Consultancy services to develop project document and secure GVN approval

TERM OF REFERENCE

Consultancy services to develop project document and secure GVN approval

Positions:
1	Team Leader: Project Document Development Lead
2	Team member #1: Business Development Support Expert
3	Team member #2: Cross-Cutting/Monitoring and Evaluation Expert
Working location: Hanoi, Vietnam, with potential travel to project provinces Deadline for CV submission: May 28, 2025

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Advancing Growth, Innovation and Leadership for Enterprises (AGILE) is funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by WUSC in consortium with Sarona Asset Management. The project aims to enhance the resilience of Vietnam’s populations vulnerable to climate change. Working across the whole country, particularly Ho Chi Minh (HCM), Da Nang and Hanoi cities, AGILE will further strengthen the effective partnership between GAC and the Government of Vietnam (GVN) to support Vietnam’s sustainable development goals and contribute to Canadian government strategies and targets.

By supporting the growth of Climate Enterprises (CEs) — businesses providing solutions to climate adaptation and mitigation — AGILE seeks to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and marginalized groups. The project aligns with Vietnam’s climate, economic, and gender equality strategies and engages local stakeholders to drive sustainable, gender-responsive business practices.

AGILE activities are organized within three interconnected components:

Component 1: Strengthen provision of enterprise growth support to climate enterprises, especially women-led SMEs. AGILE strengthens support for CEs, with a focus on those led by, employing, or serving women. The project collaborates with local partners, such as BK Holdings and Women’s Initiative for Startup and Entrepreneurship (WISE), to enhance business acceleration services like training, mentorship, and coaching. Tailored acceleration models will incorporate Canadian expertise to provide gender-responsive support for CEs working on climate adaptation and mitigation solutions.
Component 2: Increased investment in gender-responsive and inclusive climate enterprises. Through partnerships with investors like Touchstone VC, SWEEF Capital, and Mekong Capital, AGILE facilitates increased investment in climate enterprises, particularly those supporting women. The project will deploy challenge grants and develop due diligence tools to streamline investment processes for CEs. These partnerships aim to build a more inclusive investment ecosystem for climate-focused businesses.
Component 3. Increased deployment of funds using a gender lens by climate investors. AGILE works with its partners to promote the integration of a gender lens in investment processes. By strengthening SME’s capacity to engage with investors, AGILE aims to increase the deployment of funds in climate enterprises that promote gender equality. This will help facilitate more inclusive investments, ensuring that climate adaptation solutions benefit both the environment and vulnerable populations.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

The AGILE has initiated a process of project approval following the procedures outlined in Decree 114/2021/NĐ-CP on management and use of official development assistance (ODA) and concessional loans granted by foreign donors. The objective of this assignment is for the consultancy team to support the necessary steps needed to secure Project Approval.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

The overall responsibilities of the Consultancy team are to:

Develop and complete the AGILE Project Document in line with Annex 5 of the Decree 114/2021/NĐ-CP, based on inputs (AGILE Project Description development by GAC and WUSC, guidance from WUSC and consortium partners), and in close collaboration with the Agency for Private Enterprises and Cooperative Development (APED) of Ministry of Finance (MoF).
Coordinate with key stakeholders (APED and Department of Debt Management and Foreign Economic Relations (DMFER) of MoF and other relevant GVN ministries and cities) to ensure that all necessary steps are taken for timely and successful project document approval.
Collaborate with the AGILE Project Team to incorporate the feedback from GVN and other stakeholders into the project document to ensure that it aligns with both the AGILE Project’s objectives and GVN’s strategic goals as well as to finalize project approval in line with Decree 114/2021/NĐ-CP.

The specific tasks expected to be undertaken, include, but are not limited to:

Review project documents: This includes the AGILE Project description from WUSC and GAC, Decree 114/2021/NĐ-CP, relevant guidelines on project approval from GAC (if any), and other related GVN regulations and policies.
Work with assigned staff of WUSC and APED officials to develop outlines for the Project Document (based on Template V of Article 24, Decree 114). This includes ensuring that the project design, objectives, main activities, indicators and expected outcomes align with GVN policies and strategies.
Facilitate technical meetings: Collaborate with WUSC and APED to organize two technical meetings/consultation discussions (one for initial draft and one for final version prior to submission for approval) to: (i) collect inputs from relevant organizations (CE, women-led SMEs, accelerators, incubators, investors, etc.); and (ii) to develop and complete the Project Document in order to validate and/or design the feasible activities.
Coordinate with local/city government agencies, especially MOF (APED), HCM city, Ha Noi and Da Nang to collect feedback on the Project Document, ensuring it is aligned with the needs of local stakeholders and climate adaptation priorities, well-informed and positioned to approve the document in a timely manner.
Assist APED in the preparation of official documents to send the draft of Project Document to other relevant ministries/provinces for comments in compliance with GVN regulations; assist APED to complete and finalize the Project Document based on the comments and feedback from relevant ministries/provinces before submitting to the MOF Minister level for approval.
Guide the AGILE Project Team (including WUSC and designated authorities within APED and MoF) in preparing responses to feedback and improving the Project Document in accordance with current GVN policies and guidelines.
Update and finalize the Project Document based on the comments received, ensuring the document is in line with GVN policies and strategic goals.
Review and finalize the Project Document: Ensure that the Project Document is completed and ready for submission to MoF for approval.
Work with relevant ministries to facilitate and follow up on the project approval process, ensuring that all steps are completed and the MoF Minister’s Decision for project approval is obtained.
Provide bi-weekly progress updates to WUSC and APED on the status of the project approval process.

ROLES OF TEAM MEMBERS

Team Leader: Project Document Development Lead

Overall Project Document Management: Lead the preparation of the AGILE Project Document in coordination with WUSC and APED. Ensure the document aligns with WUSC’s donor-approved objectives and the Government of Vietnam’s (GVN) strategic goals, while ensuring that the proposed activities meet the needs of Vietnam and are feasible to achieve common goals with optimal use of resources.
Completion of Project Document: Take responsibility for finalizing the Project Document (ensuring compliance with Decree 114/2021/NĐ-CP and all relevant regulations) that enables APED to submit it to the MoF for approval,
Liaison and Stakeholder Coordination: Act as the primary liaison for meetings and coordination with GVN counterparts, including ministries, local government agencies, and other key stakeholders. Ensure alignment and consensus across stakeholders for smooth approval.
Team Coordination and Input Management: Provide overall coordination of inputs from other team members, ensuring that their contributions are well integrated into the document. Develop and manage the work plan for the team, ensuring clear responsibilities and deadlines.
Technical Input on development Strategy: Take primary responsibility for providing technical inputs on Component 1 and 2, particularly in relation to business development and strategic alignment with GVN goals.
Consolidation and Finalization: Consolidate and complete the Project Document, ensuring that all sections are coherent and fully aligned with the project’s objectives. Lead the team in revising and finalizing the document based on internal reviews and external feedback.
Feedback and Adjustments: Coordinate the process of adjusting the draft Project Document after receiving comments from relevant GVN agencies; Provide justifications for any changes made and ensure the document responds adequately to all feedback.
Team Work and Guidance: Coordinate the work of the team, ensuring smooth collaboration and timely delivery of their respective tasks. Guide team members in their contributions and ensure consistency in the document.

Team member #2: Business Development Support Expert

Climate Finance Strategy: Gather and provide inputs for the development of financial mechanisms, including impact investment strategies, venture capital, and climate financing tools for climate enterprises.
Investor Coordination: Collaborate with WUSC staff to work with investors (e.g., Touchstone VC, SWEEF Capital) to define investment models and ensure alignment with AGILE’s objectives and GVN regulations.
Project Document Development: Assist the Team Leader in drafting investment-related sections of the Project Document, ensuring alignment with GVN policies.
Technical inputs: Take primary responsibility for developing content for Component 3 on increased deployment of funds using a gender lens by climate investors.
Coordination with Gender-Responsive & Inclusive Climate Enterprise Expert: Work with this inclusive gender Expert to ensure financial strategies incorporate a gender lens and align with women-led business models.
Stakeholder Engagement: Participate in meetings with GVN counterparts and incorporate feedback into investment strategies.
Finalizing Investment Strategy: Finalize the investment strategy and ensure clear documentation for government approval.
Revision Support: Assist in responding to feedback during the approval process, ensuring the investment sections meet government expectations.

Team Member #3: Cross-Cutting/M&E Expert

Draft Project Document Sections: Lead the development of sections related to Component 2 (Increased investment in gender-responsive enterprises), ensuring alignment with project goals and GVN policies.
Collaborate with Other Experts: Work with the Business Development Support Expert and Team Leader to ensure synergy between gender inclusion, enterprise support, and investment strategies across Component 1, 2 and 3.
Stakeholder Engagement: Participate in meetings with GVN counterparts and investors to ensure the project’s gender-responsive strategies are supported.
Assist in Document Development: Support the Team Leader in integrating gender feedback and ensuring that gender strategies are reflected in the final Project Document.
M&E Indicators: Take primary responsibility for developing the monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (MERL) indicators, including gender-lens for the AGILE project; and
Revision Support: Assist in responding to feedback from GVN stakeholders, ensuring gender-related revisions are made.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

Based on empirical experience and the emerging ministry process, the goal is to secure project approval within nine months. Given this expectation, the assignment is expected to last from June 2025 to March 2026. The time for completion of this assignment may be changed based on the practice and progress and should obtain prior written consent of WUSC and APED in advance. Below are the updated deliverables, timelines, and allocated working days for the three consultants:

No.	Description	Deliverables	Timeline	Team Leader: Project Document Development Lead	Business Development Support Expert	Cross-Cutting/M&E Expert
1	Weekly updates on contacts made, and current progress	Weekly reports	Weekly	1.0	1.0	1.0
2	Develop work plan	A detailed work plan for undertaking the assignment, approved by WUSC and APED	Completed within 7 days after agreement signed	1.0	1.0	1.0
3	Review project documents, Decree 114/2021/NĐ-CP, relevant guidance on project approval from GAC (if any), and related GVN regulations and policies	A summary of main points to be discussed with WUSC and APED	Within 10 days after agreement signed	3.0	3.0	3.0
4	Outline of project document	Project document outline (in Vietnamese and English)	Completed within 10 days after agreement signed	2.0	2.0	2.0
5	Meeting with WUSC and APED to get consensus on the Outline	Summary of the meeting and agreed actions	Completed within 10 days after agreement signed	1.0	1.0	1.0
6	Develop the first draft of the Project Document in coordination with WUSC and APED	First draft of Project Document	Complete by July 2025	4.0	3.0	2.0
7	Coordinate with provincial government agencies to collect feedback on the Project Document	A summary report of the feedback collected	Ongoing (includes potential field trips)	5.0	4.0	4.0
8	Complete the second draft of the project document and draft of Decision	Second draft of the project document and draft of Decision	Complete by September 2025	5.0	2.0	2.0
9	Facilitate the first appraisal meeting to review the second draft project document prior to final submission for approval	Summary report of the meeting and comments received	By September 2025	2.0	2.0	2.0
10	Completed draft of the project document, draft Decision, and supporting documents for submission to MoF and relevant Ministries for review	Final draft of the Project Document and draft of Decision of AGILE project (in Vietnamese and English)	Complete by November 2025	5.0	4.0	2.0
11	Summary report of comments received from GVN counterparts on the project document	Summary of comments received in each round of feedback	Complete by December 2025	4.0	3.0	2.0
12	Written response to GVN comments, and revised project document based on this feedback	Written responses to GVN comments and updated project document	Complete by January 2026	5.0	3.0	2.0
13	Facilitate the second appraisal meeting to review the project document prior to final submission for approval	Summary report of the meeting and comments received	Complete by February 2026	4.0	3.0	2.0
14	Finalize the project document for approval, based on feedback from the appraisal meeting	Final project document (in Vietnamese and English) ready for submission to MoF for approval	Complete by February 2026	4.0	3.0	2.0
15	Follow up with APED and MoF to get updates and decision of final approval of the project document (including meetings to provide further clarification or adjustment)	MoF’s Approval Decision	Complete by March 2026	4.0	3.0	2.0
	TOTAL			40	38	30

The above total working days are based on current expectations for each consultant. The Consultant team will regularly review progress, and work with the project team to consider effective use of working days for each expert based on the need of each position and activities.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultancy team or candidates with the right qualifications and motivation are invited to send letter of interest, a full CV in English to the following email address: [email protected] with subject line of “Your full name_AGILE_Position to apply” no later than 28 May 2025.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are strongly encouraged to apply soon.

We would like to thank all applicants for their interest but only candidates who meet requisite criteria and are short listed will be contacted.