contribute to the analysis and decision making, with the goal to achieve sustainable impact for older people in Vietnam.

Country Programme – Vietnam, a country of approximately 97 million people, has more than 11.4 million older people. According to the General Statistic Office of Vietnam, by 2038, there will be about 21 million people aged 60 and over, accounting for 20% of the total population, and this number in 2050 will be 27 million people, accounting for 25% of the population. The Government of Vietnam has recognized population ageing as one of the top issues that the country will face with in coming years and has issued a number of policies to protect, to care for and to promote the role of older people in the country.

HelpAge International has been operating in Vietnam since 1997, and the country office was established in 2011. Ever since, HelpAge International in Vietnam has implemented nearly 40 projects in 21 provinces/cities nationwide, working closely with national and local stakeholders. Our network member in Vietnam is the Vietnam Association of the Elderly. Our partners include number of provincial Association of the Elderly, Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs (Social Protection Bureau, Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs, International Coorporation Division), Ministry of Health (General Office of Population and Family Planning, Health Strategy and Policy Institute), Vietnam Women’s Union, RECAS/CASCD under Vietnam Red Cross, etc. The country office also enjoys excellent rapport with other international and foreign institutions, such as HelpAge Korea, Korean International Cooperation Agency, United Nations Population Fund, World Bank, World Health Organization, etc.

The five current focus areas of HelpAge International in Vietnam are: 1) Health care; 2) Long-term care; 3) Income security; 4) Promotion of lifelong learning; 5) Building a society for all ages. These focus areas are delivered through a number of activities, but most prominently through the activities of Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs – an innovative and sustainable community-based model to adapt to population ageing, and policy advocacy.

Purpose, objectives and scope

The purpose of the consultancy is to conduct local consultations with the HelpAge Vietnam country team and external stakeholders in Vietnam, based on which to develop a detailed assessment of the Vietnam context with regards to the situation of older people, HelpAge’s work, the stakeholders’ views and capacities, the civic space and legal frameworks, etc. The consultancy will highlight opportunities and constraints and provide rigorous evidence to guide decision making on the transition to locally-led development in the country.

Objectives

• Undertake consultations with HelpAge Vietnam country team, external stakeholders, partners and network members to assess the context, priorities, capacities and appetites of local actors for locally-led development and inclusion and advancement of the ageing agenda in country.
• Review and analyse the assessment information collected by the HelpAge country team and other relevant supporting documents.
• Support HelpAge country team in identifying the best-suited locally-led development option for Vietnam.

Scope

• The consultation will engage HelpAge staff, partners, network members, government agencies, donors and local civil society to explore their views on locally led development and the role of HelpAge in supporting this.
• The consultant will clarify in the consultancy report the legal frameworks and the implications of status change on institutional arrangements and human resources.
• The consultant will review the assessment information collected by HelpAge country team and other relevant supporting documents, and provide additional analysis in light of findings from consultations with external stakeholders.
• The consultant will facilitate the identification of and discussions on potential options for locally-led development with HelpAge team, and their assessment against HelpAge’s criteria.
• The consultant will support the team to identify and analyse the external and internal risks of locally led development and identify the best option and key milestones for the transition.

Methodology and process

To be agreed with the consultant. The assessment process might include desk review, focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews with external stakeholders and HelpAge selected staff including members of the Global team.

Deliverables

1. An assessment report, as per the agreed outline/template, providing a summary of information collected through desk review and consultations (FGDs and key informant interviews) as well as triangulation and analysis of all information received.
2. A presentation of the most viable options for the country, based on the external consultations and discussions with HelpAge teams, including justifications and evidence and an initial assessment against HelpAge’s criteria for the locally-led development.
3. Facilitation of a country-level workshop and production of a workshop report.
4. Draft of the Recommendation using the outline shared by HelpAge.
5. A final consultancy report documenting the whole process.

Timing and timeline and budget

The consultancy is expected to be completed by December 30, 2022, and to proceed in phases with the timing as follow:

Tasks

Estimated number of days

Target due date

Desk Review of documents and materials

1

Aug 12, 2022

Work closely with the HelpAge country team and the Localisation Manager to identify information gaps in the assessment and make a plan for the data collection activity accordingly

2

Aug 19, 2022

Conduct FGDs and/or key informant interviews with internal and external stakeholders

5

Sep 9, 2022

Draft the assessment report and initial recommendations on best suited localisation model/s based on information from the country team and additional information collected from external sources and the consultations held

6

Nov 30, 2022

Prepare a comprehensive presentation (PPT format) on the findings and recommendations for the country-level workshop

1

Dec 7, 2022

Facilitate a country-level workshop with country team, Localisation manager and Head of Localisation to review and analyse the assessment findings and identify the best suited model

1

Dec 16, 2022

Feedback session with the Localisation manager, Head of Localisation, Head of Global Impact and the HelpAge Vietnam expanded senior management team

1

Dec 21, 2022

Finalise the assessment report and write summary of recommended model(s) including rationale and risk assessment

2

Dec 26, 2022

Prepare the final consultancy report

1

Dec 30, 2022

The number of days to complete each task may be changed, but the total number of working days must not exceed 20 days. The total budget for this consultancy fee must not exceed 4,000 USD (including personal income tax and all other taxes, insurances – if any).

Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policy

The consultant will be working on behalf of HelpAge and will be required to sign and adhere to the HelpAge Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy.

The consultant will assure the participants the confidentiality and will assure the data is protected and used for agreed purpose only. As regards the documentation, the title rights, copyrights, and all other rights of whatever nature in any materials used or generated under the provisions of this consultancy will exclusively be vested with HelpAge International.

Qualifications/requirements of consultant

• Degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Communication, and related field.
• Minimum of 10 years relevant professional experience in social sciences, organizational transformation, organizational development and research.
• Strong background and experience in change management, data collection and analysis.
• Technical expertise in conducting surveys with a range of methodologies, and providing qualitative analysis. Ability to draw strong and valid conclusions.
• Understanding of regulations governing NGO sector in Vietnam, donor trends and key regulations governing international and local organizations in Vietnam.
• Fluent in English and Vietnamese.
• Excellent facilitation, communication and report writing skills.
• Consultant is Vietnamese, based in Vietnam, preferably in Hanoi, with a strong understanding of the Vietnam context.
• Previous experience in change management processes will be an advantage.
• Engaging with organizations working with and for older people and awareness of aging issues in Vietnam will be an advantage.

Submitting Expressions of Interest

All Expressions of Interest (EOI) should include:

• Technical proposal (maximum 5 pages) including: brief explanation about the consultant(s) with emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work; profile of the consultant to be involved in undertaking the consultancy, understanding of the TOR, the study methodology, key contacts from similar work carried out.
• Financial proposal: The financial proposal should provide cost estimates for services rendered including professional fees (daily rates x number of days) and other costs (if any) to carry out the assignment.
• Evaluation process: Evaluation process will be conducted for technical proposals first. Qualified technical proposals will be moved to next step to evaluate financial proposal.

All interested individuals are requested to express interest by sending proposals via email to: [email protected] and [email protected] by the end of Monday 25 July 2022. Please include some wordings in your email title ‘Consultant for localization process’. Selection of the consultant will be undertaken by a panel and based on the experience of the consultant, the quality and relevance of the Technical and Financial proposals (e.g. value proposed for the contract within resources available) and on satisfactory references. Only selected/shortlisted consultant(s) will be contacted.

Contract type: after negotiation, selected consultant(s) shall enter with HelpAge a consultancy contract which is not an employment contract for staff.

How to apply

All interested individuals are requested to express interest by sending proposals via email to: [email protected] and [email protected] by the end of Monday 25 July 2022. Please include some wordings in your email title ‘Consultant for localization process’. Selection of the consultant will be undertaken by a panel and based on the experience of the consultant, the quality and relevance of the Technical and Financial proposals (e.g. value proposed for the contract within resources available) and on satisfactory references. Only selected/shortlisted consultant(s) will be contacted.