Consultant for Pulp, Paper and Biomass Analysis in Vietnam

Job Opening: Consultant for Pulp, Paper and Biomass Analysis in Vietnam

WWF’s vision for the Greater Mekong Region is that the human footprint stays within the nature's capacity to maintain the full spectrum of biological diversity and ecosystems, and the key services they provide, to enhance people’s livelihood. WWF has been working in Vietnam and Laos on a diverse range of environmental issues since the 1980s in cooperation with the governments, civil society, and businesses, in both countries. Forest conservation is one of the  WWF is working in the two countries  WWF-Vietnam and WWF-Laos are part of the WWF Greater Mekong Programme Office, which operates in 5 countries: Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. Find out more at http://greatermekong.panda.org/

We are looking for Consultant to conduct a baseline assessment of the Vietnam pulp and paper and biomass sectors, including the identification of key stakeholders (plantation, traders, processors, etc.), production process.

Major objectives: Through this consultancy, we aim to achieve three objectives:

• Gaining an in-depth understanding of supply chains, key actors, and issues associated with legality and sustainability of the materials/sources in the the pulp and paper and industrial biomass sectors Vietnam;
• Understanding how the sector developments in Vietnam may affect deforestation and/or sustainability initiatives (such as forest certification) in the future (using Central Annamite Landscape as case study);
• Identifying potential strategic interventions and engagement with the forest sector in Vietnam, reflecting on the trends in market and policy developments.
• Identifying data of timber imported from Africa, actors including Vietnam importers, Afrtican exporters and possibly producers with volume and species.

Scope of work

This assignment requires data collection based on extensive desk research of industry and government sources, coupled with interviews with key informants. Data collection will focus primarily on the pulp and paper and industrial biomass sectors in Vietnam. Given the interconnected nature of the market and industry, this assignment will also cover regional and international markets for pulp and paper and industrial biomass.

• Provide data on the current and projected future supply chain of pulp and paper and industrial biomass (wood chips and pellets) in Vietnam at national level with as much information as possible on sources, supplying countries and regions, export market, quantities, etc.

• Analyze how the pulp and paper sector development trend is and will be affecting deforestation and/or sustainability initiatives (such as forest certification) in the future nationwide, and in the Central Annamite Landscape by spatially identifying existing and planned mills and land concessions for tree plantations

• Identify and describe the value chain actors, value addition, price trends, volume trends, market dynamics, and competition between pulp and paper, biomass, and furniture sectors in Central Annamite Landscape
  
  • Identify the main stakeholders - communities, producers, processors, traders, wholesalers, agents, brokers, retailers and any others - at each point along the supply chain, and map them in a value chain schematic diagram. The capacity and environmental practice of main producers should also be indicated.
  • Estimate the volume of pulp and paper, wood chips and pellets managed by each actor type in the supply chain, with special attention to APP and APRIL to investigate whether they have any supply chain linkage in Vietnam
  • Develop investor profiles to understand where the investments on pulp and paper and biomass come from and under which safeguards, including those investments deployed for the next few years.
  • Briefly summarize national and provincial laws, policies, and regulations that may affect the biomass and/or pulp and paper industry
  • Briefly summarize key findings from Vietnam analysis and highlight any cross-boundary issues

• Foreign market trends: Provide a high level overview of foreign market trends (e.g. Japan, Korea, China, US, and EU) affecting the demand for pulp and paper and industrial biomass from Vietnam, also African market of timber exporting to Vietnam.

The study will require some travel to work directly with stakeholders in the sector.

More information can be found in the attached ToR.

Key requirements for the role include:

Essentials:

• Direct business experience and wide network in the relevant sectors; 
• 5+ years of relevant research experience, such as supply chain analysis that involves internet research, stakeholder interviews, and other data collection methods;
• Demonstrated ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with high level government officials, farmers, traders, and buyers of different nationalities and ethnicities;
• In-depth knowledge of forest commodities (particularly pulp, woodchips, paper);
• Competency in oral and written communications in English and fluency in local languages
• Successful track record in writing similar reports and preparing knowledge products; Applicants may be required to submit a copy of previous such study undertaken

Desirables:

• Advanced degree in business, supply chain, agriculture, paper industry or other relevant discipline
• Established network to support engagement with stakeholders required for the study.
• Fluency in more than one languages (e.g. English, Vietnamese, Lao, and/or Chinese)
• Ability to find creative

How to apply

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, curriculum vitae in English and scan/photo of diplomas/certificates to [email protected], stating the position title in the subject line of the email, by 24th May 2019

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

“WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.”