[Job Opportunity] Technical Consultant | Part-Time| Vietnam

janv. 20, 2026 Website Article Cover (1)

Position Title: Technical consultants to conduct literature review study on burden of disease of pesticides in Vietnam.

Implementation: Part-time National Consultant for 40 working days from January to February 2026.

Type of Contract: Individual Contract

Location of Assignment: Ha Noi, home-based

Project Title: "Vietnam: Intergrated Pest Management (IPM) Expansion"

Languages Required: English and Vietnamese

1. General Background

Vietnam is an agricultural nation, with an estimated 11 million hectares of land utilised for the production of rice, vegetables, coffee, tea, pepper, and other commodities [1]. Much of the country’s agricultural production is exported, comprising a large portion of Vietnam’s GDP. For example, 80% of Vietnam’s tea production, more than 140,000 tons annually, is exported to more than 90 countries worldwide [2]. Vietnam is the largest black pepper producer and exporter in the world, accounting for approximately 60% of global trade volume [3]. Much of the country’s coffee production is also exported, 40% of which is sold on the EU market [4].

As agricultural exports are a major component of Vietnam’s economy, expanding and intensifying production has been a central priority of national policy. However, much of this intensification has focused on increasing the use of agrochemical inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. High agrochemical use has become an ingrained practice; it is seen as a requirement for boosting production, making behaviour change difficult. In the past 25 years, pesticide use has grown five-fold, with pesticide imports increasing from 20,000 tons during the 1990s to over 100,000 tons annually by 2015 [5]. Accordingly, the amount of active ingredients used per hectare of agricultural land is estimated to have tripled during this period [6].

Not only is this level of input use expensive for farmers, but it has come at the expense of human and environmental health and has facilitated expansion into areas unsuitable for sustainable production. Overuse and misuse of pesticides have negatively impacted biodiversity in agricultural areas, affected fisheries, and high pesticide residue levels have been found in well water, groundwater, rainwater, and even bottled water [7]. In addition to overall high pesticide use, many toxic pesticides are applied. One survey found that one third of the pesticides used by farmers in the Red River Delta contained extremely or highly hazardous pesticides, as defined by the World Health Organization, including organophosphates, organochlorines, pyrethroids, and carbamates [8].

High residue levels on produce have led to trade rejections and disrupted market flows. For example, a 2022 study found that over 80% of vegetable samples collected from two provinces in Central Vietnam had detectable residues of pesticides including cypermethrin, difenoconazole, and fenobucarb, 23% of which were above maximum residue levels (MRLs) [9]. Pesticide residues, specifically metalaxyl, are a particular issue for black pepper, where an estimated 80% of output having high residues, causing countries like China, US, and EU countries to reject imports [10]. In addition, the tightening of regulations in the EU has made exporting coffee to this market much more difficult [11].

Much of the root cause of pesticide overuse stems from poor knowledge and understanding of correct use by pesticide sellers, extension agents, and farmers [12]. Efforts to promote integrated pest management (IPM) have fallen short of expectations, due to low technical capacity, lack of access to technologies, and labour constraints [13]. Additionally, studies show that farmers tend to ignore recommendations on best practices for pesticide use, believing that higher doses are more effective [14]. Farmers also do not follow guidelines on proper handling and disposal of used containers, which are often dumped directly into fields and streams, with negative environmental consequences [15].

Nonetheless, the Vietnam Plant Production Association estimates that the country could cut pesticide use by at least 30% without impacting yields [16]. This finding is supported by several recent initiatives that seek to reduce pesticide use and promote alternatives. In 2019, for example, the Vietnamese government began collaborating with the coffee company Jacob Douwe Egberts (JDE), along with coffee trader Simexco, IDH, and other stakeholders to improve the sustainability of the coffee sector, including reducing agrochemical use 15% by 2025 [17]. IDH and the Department of Plant Protection have also launched a national mobile app (called Thuoc BVTV) to help farmers increase their use of IPM by providing information on alternative methods of pest control.

Expansion of voluntary sustainability standards in the region, including Rainforest Alliance certification, have also helped train farmers in best practices and increased implementation of sustainable practices such as IPM [18]. Training is rare outside of certification programmes, resulting in low implementation of IPM and other sustainable practices and poor recordkeeping on pesticide use. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate current practices as well as the role of training in influencing these practices.

Since 2022 GAHP and Rainforest Alliance have been working in partnership to deliver the ‘IPM Adoption and Pesticide Use on Coffee, Tea and Pepper Farms in Vietnam’ project. The project aimed to support agricultural producers in adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and encourage the use of alternatives to chemicals and pesticides for preventing and controlling pests.

To date, more than 5,000 tea, coffee and pepper farmers have been trained on sustainable pest management practices and using alternatives to chemicals and pesticides. The project was successful in selected pilot farms in the Daklak, Daknong, Binh Phuoc, Lam Dong, Tuyen Quang and Phu Tho provinces in Vietnam.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The study will include a desktop literature review and analysis of epidemiological official information of the last 10 years available in Vietnam about health acute effects (acute poisoning expressed as hospitalizations and death) and analysis of available official reports and research publication in peer review journal. The study is expected to:

Understand the burden of disease resulting from pesticide exposure, with a specific focus on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs).
Identify the specific pesticides most frequently associated with cases of acute pesticide poisoning (APP).
Determine the agricultural activities where the risk of pesticide exposure is most prevalent.
Organize the collected data by geographic location, crop type, demographics (age and gender), employment status (farmers vs. farm workers), and specific pesticide management tasks.
Analyse the findings to formulate evidence-based conclusions and actionable recommendations.
Calculate direct cost due to hospitalization days and workday lost.

Scope of works and task assignments

The scope of work assignment under this TOR include:

Desk review of existing epidemiological official reports and peer review publications of the last ten years on health effects of pesticide in Viet Nam to find out common exposure activities and risky practices, organizing the collected information by location, crops, age, gender, employment status and activity, and the impacts of pesticide poisoning in terms of burden of disease. If possible (according to the nature of the information available) calculate the direct costs of hospitalization days and workdays lost.
Collect and analyse secondary epidemiological data on possible associated pesticide low chronic exposure (sentinel diseases, for example: diabetes, respiratory diseases, infertility in young couples, hypothyroidism, childhood and glandular cancer, other) in the last ten years to better uunderstand the burden of disease experienced.

Specific task assignments:

The Environment Protection Expert (as the team leader)

Desk review of existing epidemiological official information and peer review publications on health effects of pesticide in Viet Nam to find out:
- Collect related epidemiological official information and peer review publications on health effects of pesticides in Viet Nam over the last 10 years.
- Conduct literature review of the reports organize the information and analyse the results on acute and chronic health effects, common exposure activities and practices., geographic location, crop type, demographics (age and gender), employment status (farmers vs. farm workers), and specific pesticide management tasks.
Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel
- Duration and Timing: 20 working during the period from 5th January 2026 to 28th February 2026.
- Duty Station: Hanoi

3. Final Products

A combined final report consolidating analysis and conclusions of review of the areas of the TOR. The report should not exceed 20 pages excluding annexes
Power Point presentations of the review and policy recommendation for sharing in relevant workshops
The deliverables are written in excellent English and Vietnamese and are well formatted.

Deliverable: Inception report

Content: Consultant provides clarifications on timing and method, including related annexes
Timing: 10 January 2026
Responsibilities: Consultant submits to GAHP

Deliverable: Draft reports

Content: Draft reports shared with concerned partners for comments and clarification
Timing: 31 January 2026
Responsibilities: Consultant sends to GAHP

Deliverable: Finalized report

Content: Reports finalized and confirmed by concerned partners who provided data, information, and research reports (maximum 20 pages, not including annexes)
Timing: 28 February 2026
Responsibilities: Submits to GAHP

Deliverable: PPT, policy brief, and recommendations

Content: PowerPoint presentations, policy brief, and recommendations prepared and submitted to GAHP together with the final reports
Timing: 28 February 2026
Responsibilities: Submits to GAHP

4. Provision of Monitoring and Progress Control

The consultant will work closely with and taking the guidance of the GAHP, including overall reporting to the Country Programme Coordinator in Viet Nam and the Regional Programme Manager of GAHP.
The consultant will respond timely (within 24 hours, preferably) to technical requirements and other communications from the GAHP.
The deliverables shall be submitted to the GAHP for review and approval. All deliverables are subject to technical clearance and approval from the DEFRA and GAHP.

5. Degree of Expertise and Qualifications

For the successful and timely implementation of the assignment, the National Consultants shall have the following qualifications:

Team leader:

At least Master’s degree, in public health, environmental health, or relevant technical areas.
At least ten (10) years of working experience with public health, environmental health, or health and pesticides.
Hand-on experience in conducting similar thematic studies.
Relevant work experience in Vietnam’s public health, environmental health, health and chemicals, pesticide management, or non-communicable disease management.
Excellent conceptualization and analytical skills and proven experience in conducting data collection and objective analysis on related legislations.
Prior experience with international organizations will be an asset.
Strong written and spoken skills in English and Vietnamese are a must.

Team member:

Postgraduate degree in public health or environment health, chemicals or relevant fields;
At least ten (10) years of relevant work experience; especially in health environment management, health policies, or policies relating to environmental health in Viet Nam;
Very good experience and skills in facilitation or multi-stakeholder workshops and consultative processes;
Understanding of and experience in pesticide-related disease control within the health sector’s policies will be an advantage;

6. Project Support and Reference Documents

Arrangement of meetings, interview and the workshop

GAHP and RA will coordinate with concerned stakeholders including DEFRA, RA, and GAHP’s expert to review, comment, and support to the selected national consultants on report writing;
The GAHP will arrange online consultative meetings as needed to discuss and finalize the study report.

7. Review Time Required and Payment Term

Payment will be made as follow:

20% milestone

Condition: Upon submission and approval of the inception report
Deadline: 10 January 2026

40% milestone

Condition: Following submission and approval of the first draft of the research reports and policy briefs
Deadline: 31 January 2026