About The Chain of Hope
La Chaîne de l’Espoir (CDE) is an international, humanitarian, independent, apolitical, and non-religious NGO, founded in 1994, currently operating in 30 countries.
CDE aims to improve access to medical and surgical care for vulnerable populations, especially children and women, in fragile or crisis-affected settings, by strengthening health systems through training, hospital engineering, and technology transfer
CDE prioritizes an integrated approach along the continuum of care and works in close collaboration with local actors, with the ultimate goal of enabling their autonomy. To this end, CDE volunteer doctors, nurses, and technicians provide care and training in techniques best suited to the needs and contexts. The organization implements the structural conditions necessary for surgery, both in terms of infrastructure (hospital construction, equipment) and human resources (medical-surgical, paramedical, and technical skills). It also invests in prevention and early detection.
Context and justification
CDE has been working in Southeast Asia since the 1990s, particularly in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. In Cambodia, CDE supports and trains medical teams through short-term volunteer missions in pediatric orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery, and neurosurgery. In Vietnam, it provides free pediatric cardiac surgery and social support to children through the “Children’s House” project in Ho Chi Minh City. In Laos, CDE focuses on training and supporting local teams in pediatric visceral surgery.
CDE recently conducted a contextual analysis across these three countries, identifying a key intervention area in maternal and child health, with a particular focus on access to specialized pediatric surgical care and emergency obstetric services.
To better define and structure future interventions in this area, a technical assessment is needed to assess the needs of hospitals and populations regarding infrastructure, equipment, human resources, and care pathways. Particular attention should be paid to the cross-cutting issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in relation to maternal and child health, including gynecological and obstetric violence and the care of survivors of sexual violence.
Objectives
General objective: To identify priority actions to improve the quality of maternal and child healthcare services in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, in alignment with CDE’s areas of expertise, with a particular focus on specialized pediatric surgical care and emergency obstetric services.
Specific objectives:
SO1. Assess the context and current health situation in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, with a focus on selected provinces regarding pediatric surgical care and maternal and child health services.
SO2. Evaluate the availability, accessibility, and quality of care in pre-selected hospitals located in both capital cities and provincial areas across the three countries. More specifically, assess key service components, including:
- Coverage and utilization of services
- Availability of essential medicines, supplies, and equipment
- Human resources and training needs
- Infrastructure and facility conditions
- Governance and leadership
- Systems for epidemiological data collection and use
During the facility assessments, particular attention will be given to:
- Conducting an in-depth assessment of gaps and priority needs in maternal health services in each of the selected hospitals.
- Emphasizing the evaluation of pediatric surgical care needs to support improvements in service provision and quality of care.
SO3. Complement and update the existing mapping conducted by CDE of key actors and initiatives in pediatric surgery and maternal and child healthcare.
SO4. Propose targeted interventions to address the identified needs in line with CDE’s areas of expertise.
SO5. Share the findings with the CDE team and selected external stakeholders.
Expected results
The assessment is expected to produce the following results:
- Context-specific insights into the health systems of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, highlighting key challenges and needs in pediatric surgical care and maternal and child health, at both national and provincial levels.
- A comprehensive analysis of service delivery capacity and quality in selected hospitals, covering infrastructure, human resources, availability of medicines and equipment, service coverage, and governance. The analysis will include:
- Identification of gaps and priority needs in maternal health services;
- Assessment of pediatric surgical care needs to support service and quality improvements;
- Evaluation of training needs among medical, paramedical, and technical staff;
- A brief comparative analysis of major similarities, synergies, and differences across Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
- An updated and expanded mapping of key stakeholders and initiatives relevant to pediatric surgery and maternal and child healthcare, identifying overlaps, gaps, and potential synergies.
- A set of actionable recommendations for targeted interventions aligned with CDE areas of expertise to strengthen maternal and child health services and pediatric surgical care, with concrete opportunities for CDE to intervene in each country.
- Enhanced coordination and visibility through the dissemination of the study findings to CDE and relevant stakeholders.
Methodology
The exact methodology should be proposed by the consultant/s in the application documents.
The assessment should be participatory, involving key stakeholders across the entire healthcare pyramid, including hospitals’ personnel, patients and their families, civil society organizations (CSOs) and NGOs, as well as governmental and administrative authorities working on maternal and child health.
This methodology will combine quantitative and qualitative research techniques (surveys, interviews, etc.), using CDE questionnaires and tools developed by the consultant.
The assignment will include the following phases:
a. Desk phase, during which the consultant will:
- Meet with the CDE team to clarify expectations and discuss the organization of the assessment.
- Review CDE’s contextual analysis documents and survey tools, which will be provided by CDE. The consultant may adapt or complement these tools to ensure their relevance and effectiveness.
- Engage with local translators and interpreters.
- Coordinate the translation of the tools from English into Khmer, Vietnamese, and Lao, if considered necessary.
- Gather and analyze secondary data relevant to the assessment.
- Develop a detailed work plan, including a list of stakeholders to meet during the field phase.
These elements will be compiled into an inception report to be validated by the CDE team.
b. Field phase (planning and methodology to be detailed by the consultant).
Travel will need to be organized in each of the three countries, which should be accounted for in the budget. Please note that CDE will not provide logistical support but can facilitate appointment scheduling with local stakeholders (authorities, hospitals, NGOs etc.).
The evaluation is expected to take place in approximately 4 hospitals in Cambodia, 3 in Laos, and 2 in Vietnam, in both provincial and capital locations.
c. Reporting phase, during which the consultant will:
- Draft a preliminary report presenting findings, analysis, and recommendations;
- Organize a debriefing workshop with the CDE team to present the findings and facilitate exchange and feedback;
- Submit the final assessment report to CDE, in English, including annexes.
- Present results and findings with CDE representatives to local stakeholders.
Deliverables
- An inception report in English, including all survey tools and field phase planning and methodology: to be shared at the end of the desk phase. The inception report will have to be validated before the launch of the field phase.
- A preliminary report (in English) incorporating the feedback from the debriefing workshop.
- Organize a restitution presentation/workshop to CDE team, including an analysis of the preliminary findings and results of the assessment and a set of recommendations. A PowerPoint presentation will be produced and shared by the consultant.
- A final report (40 pages maximum) in English within 1 week after the restitution. The CDE team will provide comments within 5 working days for the consultant to finalize and adjust the report. The final report should include an executive summary, introduction to the context, methodology, key findings, recommendations and conclusion. Annexes should include all data collection tools, databases, and a list of persons met during the assessment, with salient points of the meetings.
- A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the results, which will be used as support during the sharing of findings with various stakeholders.
The confidentiality of personal information should be respected throughout the assessment process and in the reports. Before taking any pictures or conducting interviews, consent must be obtained using written permission forms.
Timeline
The consultancy is expected to start on August 18th, 2025. The final deadline for submission of the completed report is October 17th, 2025.
Profile and required competencies
- Medical or public health background is mandatory, with proven experience in maternal and child health.
- Experience in conducting studies in the field of maternal and child health within medical NGOs.
- Experience in conducting participatory assessment techniques, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Good knowledge of the health systems and public health policies in Southeast Asia.
- Strong understanding of gender-sensitive and survivor-/patient-centered approaches.
- Familiarity with child rights-based approaches in health.
- Excellent command of English (oral and written) is required. Proficiency in French and/or one of the following languages: Vietnamese, Khmer, or Lao, is considered a strong asset.
- Very good proficiency in standard IT tools (e.g., data analysis, reporting, presentations).
- Preference will be given to candidates based in the region (Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia), with demonstrated knowledge of the local context, stakeholders, and health system functioning.
Application
The application package must include:
a. Administrative Documents
- A curriculum vitae outlining the consultant’s professional experience
- Three professional references for the lead consultant
- Two sample reports from previous studies conducted
- The physical address of the lead consultant
- The full name and contact details of the designated contact person
- Proof of professional liability insurance
For French-registered companies, the following legal documents must be provided:
- A K-bis extract dated less than 3 months ago
- Proof of declaration to URSSAF
- 2024 annual training and financial reports, where applicable
For foreign companies, a 2024 annual financial report is required. Additional legal documents may be requested depending on the country of registration.
b. Technical Proposal
The technical proposal must include:
- A presentation of the applicant’s expertise and experience
- An explanatory note demonstrating understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR)
- A description of the methodology proposed to achieve the objectives and the organization of the assessment
- A provisional timeline, indicating the various phases and ensuring compliance with the deadlines outlined in the ToR.
c. Financial Offer
The application must include a detailed financial offer specifying all costs in an Excel file.
To facilitate the comparison of proposals, applicants are encouraged to break down the total amount proposed. This breakdown must include professional fees and all related costs, taking into account:
- Number of working days
- Planned activities
- Deliverables to be produced
- Number of days in the field
in accordance with the technical proposal.
Terms and conditions of payment must also be specified.
Please note that payments will only be made upon submission and validation of deliverables, as defined in the ToR and approved by the relevant departments at CDE.
Contingency costs may be included in the budget (up to a maximum of 5% of direct costs), subject to supporting documentation and prior approval by CDE.
The financial offer must not exceed 15,000 Euros (all taxes included – VAT included).
Note: Please ensure that the financial offer is submitted VAT included for applicants under the standard tax regime. According to applicable legislation, CDE will withhold any applicable taxes at source.
Evaluation criteria
The technical and financial proposals, along with administrative documents, will be evaluated by a selection committee composed of representatives from CDE. The evaluation will take into account the consultant’s expertise and profile adequacy, the understanding of the ToR and assessment context, the relevance and feasibility of the proposed methodology and timeline, as well as the financial and logistical resources.
Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration for technical selection.
How to apply
The deadline for submission of proposals is July 27th, 2025 at 18:00 Cambodia time (GMT+7).
Proposals should be submitted by email to: recruitment.asia@chainedelespoir.org
Only pre-selected applicants will be invited for an interview.