Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (Lead)

Vietnam Digital Trade

SCOPE OF WORK

Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (Lead)

Date: February 2024
Position: Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (Lead)
Reports to: USAID Vietnam Digital Trade (VDT) Technical Team
Location: Hanoi or other provinces in Vietnam (if required)
Eligibility: Vietnamese Nationals
LOE: (STTA) 30 days
Period of Performance: February – August 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

Under the work plan approved by the MOIT and USAID, the VDT will support the MOIT Agency for Foreign Trade to conduct comprehensive assessment of the status of IT application in logistics service enterprises in Vietnam, and to make policy recommendations to promote digital transformation in the industry.

The assessment is expected to target three different sectors:

• Seaports: the survey will select key seaports in Vietnam in cooperation with the Foreign Trade Agency of MOIT and will collect information about the applications to manage the relevant operations (for example, the presence of Port Community System, Cargo Tracking and Tracing Systems, Terminal Operating Systems, Electronic Data Interchange, etc.)
• Road Transport: the survey will select key logistics and transport companies in Vietnam and collect information about the different IT applications adopted (for example, Transport Management Systems, Tracking and Tracing applications, Mobile applications for drivers, etc.)
• Warehouses: the analysis will focus on the IT applications adopted in selected warehouses (for example: warehouses management systems, execution systems, yard management systems, mobile apps for warehouses workers).

To conduct this activity, the VDT will mobilize three local experts and one international expert to implement the following tasks:

• Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (Lead) (Local Expert 1) (this SOW). In charge of designing and leading the activity in cooperation with VDT team, MOIT Agency for Foreign Trade and other local and international experts. Expert 1 will take lead in conducting the survey (including the interviews) and be the main responsible of delivering the final report on assessment of IT application in logistics service enterprises in Vietnam and recommendations to promote digital transformation in Vietnam, in cooperation with the local and international STTA experts. Besides the general responsibility of leading the activity, the expert will be in charge of the analysis of the logistics in seaports.
• Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (focused on road transport) (Local Expert 2). The Local Expert 2 will participate in the survey (including the interviews) and contribute to final report (focused on road transport).
• Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (focused on warehouse) (Local Expert 3). The Local Expert 3 will participate in the survey (including the interviews) and contribute to final report (focused on warehouse).
• International STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert. The International Expert will be charge of supporting the design of the activity, to provide the international best solutions in three areas and in working in cooperation with the other local STTA experts and the VDT team providing the recommendations to the relevant stakeholders.

The Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (Lead)’s role is pivotal in ensuring the success of the comprehensive assessment and digital transformation initiative. The expert will bear responsibilities encompassing various stages of the project, ranging from planning and design to the main responsibility of writing the report, coordinating the contribution of the other experts.

Key Tasks/Responsibilities:

The Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (Lead) will be responsible for:

• Collaborate with VDT team, MOIT Foreign Trade Agency, and international expert to design and agree on the activity plan and the timeline.
• Desk study on the status of IT application in logistics (focused on seaports).
• Lead to conduct the survey for logistics services enterprises and import-export enterprises on the status of IT application in logistics in coordination with other local STTA experts:

1. Develop a comprehensive questionnaire for each sector in cooperation with the other two local experts, to assess the specific situation in the three different areas and ensure the questionnaire captures essential information related to IT applications, digital infrastructure, and current operational challenges in logistics service enterprises (focused on seaports);
2. Identify key stakeholders for sending survey questionnaires and interviews in the target sectors (focused on seaports);
3. Conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders in collaboration with other experts, to understanding current IT application landscape, pain points, and aspirations (focused on seaports).

• Draft the part of the assessment report related to seaports, in analyzing survey responses and interview information.  
• Lead to complete the final assessment report, incorporating parts of local and international experts, with recommendations on addressing identified gaps and leveraging international best practices to promote digital transformation in the logistics sector for Vietnam.
• Participate in and present key findings and recommendations to MOIT Foreign Trade Agency, VDT, and other relevant stakeholders in a workshop in Hanoi.

Deliverables

• A concise activity plan outlining the activity's scope, objectives, methodology, key milestones, and timeline agreed upon by VDT team, MOIT Foreign Trade Agency, and the local and international STTA experts.
• A list of suggested key stakeholders for the surveys and interviews in seaports area; and a list of key stakeholders the three sectors: seaports, road transport, and warehouses in cooperated with other local STTA experts.
• Part included in final survey questionnaires on seaports area; and final survey questionnaires covering 3 targeted sectors of seaports, road transports and warehouses, in corporate with other local STTA experts.
• Written part on the status of IT application in logistics (focused on seaports).
• A final assessment report on the status of IT application in logistics service in Vietnam, in corporatewith the international and local STTA experts, including:

1. Executive summary of key findings.
2. Detailed analysis of each sector's digital landscape and challenges, including specific gaps in IT application adoption and utilization, and areas for improvement in digital infrastructure and operational efficiency.
3. International best practices.
4. Recommendations for addressing gaps and promoting digital transformation, including specific actions, responsible parties, and timelines for implementation.

• Active participation and a presentation at a workshop in Hanoi on presenting key findings of the assessment report.

Qualifications

The STTA Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (Lead) should have the following qualifications:

• A degree in a relevant field such as Business, Economics, E-commerce, Statistics, Engineering, Information Technology or a related discipline or any relevant discipline.
• At least ten years of experience expertise in the logistics industry, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of operations, challenges, and trends, especially in seaports.
• Understanding of IT applications used in logistics, for example Port Community Systems, CTT systems, TOS, TMS, WMS, WES, YMS, and mobile apps.
• Experience in working in research, assessment and analysis projects in the logistics sector.
• Excellent written communication skills to produce clear, concise, and impactful reports, proposals, and presentations.
• Strong written, and oral English and Vietnamese.

Proposals should be submitted to [email protected] no later than March 1, 2024.