Terms of Reference - Short Term Consultant
Agribusiness Competitiveness Project in Vietnam – Quality Infrastructure
About the IFC-World Bank Group
IFC - a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group - is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In fiscal year 2018, we delivered more than $23 billion in long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.
About the Project
The objective of Agribusiness Competitiveness project in Vietnam is to create opportunities of high value markets access for quality and safe agro-food products of Vietnam by enabling the business regulatory environment and improving linkages along the value chain. The project will start with fruit and vegetables to capitalize on the country’s increasing integration into regional and global economies. This will be achieved by:
- Enhanced regulatory transparency demonstrated by the adoption of at least three changes to existing legislation to enable production and export of quality and safe products;
- At least 10% increase in sales revenues for beneficiary firms.
By the project’s close, measurable impacts will include productive and efficient linkages, indicated by at least 10 new linkages in the targeted sub-sector.
There are three project components:
- Create an enabling regulatory and institutional environment to enhance high-value produce, including safe, quality, transparent and differentiated products;
- Develop value chain linkages and global value chain integration for the targeted sub-sector (fruit and vegetables) through establishing a public-private platform, brought together through strengthening connections between input dealers, suppliers, logistics companies and exporting firms on the production side and inspectors and regulators on the surveillance side;
- Capacity building for component 2 to implement and monitor food safety performance, including improvements in testing agribusiness infrastructure by increasing the scope of maximum residue level (MRL) testing for agro-products that could be conducted in Vietnam.
Quality Infrastructure (QI) is an important theme for this project: a sound QI ecosystem is essential to demonstrate the products’ compliance with international standards in target markets, which is the key factor for firms to penetrate and compete in new markets. The Short-Term Consultant (STC, or consultant) will be recruited to help analyze the QI ecosystem and develop a coherent offering to support the QI reforms and capacity development in Vietnam.
Duties and Responsibilities
The STC will work closely with QI team based in Vietnam and Washington DC to perform the following duties:
- Familiarize him/herself with the WBG QI diagnostics methodologies and approaches (e.g. QI rapid and comprehensive diagnostics tools, reform offerings);
- Collect and consolidate information and data through desk research and liaison with the corresponding QI authorities and/or organizations in Vietnam (e.g. standards, testing, metrology, etc.);
- Arrange the meetings with relevant QI stakeholders in Vietnam, and conduct follow-up activities after the meetings if necessary;
- Review the QI related documents (e.g. national quality policy, technical regulation in fruit and vegetable sector, other relevant assessment documents, etc.);
- Work with the QI team to develop the QI assessment report through providing information, data and other relevant inputs;
- Ad hoc duties related to the scoping mission and report development if necessary.
The STC will be required to work in close cooperation with the IFC/WBG colleagues from both Vietnam office and other offices, the project’s other experts, and the IFC/WBG external partners.
Deliverables
The deliverables of the assignment will be a QI assessment report. Required works shall start on Oct 8, 2018, and deliverables be submitted by Nov 1, 2018. The expected level of effort is 20 days and might be extended based on the STC’s performance. The work schedule will be discussed and submitted by the consultant after the completion of recruitment process.
Selection Criteria
- Advanced university degree (Master or PhD) in relevant fields such as Engineering, Technology, Agriculture, Food, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Law, etc.;
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in QI and/or agriculture and food related area(s), particularly in Vietnam;
- Proven track record of experience in similar projects (including research projects);
- Deep understanding of QI ecosystem (i.e. how QI components operate as a whole system, and how public and private stakeholders interact within the system);
- Experience, knowledge and connection with QI related institutions in Vietnam;
- Understanding of QI related economic policies, legal and institutional framework;
- Ability to carry out field visits across the country during the period of the contract;
- Strong written and oral communication skills in both Vietnamese and English;
- Ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
Deadline for applications and contact
If interested, please send a cover letter and a CV to Ms. Van Hoang Pham ([email protected] [1]) or Ms. Anh Kieu Nguyen ([email protected] [2]) by October 5th , 2018.