KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Expert in public-private consultation and collaboration
Sector: Trade and Development
Position Type: Part-time
Duration/Level of Effort: Short term
Position Location: Remote
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, 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.
EDM technical assistance to Viet Nam has largely focused on implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Expert advice has been provided to help government ministries, departments and agencies draft new legislation, regulations, policies and procedures to fully meet the obligations of the Agreement, as well to develop public communication tools to raise awareness of both the obligations and opportunities created by the CPTPP.
Assistance has also been provided to strengthen the capacity of trade support organizations (TSOs) to deliver programs and services to help Vietnamese businesses take advantage of the Agreement. EDM experts have developed tools to improve the effectiveness of government TSOs, including a Client Relationship Management system and an online training course for trade commissioners on the market access provisions of the CPTPP. Experts have also produced CPTPP business guides and training courses tailored to SMEs, to women entrepreneurs and to the cooperative sector.
According to Vietnamese trade statistics, exports to Canada totaled $5.62 USD in 2023 and have grown steadily since the CPTPP came into force. However, only 14% of exports took advantage of the preferential tariffs offered under the Agreement. Given the strong growth of exports and the relatively low preferential tariffs utilization, there is clearly much room to expand Viet Nam – Canada trade.
Trade officials believe that fully harvesting the benefits of the CPTPP requires that: gaps in the policies and programs of governments at the local, provincial and national levels to address the needs of exporters and importers be identified and addressed; limited public sector resources be better targeted to the needs of business; and governments at the local, provincial and national level governments develop shared export strategies and better coordinate supporting policies and programs. Achieving these objectives requires close consultation and collaboration with private sector stakeholders – manufacturers, distributors, banks, industry associations and other institutions.
For these reasons, the Government of Viet Nam is seeking to establish a mechanism for effective, ongoing, public-private collaboration on trade policy and export promotion. This multi-stakeholder mechanism is intended to engage governments at all levels and the full range of private sector players. The mechanism would be replicated in strategic industry sectors, adapted to the “ecosystem” of each industry.
As a first step in the process of establishing these ecosystems, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has requested EDM technical assistance to examine international models for public-private collaboration, to identify best practices and design a model adapted to the needs and circumstances of Viet Nam.
As a second step, MOIT intends to establish a pilot ecosystem in the seafood sector, an area of particularly strong trade growth. Consensus-building consultations with industry and government stakeholders would be undertaken, focused on the recommended model for collaboration. The final step would be the operationalization of the seafood ecosystem, supported by export development training for both public and private stakeholders. The training would establish a common basis for collaboration and the development of a shared export strategy.
The present technical assistance activity relates solely to the research phase of the ecosystem initiative.
LINKAGE TO EDM PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK
This assistance is consistent with the EDM Performance Management Framework, Immediate Outcome 1220: Increased capacity of partner country MDAs to expand access to export-oriented economic opportunities for SMEs, particularly those led by women, indigenous or other under-represented groups.
DESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REQUEST/KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical experts will:
- prepare a research paper on models of public-private collaboration, including their mandates and objectives; their participants; their legal and administrative structures; their operations, programs and activities; their infrastructure and support systems; gender and social inclusion dimensions and good practices; and other relevant features; and
- formulate recommendations on the model(s) best suited to the objectives of MOIT and the Government of Viet Nam.
The paper will be delivered in English and Vietnamese. The cost of translation will be covered by EDM separately from the professional fees of the technical expert(s).
Consistent with Canada’s inclusive trade approach, the EDM promotes gender equality and social inclusion as cross-cutting objectives of all technical assistance. Proposals should explain how these objectives will be integrated into the assistance activity, both in its conduct and its content.
Similarly, bidders should consider how the promotion of environmental sustainability can be addressed in assistance activities.
All activities and deliverables are to be delivered in Vietnamese. The cost of translation and simultaneous interpretation will be borne by the EDM, in addition to all direct costs (expert travel and accommodation, meeting facilities, etc.).
The immediate beneficiaries of the assistance will be MOIT officials. In the longer term, it is expected that the research will result in the establishment of ecosystems for public-private collaboration in trade policy and programs, benefiting Vietnamese businesses through increased trade and revenues, creating jobs and reducing poverty.
TECHNICAL EXPERT PROFILE/EXPERTISE REQUIRED
Bidders for this technical assistance activity must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience in the following:
- international models of public-private consultation and collaboration, including on trade policy and programs;
- public sector trade policy and export promotion;
- research methods;
- the formulation of public policy advice;
- the integration of gender equality and social inclusion considerations in the design and delivery of trade technical assistance;
- the integration of environmental sustainability trends in trade policy and negotiations into trade technical assistance: and
- the design and delivery of trade technical assistance to developing countries.
The EDM includes a core focus on gender and social inclusion as well as on environmental issues associated with trade activities. Successful applicants must research and integrate specific good and emerging practices in this area, partnering with other expert consultants if necessary. Any prior experience providing TA on gender equality, social inclusion, and the environment will be considered a strong asset. Before starting activities, the successful consultant(s) will be required to complete the Government of Canada’s online Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) training (approximately 2 hours).
TIMELINES
The recruitment of experts is expected to be completed by February 28, 2025. The technical assistance activity is expected to be completed by August 31, 2025.
DELIVERABLES
- A detailed work plan, work schedule and budget for the delivery of activities.
- Draft and final versions of the research paper.
- Draft and final versions of the recommendations on ecosystem models.
- Completed EDM Performance Measurement Framework template for the TA, including baseline data and targets against EDM indicators.
- Final Narrative Report on Mandate: Due within 30 calendar days of completing all TA activities. The report shall describe activities delivered, results achieved (versus initial expected results and baseline), lessons learned relevant to future EDM activities, and expenses incurred by the Consultant in carrying out this mandate. This report will be reviewed and approved by EDM before being shared with Global Affairs Canada.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS
For your proposal to be considered, please name your document in the following format:
1.33 Consultant Last Name, First Name (or Organisation’s name)
(Proposals can be submitted by a single consultant or a consortium of consultants).
Your proposal should be in English and contain the following sections:
- Cover letter
- Proposal that includes the following:
- Your approach to implementing this TA (up to 10 pages maximum);
- Describe your approach to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery (up to 2 pages maximum);
- Describe your approach to ensure that environmental impacts are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery (up to 1 page maximum);
- Outline your project management and monitoring strategy for the implementation of the activities (up to 2 pages maximum).
- Indicate all proposed personnel to implement this project and their roles and responsibilities. Include all CVs of proposed personnel/experts (up to 20 pages maximum).
- Estimated level of effort (in days) and provide consulting rates (in CAD) for each proposed personnel and/or expert implementing the project.