Innovation Challenge Fund Intern

Job Title:                                 Innovation Challenge Fund Intern

Project:                                   Vietnam Urban Energy Security

Reports to:                              Innovation Challenge Fund Technical Specialist                     

Location:                                 Hanoi

Period of Performance:           July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

Deadline for application:         June 20, 2021

SCOPE OF WORK

Project Background:

As Vietnam experiences steep increases in energy demand and rising air pollution challenges, there is growing recognition that cleaner, more reliable sources of energy are needed and greater capital investment is necessary. The Vietnam Urban Energy Security works closely with GVN at multiple levels to improve enabling frameworks, mobilize investment, and increase the adoption of innovative solutions for advanced, distributed energy.

The specific objectives of this activity are to assist Vietnamese cities to:

1. Improve enabling policies, regulations, and city-level plans/programs for the deployment of resilient, distributed energy services;
2. Mobilize public and private sector investment for the deployment of advanced, distributed energy systems;
3. Increase adoption of innovative technologies, practices, business and financing models for advanced, distributed urban energy solutions.

Component 3 of USAID Vietnam Urban Energy Security focuses on providing resources and support to entrepreneurs, innovators and others engaged in piloting and scaling new approaches or models to promote advanced, distributed energy solutions in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. This component will also contribute to the other goals of the Project, including the deployment of advanced and distributed energy and mobilization of public and private investment for advanced and distributed energy systems.

Overview of the Position:

The Project aims to achieve three results, including “at least 20 innovative solutions to address urban energy and environment issues demonstrated and/or commercialized”. To contribute to the achievement of this result, the Project is establishing an Innovation Challenge Fund (ICF) that will support 20 pilots and/ or demonstrations in HCMC and Da Nang. Firms with successful pilots and/ or demonstrations may go on to receive additional project support to help them commercialize and/ or scale the innovation.

Substantial resources are being allocated to the ICF will be implemented through four funding rounds over two years (2021 – 2023). There is also significant interest in the innovations that can potentially contribute to Vietnam’s urban energy resilience and energy security. Key stakeholders, both internal and external to the Project, will be seeking regular updates on progress of the overall fund as well as the progress of individual pilots and/ or innovations. To help meet this demand for information, the project will establish a dashboard, that is regularly updated, and that displays key information.

To help assess progress of the ICF, the Project has developed a monitoring and evaluation plan. This outlines the expected results, key performance indicators and targets. The Project’s ICF Technical Specialist will be responsible for managing the ICF M&E (with technical support from the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager).

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Innovation Challenge Fund Intern will:

ICF Dashboard:

• Ensure the ICF dashboard is fully functional and updated with accurate information at regular intervals;
• Collect, collate and analyze relevant information to display in the dashboard;

ICF Monitoring and Evaluation:

Support the ICF Technical Specialist to:

• Collect and collate narrative progress reports from the firms implementing pilots and/ or demonstrations
• Collect, collate and analyze information in relation to the ICF MEL Plan
• Any other relevant tasks assigned by the ICF Technical Specialist

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications include:

• University Degree in a related field e.g. Economics, Statistics, Renewable Energy etc.
• Fluency in written and spoken Vietnamese and English

Preferred Qualifications:

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience developing dashboards in Power BI and/ or Google Data Studio

Supervisory Requirements:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Application Instructions

Applicants should apply via Formsite at this link:

https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/eaw7m8ggvv/index.html?1622357780440

Deadline for the application:  June 20, 2021

DAI Organization and Values

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

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