Tools to Strengthen VIETRADE Services

Date of Publication
Application Deadline
Company
Cowater International
Brief Description

Technical Expert - Terms of Reference

Project Name: Tools to Strengthen VIETRADE Services

Post Title: Expert in Trade Promotion Services

Deadline to Apply: November 18, 2019

Background

Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM) provides technical assistance to Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries to maximize the development impacts of trade and investment. Over seven years (2018-2025), EDM will invest CAD $16.5 million to support Canada’s developing country trading partners to negotiate, implement and benefit from, and adapt to trade and investment agreements with Canada.

EDM is a demand-driven project that will benefit potential partners – including governments, local private sector groups, and local civil society organizations – through capacity building and technical advisory support on policy reform issues that have a high potential to reduce poverty and gender inequalities, and support progress in trade and investment agreement negotiations.

Vietnam has been identified by Global Affairs Canada as a priority country for technical assistance, in the context of the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Despite rapid economic growth since the introduction of the “doi moi” (renovation) reform policy in 1986, Vietnam faces daunting challenges:

  • growth in total factor productivity has slowed; the demographic dividend is being eroded by low-wage competitors;
  • trade costs remain comparatively high;
  • its exports remain labour-intensive and low value-added;
  • the benefits of economic growth are unevenly spread among its 58 provinces – 15% of the population, living in remote or rural areas, carry the burden of 50% of national poverty;
  • women are disproportionately represented in subsistence farming, in low-skilled, precarious employment and in the informal economy;
  • women remain underrepresented in senior management and the political class.

Implementation of the CPTPP also represents a significant challenge to Vietnam – a commitment to implement a comprehensive set of state-of-the-art trade disciplines that exceed the obligations of WTO agreements. Notwithstanding the suspension of certain measures after the US withdrawal (largely measures affecting intellectual property rights), the CPTPP calls upon Vietnam to further open its market, adopt stronger governance and regulatory practices, expand labour rights and meet higher environmental standards, provide greater protection to investments and foster enhanced inclusiveness in trade. Implementing the many new obligations imposed by CPTPP membership will require support from CPTPP and development partners.

An EDM mission to Vietnam, conducted in November 2018, identified many technical assistance needs, including in trade policy capacity-building. Subsequent discussions with the Multilateral Trade Policy Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (the coordinating agency for EDM assistance projects in Vietnam) and the project leads for individual applicant organizations, established priority assistance projects for 2019-20. Among the priorities expressed by Vietnam was support to strengthen the SME export development services (including training, counselling and policy advocacy) of VIETRADE, the government agency responsible for trade and investment promotion.

This assistance is consistent with the approved EDM Country Needs Assessment Plan for Vietnam, Mandate 2, Export Development Training for SMEs, and Mandate 1, Trade Policy Capacity Building. The assistance is aligned with the EDM Performance Measurement Framework, Immediate Outcome 1311, technical assistance provided to partner governments on specific issues/needs of women and girls and other underrepresented groups such as SMEs and Indigenous Peoples, related to adapting and benefiting from trade and investment agreements with Canada.

This assistance will directly benefit trade promotion officials at the national. Indirectly, Vietnamese SMEs and business support organizations will benefit from the improved export development services provided by VIETRADE.

Description of Assignment

Technical assistance has been requested by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) to enhance their tools available to deliver export development support. This assistance will include:

  • A mission to Vietnam to advise VIETRADE officials on strengthening their Client Relationship Management (CRM) system, including a review of models of CRM systems in Canada and other CPTPP countries.
  • The creation of an inventory of trade promotion organizations in CPTPP countries, to serve as contact points for Vietnamese exporters, importers and investors seeking business opportunities.
  • Throughout the delivery of TA, the consultant will seek to identify opportunities to promote social inclusion, in both the short-term conduct of the project and longer-term economic policy development.
  • Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required
  • Applicants for this assignment must have extensive experience in the design and delivery of trade promotion and export development support services.
  • A thorough knowledge and understanding of CPTPP.
  • Experience in trade promotion and export market development in both the public and private sector will be an asset.
  • The EDM includes a core focus on gender and social inclusion as well as on environmental issues associated with trade activities. The approach to TA related to both topics are included in guidance documents that are available to both TA applicants and Technical Experts. Integrating such analysis will form a core part of the mandate of the TA provider therefore any prior experience in the provision of TA on gender equality and social inclusion and environment will be viewed as a strong asset

Timelines

November 2019 to March 2020

Reporting and Deliverables

Deliverables:

  • The Consultant will develop a detailed activity workplan for approval by EDM. This plan will consist of:
    • An overall implementation plan, activity timelines, and proposed level of effort and budget and;
    • A performance measurement approach, including specific performance measures to evaluate the success of the activities
  • Mission plan – including a list of meetings and planned activities
  • Final activity report as per EDM report guidelines as outlined below:

Reporting:

On conclusion of the activities, the consultant will prepare a final report as per EDM report guidelines, including:

  1. General context and broad objective(s) of the activity
  2. A summary of the approach and specific activities
  3. Expected and unanticipated challenges in the delivery of the activities
  4. Outlines results, including the immediate outcomes and the anticipated longer-term benefits
  5. Sustainability of results
  6. Contribution to gender equality, social inclusion and sustainable development
  7. Recommended performance management framework and specific performance measures
  8. Recommended next steps
  9. Lessons learned for future EDM interventions.
  10. List of trade promotion organizations in CPTPP countries.

To apply:

  1. Describe your specific approach to implementing this TA
  2. Describe your project management and monitoring strategy for the implementation of the activity.
  3. Indicate all personnel who are being proposed to implement this activity and what their roles and responsibilities will be. Please include all CVs.
  4. Provide estimated level of effort and consulting rates for proposed team.

Please apply with your resume and cover letter by November 8, 2019:

  1. On our Career Page and,
  2. To Vicki Campbell, EDM Program Manager, at vicki.campbell@cowater.com.

 

Please note that while we thank all applicants, we are only contact short-listed candidates.

Only non-shortlisted applicants who applied through our Career Page will remain in our database for future opportunities.