THE ONE HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK FOR ZOONOSES
1. Objectives of the Partnership
Overall objective:
To minimize the risks of zoonotic pathogens’ and environmental agents’ spillover and antimicrobial resistance by improving multi-sectoral “One Health” collaboration.
Specific objectives:
i) To strengthen the institutional capacity and human resource; to establish a framework and forum for multi-sectoral dialogue and collaboration for minimizing the spillover risks at human, animal and ecosystem interfaces;
ii) To minimize the risks of emerging and transmitting new zoonotic disease pathogens due to the biological, environmental and human behavior impacts;
iii) To step up the governance and supervision of antibiotic use and to curb the antimicrobial resistance;
iv) To minimize the public health impacts of some zoonoses (as prioritized in the Joint Circular 16/2013/TTLT-BYT-BNN&PTNT dated 27 May 2013) and other resurging diseases;
v) To enhance the mobilization of resources for recovery, reconstruction and the management of risks caused by emerging and resurging dangerous diseases;
vi) To strengthen the control and management of environmental factors that have human’s health impacts.
2. Operational principles
i) The One Health Partnership is not legally binding. The partnership framework reflects a comprehensive, intersectoral and multidisciplinary approach under the State management and leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination; cooperation; and collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment and with active engagement of departments at the provincial and central level, international organizations and partners, non-governmental organizations, academia, universities, social organizations and private sectors. Signing to adopt such framework does not constitute any financial commitments by partners.
ii) The Partnership is an openly accessible mechanism. Beside its initial members of Governmental agencies; domestic and international partners, the partnership is willing for the admission of additional members on voluntary basis and on the good will to cooperate to support and materialize policies; strategies; and plans; etc. within the scope of the objectives, set forth under provision II.1 of this partnership framework.
iii) The Partnership adopts the principles of the “Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation” (2011) and the “Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation”, with the emphasis being placed on national ownership; result-based operation; inclusiveness for development; publicity; mutual trust and respect; transparency and mutual accountability.
iv) The Partnership inherits the achievements in OHP’s One Health-related activities of its members and development stakeholders, of MARD, in view of animal health; plant health; and wildlife welfare, of MoH, in view of human health, and of MoNRE, in view of ecosystem health, and of other domestic partners.
v) Within the framework of OHP action plan or overall plan, programs; projects; researches and other activities will be implemented by individual partner or a group of partners, in accordance with their own regulations; modalities; and resources. Only when the operation of the partnership is expanded to receive supports, financial contribution by partners for thematic programs or projects will be subject to approval process as per the donors’ regulations or the currently relevant regulations of the Government.
vi) The Partnership will apply a flexible approach, with a long-term vision to build the capacity for Ministries, Government institutions and selected provinces, using One Health approach. Following the evolution of emerging diseases, priority actions; resources; and coordination mechanism can be adjusted accordingly.
3. Core functions of the Partnership
a) Enhanced cooperation between Ministries, Branches and international organizations to contribute to supporting; implementing; and commissioning the Law on Animal Health; the Law of Preventive Medicine; the Environmental Law; and other Laws; Decrees; Circulars… etc., that are relevant to zoonotic diseases, and developing One Health strategic and action plans for the prevention and control of zoonoses via the annual One Health Forum as well as the meetings and other activities of the Partnership, that aim at:
- Share information and resources and identify opportunities for improved capacity building and coordination within the overall framework of the OHSP and other national One Health strategies/roadmaps that may be developed in the future, including discussions on the results of overall monitoring of progress toward key outcomes and milestones in these plans.
- Investigate, review and identify important research findings to be developed into One Health policies and practices, bringing together technical experts and policy makers and researchers to identify key research priorities; to share and discuss research results; and to advocate and support evidence-based policy-making on One Health issues in Vietnam.
- Contribute to improved One Health knowledge management and information sharing by circulating information about policies, programs, and research activities (including a matrix of One Health projects; impact areas; and programs in Vietnam), reports and tools, disease events, risk communications, and other knowledge management and information sharing activities.
- Improve One Health training activities and human resource development, with focus on regions and provincial level in Vietnam.
- Support, facilitate, and catalyze regional and international One Health cooperation by assisting Vietnam in hosting and participation in relevant regional and global One Health cooperation programs; technical networks and events, and by contributing to experience sharing and data mining, absorbing experiences and best practices.
b) Enhance the system for One Health information sharing between Government agencies, international partners, and other stakeholders via the operation of OHP website, quarterly newsletter, and other communications activities.
c) Further step up the mobilization of resources, knowledge, finances and other resources from the Government, development partners, academia, private and social organizations, etc. for the accomplishment of One Health strategy, roadmap or plan that may be developed in the future.
4. Organizational structure of the Partnership
The One Health Partnership includes: a Steering Committee of Chairs (Co-Chairs); The Secretariat; The mutil-sectoral Coordination Working Group; Project Management Office (if project available); OHP Forum; Technical Working Groups (of 7 areas); short-term expert teams.
4.1. The Steering Committee:
- Co-Chairs: 03 Ministerial Leaders of MARD, MoH and MoNRE
- Task and Functions:
+ Direct the planning for policy advocacy, international cooperation, allocation of budget and mobilization of domestic and external resources within sector’ State management task and function, under the OHP framework activities in Vietnam.
+ Set the orientation for international cooperation activities and resource mobilization when a new emerging infectious disease outbreaks in human and animal.
+ Approve plans, activities, programs, etc. within their own sector’ State management tasks and functions under OHP framework.
+ Chair the annual OHP Forum.
+ Ensure the operations of OHP to go in line with the general orientations of the National Steering Mechanism on One Health.
4.2. Multi-sectoral Coordination Sub-Committee:
- 01 leader of the International Cooperation Department, MARD (Head)
- 01 leader of the Preventive Medicine Department, MoH (Deputy-Head)
- 01 leader of the Environment Administration, MoNRE
- 01 leader of the Animal Health Department, MARD
- 01 leader of the Department of Livestock Production, MARD
Tasks:
- This is a multi-sectoral body who assists the Steering Committee and coordinates activities between Ministries, sectors and Provinces to implement the OHP Action Plan and the multi-sectoral commitment agreements with One Health related International Partners; manages; consults; and directs relevant technical sectors.
4.3. Members of the Partnership
- Ministries and Government Agencies;
- Representatives of some Provincial People’s Committees;
- International development partners, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations being active in Vietnam;
- National and international education and research institutes relating to One Health;
- Business and private sectors, Union Federations, Unions and relevant Associations;
- Press and Media agencies;
- Representatives of organizations practicing international conventions, such as IHR (2005), OIE, CITES, etc.
Tasks:
- Participating members wish to cooperate effectively, in accordance with the objectives and approach of the OHP framework;
- Members are encouraged to participate and contribute their knowledge; technical experience; and finances for programs; projects; and relevant activities of the Partnership;
- Members will take part in the annual OHP Forum, as well as quarterly meetings of the Technical Working Groups and thematic groups on voluntary basis.
4.4. One Health Partnership Forum
The Forum will be convened at least once a year. In case of need, the Steering Committee may decide to call for additional meetings.
The Forum is mainly for One Health policy dialogue, discussion and making decisions on strategies or planned activities of the year.
The Secretariat is responsible for the organization of annual OHP Forum.
4.5. Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and Technical and Policy Research Groups
Depending on actual need and situation, Chairs/Co-Chairs of the OHP will establish TWGs, chaired by leaders of line Departments of Ministries and by the key corresponding international partners. TWGs will meet on quarterly basis to discuss, review implementation progress and suggest implementation plans in focus areas, at the same time, give timely recommendations for the Chairs/Co-Chairs on emerging issues, shortcomings that may require special attention of the high-ranking officials.
Head of OHP Secretariat could establish Thematic Technical and Policy Research Groups on actual needs. Such groups will dismiss once its specific missions are fulfilled.
The One Health Communication Network (OHCN) and the Vietnam One Health University Network (VOHUN) will continue to operate in the capacity of thematic taskforce.
4.6. The Secretariat
As agreed among Ministries, the Secretariat is located within the International Cooperation Department of MARD. The Secretariat is responsible for assisting the Steering Committee and the Multisectoral Coordination Task Force to carry out all activities of the approved annual work plans.
Function of the Secretariat
The Secretariat will be established by MARD, under the International Cooperation Department, in-charge of supporting partners to implement activities based on the approved annual work plans and activities committed with partners within the programs or projects with specific partners, including:
- Being the focal point for the coordination of One Health activities of Ministries, domestic and external members;
- Connecting and discussing with partners on the formulation of strategy, plan and associated activities, as well as implementation arrangement;
- Planning and allocating annual budget for Partnership activities;
- Convening annual OHP Forum and other technical meetings or policy dialogues;
- Supporting and disseminating the results of short-term technical and policy research groups;
- Developing, submitting and circulating annual reports on regular basis to update about the partnership activities;
- Designing and managing the partnership information system (website, bulletine);
- Implementing and supporting cooperation activities with domestic and external partners;
- Managing assets and financial resources of the partnership;
- Implementing other tasks, assigned by the Minister of MARD and the Steering Committee.
Scope of Authority
- The Secretariat can enter into contracts with personnel and capable experts, who have experience to perform the requested tasks serving the Steering Committee and the Secretariat and carry out assignments within the agreements; commitments; programs; policy or technical support projects of the donors/OHP.
- The Secretariat can utilize the means of executing Ministry to carry out the assigned tasks.
- Leaders of the Departments, whose staffs are members of the Secretariat, take the responsibility to facilitate, in terms of time and means, their staffs to perform effectively the tasks of the Secretariat.
- The Secretariat can propose the ministry (ministries) to establish a project management office (or project management unit) when there are projects / programs.
Personnel of the Secretariat
Permanent personnel:
- Head of the Secretariat will be appointed by the Minister of MARD from leaders of the International Cooperation Department, MARD.
- OHP Coordinator will be an official of the International Cooperation Department, MARD.
- Human health coordinator will be an official of Preventive Medicine Department, MoH.
- Environmental health coordinator will be an official of Environment Administration, MoNRE.
- Financial officer will be an official of the Ministry Bureau, MARD.
Contractual staff:
Depending on the actual requirement or ad-hoc needs, contractual staff may be mobilized from commitments of programs/projects, financed by partners, including:
- 01 project manager/office manager
- 01 interpreter
- 01 knowledge and network manager
- 01 accountant cum administrative assistant
- And other positions, based on actual needs of cooperation activities, commitments of financial supports from partners.
- Job description for each position will be developed by International Cooperation Department, MARD.
