Environmental Policy Advisor Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position: Environmental Policy Advisor Consultant

Location: Vietnam

1. BACKGROUND

The Provincial Green Index Initiative is a collaborative program implemented by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) since 2023. The new Provincial Green Index (PGI) is a public index that promotes provincial governments’ efforts to improve environmental quality and green practices by firms in Vietnam’s 63 provinces. The first PGI report was publicly released in April 2023 under the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) program.

The PCI produced by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) just celebrated its 18th year. The overall PCI comprises ten sub-indices, measuring provincial economic governance in important areas to private sector development through perceptions of domestic and foreign business operations across Vietnam’s 63 provinces. A province that is considered to perform well on the PCI is the one that has: 1) low entry costs for business start-up; 2) easy access to land and security of business premises; 3) a transparent business environment and equitable business information; 4) minimal informal charges; 5) has limited time requirements for bureaucratic procedures and inspections; 6) limit crowding out of private activity from policy biases toward state, foreign, or connected firms; 7) proactive and creative provincial leadership in solving problems for enterprises; 8) developed and high-quality business support services; 9) sound labor training policies; and 10) fair and effective legal procedures for dispute resolution.

As the PCI provides a great service to Vietnam and its continued success is critical to ongoing economic prosperity, in this PGI Initiative, the new Provincial Green Index will be refined and strengthened on the foundation of the PCI to intensify efforts to develop environmentally friendly business environments nationally and within provinces in Vietnam that fosters sustainable private sector development.

The PGI Initiative Program/VCCI is looking for a qualified professional for the position of Environmental Policy Advisor Consultant to provide environmental technical inputs to the day-to-day activities of the PGI Initiative Program.

Job size: Part-time

Duration: From January, 2024 to December, 2024 with possibility of extension

2. SCOPE OF WORK

The Environmental Policy Advisor Consultant will report to the PGI Initiative Program Director and is expected to carry out the following tasks:

• Provide technical inputs and recommendations on the design and construction of the PGI questionnaire and the PGI indexing methodology to ensure environmental policy aspects are properly incorporated;
• Coordinate with the PGI Initiative Program Research Director and PGI team to develop a literature review and regulatory review with a view of Vietnam’s environmental policies, including the roles and responsibilities of key state and non-state actors (subnational governments/central government, private sector) and understanding of new generation FTAs to which Vietnam is a signatory; and environmental practices and compliance prevalent in the private sector in Vietnam;
• Contribute to developing the annual PCI-PGI report and other Program research products, assuring the quality of analysis, assessments and recommendations related to environmental policies in Program reports and research products;
• Present analyses of PCI-PGI findings at PCI-PGI diagnostic workshops in provinces and other related events within the framework of the Program;
• Participate in Program field surveys (if any).

3. KEY DELIVERABLES

The Environmental Policy Advisor Consultant will produce the following deliverables:

• Provision of technical inputs to the annual PCI-PGI report;
• Contribution to writing up environmental sections in the annual PCI-PGI report;
• Participation in and presentation of PCI-PGI analyses at PGI diagnostic workshops, regional workshops and training events;
• Provision of technical inputs to the Program’s annual Environmental Policy Review Report and the Policy Brief on Environmental Regulatory Framework; and
• Provision of technical inputs to refine the PGI methodology.

4. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Master’s degree in quantitative social science (economics, political science, sociology);
• At least seven years’ experience of working on environmental research and background in economic development, environmental policy and environmental science;
• Understanding of Vietnam's environmental policy, including the roles and responsibilities of key state and non-state actors (subnational governments/central government, private sector) and understanding of new generation FTAs to which Vietnam is a signatory;
• Understanding of environmental practices and compliance prevalent in the private sector in Vietnam;
• Demonstrated experience in writing policy reports, policy briefs and spatial data processing and analysis.

5. HOW TO APPLY

Please email a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position along with your resume (in one single pdf file) to [email protected] by January 12, 2024. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further process.