National STTA: Cross-border E-commerce Methodology Expert

Vietnam Digital Trade

SCOPE OF WORK

National STTA Cross-border E-commerce Methodology Expert

Date: February 2024

Position: National STTA Cross-border E-commerce Methodology Expert

Reports to: USAID Vietnam Digital Trade (VDT) Technical team

Location: Hanoi or other provinces in Vietnam (if required)

Eligibility: Vietnamese Nationals

LOEs: (STTA) 45 days

Period of Performance: February – July 2024

International Development Group LLC is an international development consulting firm that assists donors, governments, and the private sector to create and take advantage of opportunities for sustainable, broad-based economic development and poverty reduction. IDG provides entrepreneurs and policymakers with the practical tools needed to achieve real and measurable impact for their communities and countries. IDG assistance programs aim to build the capacity, skills, and knowledge of local individuals and institutions in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, fostering synergies between local knowledge and international experience. 

Project Background

The VDT is a two-year activity (2023-2025) addressing regulatory gaps and promoting private sector engagement in the rapidly growing digital economy. USAID VDT Activity supports the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)’s implementation of frameworks that facilitate digital trade, with an emphasis on supporting MOIT in holding public-private dialogues to ensure implementation is done in consultation with the private sector. Regulations that are responsive to private sector needs remove bottlenecks in trade faced by enterprises and increase regulatory transparency, helping to shape an e-commerce sector where enterprises of all sizes can benefit. The Activity encourages the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in digital trade by introducing new business models and other best practices, such as traceability of goods, as well as facilitating cross-border connections between enterprises via MOIT’s digital trade promotion platform.

Activity Background

As approved in the work plan between the MOIT and USAID, the VDT will support the MOIT’s Vietnam E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency (the “IDEA”) to develop a research report on methodology and a set of measurement and evaluation indicators on Vietnam's cross-border e-commerce.

Cross-border e-commerce developed on a traditional international trade platform combined with e-commerce is becoming a trend in countries with developed e-commerce platforms such as the US, China, EU, Japan, Korea... and spreading to developing countries in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam...

Vietnam's economy is increasingly integrating deeply into the global economy with participation in a series of FTAs. E-commerce content is also starting to appear in new generation FTAs that Vietnam participates in such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and RCEP... This will be a new driving force for the Vietnamese economy, contributing to reconnecting the cross-border supply chain that is broken due to the pandemic, paving the way for products of Vietnam’s strength to continue accessing international markets.

Currently, Vietnam does not have a common set of criteria to measure the scale of cross-border e-commerce; therefore, state management agencies still have difficulty positioning Vietnam's cross-border e-commerce in the general picture of global cross-border e-commerce. The IDEA proposed to develop a Report on methodological research and set of measurement and assessment indicators on cross-border e-commerce in Vietnam.

Measuring e-commerce trade is a complex task due to the diverse nature of online transactions and the involvement of various entities across the supply chain. No single universal methodology exists for measuring e-commerce trade, with different countries and trade partners employing varying approaches.      

The lack of a clear and universally accepted definition of e-commerce is one of the main difficulties in measuring this activity. The term "e-commerce" encompasses a wide range of activities, including online shopping, digital services, and online transactions. This broad scope makes it challenging to define e-commerce in a way that captures all of its aspects and can be consistently applied across different contexts. The absence of a standardized definition can lead to inconsistencies in how e-commerce is measured, both within and between countries. This can hinder comparisons and make it difficult to assess the true extent and impact of e-commerce on the economy.

In practice, measuring the value of Vietnam's cross-border e-commerce is important for a number of reasons:

• Tracking the growth of the sector and identify key trends. This information can be used to develop policies and regulations that support the growth of cross-border e-commerce;
• Identifying the economic impact of the sector. This information can be used to attract investment and support businesses that are involved in cross-border e-commerce.
• Promoting transparency and accountability. This is important because cross-border e-commerce transactions can involve a number of different parties, and it is important to ensure that all parties are aware of the risks and liabilities involved. In particular, this might also help protecting consumers and businesses from fraud and abuse.
• Helping policymakers to develop policies and regulations that support the growth of cross-border e-commerce. This can lead to increased investment, job creation, and economic growth.

The report will be a synthesis of cross-border e-commerce measurement methodologies of a number of countries, followed by lessons learned for Vietnam. This research report is the premise for developing and publishing the publication of Vietnam's Cross-Border E-Commerce Report (in year 2). The report is a useful reference for state management agencies in developing statistical indicators for measuring cross-border e-commerce.

The National STTA Cross-border E-commerce Methodology Expert (“the Expert”), in consultation with the VDT Technical team, and the International STTA Cross-border E-commerce Expert, will collaborate and work closely with the IDEA and consult with relevant departments of MOIT to complete a research and a report on the methodology and measurement indicators for Vietnam's cross-border e-commerce. The Expert may also be required to work in collaboration with other members of the VDT team.

Key Tasks/Responsibilities:

The National STTA Cross-border E-commerce Methodology Expert will be responsible in:

• Define, in cooperation with the IDEA the scope and objectives of the research project (the expert will seek the feedback from the international STTA expert)
• Conduct an extensive literature review on cross-border e-commerce measurement methodologies of a number of countries, focusing on Vietnam's context, followed by lessons learned for Vietnam (the expert will seek the support from the international STTA expert).
• Stock-take the present situation in Vietnam about the methodology and the tools utilized to measure cross-border e-commerce.
• Identify and engage with key stakeholders, including government bodies, industry experts, and businesses involved in cross-border e-commerce in Vietnam.
• Develop a comprehensive research methodology, specifying data collection methods, sampling techniques, and statistical analyses (the expert will seek the support from the International STTA expert).
• Initiate data collection activities, which may involve surveys, interviews, or data retrieval from existing sources.
• Conduct statistical analyses to derive meaningful insights from the collected data and interpret the results and identify patterns, trends, and correlations (the expert will seek the support from the international STTA expert).
• Develop, in cooperation with the international STTA expert, a set of measurement and evaluation indicators to assess the performance and impact of cross-border e-commerce in Vietnam.
• Compile the findings into a comprehensive research report.
• Collect the feedback from the IDEA and the international STTA expert and revise the research report accordingly.
• Prepare for and deliver a presentation of the research findings to the IDEA and eventually other stakeholders, providing an opportunity for feedback and discussion.

Deliverables

• Detailed project plan outlining milestones, tasks, and deadlines.
• A final report including at least the following chapters:

1. Comprehensive literature review document summarizing existing knowledge, key concepts, and identifying research gaps.
2. Overview of the present situation in Vietnam in methodology and tools utilized for measuring cross-border e-commerce trade.
3. Stakeholder engagement summarizing insights gathered, key concerns, and potential areas of collaboration.
4. Research methodology detailing the chosen methods, tools, and instruments for data collection and analysis.
5. Outline of the developed measurement and evaluation indicators, aligned with research objectives.
6. Conclusions, and recommendations for the IDEA.

• Presentation materials, if applicable, for sharing research findings with stakeholders.
• ANNEX: Raw data sets, data collection tools, and documentation ensuring data quality and integrity.

Qualifications

The National STTA Cross-border E-commerce Methodology Expert should have the following qualifications:

• A Master's or Ph.D. degree in a relevant field such as Business, Economics, E-commerce, Statistics, or a related discipline.
• At least ten years of experience expertise in research methodology, including designing and implementing research projects, selecting appropriate methods, and ensuring rigor in data collection and analysis.
• Experience in working on cross-border e-commerce dynamics, trends, and challenges, particularly in the context of Vietnam.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and data interpretation.
• Knowledge of international trade policies, regulations, and the economic factors influencing cross-border transactions.
• Ability to analyze complex data sets and interpret findings in a meaningful way.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey research findings, methodology, and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong English and Vietnamese written, oral, and presentation skills.

Proposals should be submitted to [email protected] no later than February 19, 2024.