VN#006 An agency for desk review on the links between climate change and diseases (communicable and non-communicable)

Call for Expressions of Interest and Proposal

 VN#006 An agency for desk review on the links between climate change and diseases (communicable and non-communicable)

1. Background

   Climate change is a growing global health threat, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental changes drive climate-sensitive diseases such as dengue and malaria. Heatwaves, air pollution, and disasters also worsen respiratory, cardiovascular, and mental health conditions. WHO has identified climate change as the greatest health threat of the 21st century, potentially causing 21 million deaths globally, if unaddressed. Viet Nam and ASEAN countries face compounded risks due to climate vulnerability, rapid urbanization, and limited health system capacity. Data gaps, fragmented policies, and weak systems hinder effective responses. The Ministry of Health, in partnership with WHO, prioritizes climate-health resilience. 

   WHO’s project, Enhancing Population Health Resilience to Climate Change in ASEAN Nations, aims to bridge climate-health data gaps, among other things. Through this work, WHO will support the MoH by conducting a scoping review to consolidate and assess existing national and regional research and data on climate-sensitive communicable and non-communicable diseases. The review will assess existing evidence, identify gaps, and recommend next steps for modelling climate-sensitive diseases, including AI-assisted approaches. Findings will inform national surveillance systems, early warning tools, and long-term resilience strategies aligned with Viet Nam’s National Health Climate Change Adaptation Plan (to 2030), Disease Prevention Law, and National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development (2026-2035). This review will also assess the methodological strengths and weaknesses of local/regional studies. Therefore, WHO Viet Nam is recruiting an agency to conduct this review, develop the report and make appropriate recommendations. 

2. Work to be performed

Task 1: Develop an inception report 

• Detail the methodological approach for the scoping review, including objectives, conceptual framework, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and analytical plan. The report should also include the identification of national and international stakeholders and institutions relevant to the review (e.g., MOH, universities, research institutes, provincial stakeholders, and other research entities).
• Develop a plan for data collection, extraction, screening, and validation, as well as proposed sources for peer-reviewed and grey literature.

Task 2: Identify and review existing national and regional evidence

• Conduct a systematic literature search using international and national databases (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar, Viet Nam National Library of Medicine, MOH repositories, etc.) for studies published between 2010–2026 in English and Vietnamese.
• Screen titles, abstracts, and full texts according to predefined eligibility criteria to ensure inclusion of relevant studies on climate-sensitive infectious diseases and health impacts in Viet Nam, and in the Asia-Pacific region when relevant.
• Include both peer-reviewed and grey literature, ensuring broad coverage of national research outputs, theses, and reports.
• Document the search strategy, screening process, and inclusion/exclusion decisions transparently following PRISMA-ScR or equivalent reporting standards.
• Identify existing tools, models or methodologies which are drawing on AI capabilities to conduct disease modelling in this area, which may be able to be deployed in future stages of this work.

Task 3: Data extraction, charting, and evidence mapping

• Extract data using, capturing study characteristics (author, year, design, diseases, outcomes, population, location).
• Chart and categorize evidence by disease/condition type (e.g., dengue, malaria, zika, etc.), health outcomes (e.g., mortality, morbidity), and population groups (e.g., children, elderly, rural/urban, male/female, occupations, etc.).
• Map the spatial and thematic distribution of studies to identify research concentration areas, data gaps, and underrepresented regions or populations.

Task 4: Comparative analysis and synthesis of findings

• Compare Viet Nam’s findings with available regional and global studies (e.g., WHO, Global Burden of Disease, The Lancet, Nature) to benchmark exposure–response relationships and identify divergences in health outcomes or diseases.
• Assess how local results align or differ from regional and international evidence, identifying knowledge gaps and research capacity needs.
• Synthesize findings using both quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (narrative) approaches, highlighting strengths, limitations, and emerging trends in the national research landscape as well as context-specific recommendations.

Task 5: Support consultation and validation process

• Prepare a PowerPoint presentation and other relevant data formats, present preliminary findings to WHO, MOH, and partners for feedback and validation.
• Support the organization of a consultation meeting involving key stakeholders (MOH, research institutions, WHO, and UNDP) to review and refine the results and recommendations.
• Develop and then revise the final report based on stakeholder feedback.
• Submit the final scoping review report with an executive summary and recommendations for future modelling work (including through the potential use of AI), and database/repository of included studies in both Vietnamese and English.

3. Planned timeline

   From 4 May to 11 September 2026

4. Specific requirements

• Team Leader’s requirements:
• PhD degree in public health, environmental health, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental sciences, or related fields.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in environmental health, epidemiology, or climate-sensitive disease research.
• Proven experience conducting literature reviews, evidence syntheses, or research gap analyses.
• Extensive experience in disease modelling with focus on communicable diseases.
• Demonstrated familiarity with public health policy, data systems, or environmental monitoring frameworks in Viet Nam.
• Experience in working with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and other relevant ministries, agencies and development partners is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of climate change and health linkages, including exposure assessment and health outcomes.
• Proven skills in data analysis, report writing, and synthesis of complex information.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to engage government counterparts and research institutions.
• Excellent in writing and speaking English. Fluency in Vietnamese as a mother tongue.
• Team members’ requirements:
• At least a master’s degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years’ experience in modelling

Agencies who are interested can reach us before/by 17 April 2026

World Health Organization

wpvnmuhc@who.int

Subject:      Application for VN#006 (To conduct desk review on the links between climate change and diseases)