National Consultants (10 positions)

Terms of Reference

National Consultants

Assignment title: 10 National Consultants for the Swiss Trade Policy and Export Promotion Programme
Contract duration: As soon as possible to August 01, 2022
Travel: Local
Total amount: TBC

Background

The International Trade Centre (ITC) assists developing countries to take advantage of expanding trade opportunities in an increasingly complex global environment. ITC supports trade impact for good by promoting sustainable and inclusive development goals through trade, focusing on the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), trade support institutions, and policymakers.

In this context, the ITC has initiated the Swiss Trade Policy and Export Promotion Programme, a four-year project funded by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) that will run from mid-2020 to mid-2024. The project is under supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and aims to improve trade performance and international competitiveness of SMEs through enhanced favourable framework and conditions for trade, public-private dialogue mechanisms, and a strengthened eco-system for dynamic trade promotion.

Within the scope of this project, ITC’s Research and Strategy for Exports (RSE) section is in charge of Outcome 1: “Exports are facilitated because the framework conditions are favourable, meaning they are documented in a National Strategy, based on evidence, coordinated among the relevant ministries and consulted with relevant private sector stakeholders”. To help achieve Outcome 1, ITC will retain the services of 10 National Consultants in the following fields to gather and process relevant information.

• Textiles and garments
• Electronics
• Agribusiness
• Wooden furniture
• Environmental goods
• Digital transformation
• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Environmental sustainability and inclusive trade
• Standards, certifications, and quality
• Trade facilitation

Description of Duties/Responsibilities

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Economic Adviser on Export Strategy and Competitiveness at the RSE Section and will perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Provide analytical and research inputs to support ITC’s planned field workshops to develop a sector strategy for the National Export Strategy of Vietnam.

This includes the following actions:

• Conduct relevant sector research in advance of the planned national and sectoral workshops.
• Prepare an outline of a report for all the analytical and research inputs for the strategy of the national context of the sector, including key stakeholders and institutions involved, relevant issues related to trade competitiveness.
• Provide technical support in the preparation of shortlisting questions for gathering key information during stakeholder consultations and interviews, needed in preparation for the drafting of the export strategy document.
• Provide technical support in the analysis of an ITC SME Competitiveness Survey to identify any sampling errors, substantiate key findings, and/or supplement gaps in information.
• Prepare a bi-weekly briefing note of any relevant updates related to sector development at the national and/or international level.

Task 2: Coordinate consultations and interviews with stakeholders.

This includes the following outputs:

• Shortlist key stakeholders needed for consultations and interviews
• Prepare invitation letters and ensure all protocols regarding stakeholder engagement are met, based on the modalities of professionalism and hierarchy in the country.
• Collect feedback information and conclusions resulting from the workshops and incorporate it into the strategy document.
• Prepare briefing notes from multistakeholder consultations and bilateral interviews.

Task 3: Provide written inputs for the preparation of the export strategy document.

This includes the following outputs:

• Consolidate all the notes and written inputs from the national-level workshops in Vietnam.
• Lead in drafting the national component of the export strategy document and its associated plan of action.
• Prepare a ten-page report consolidating all the analytical and research inputs for the strategy. The report will be split in two sections: one describing the problems that the strategy should focus on and the second section sketching the solutions to the previous problems.

Task 4: Provide written inputs for the finalization of the export strategy document.

• Consolidate all the notes and written inputs from the national-level workshops in Vietnam.
• Lead in drafting the national component of the export strategy document and its associated plan of action.
• Further to ITC and key stakeholder review, integrate comments required adjustments in the final draft of the strategy

Expected Outputs and Timelines:

The consultant will provide the following:

Task 1 output should be finalized one week before a scheduled event from the series of consultations, which are scheduled to start on April 15 until August 01, 2022;

1. Sector assessment report develop in coordination with ITC staff, using information collected from desk research and bilateral interviews submitted and validated by ITC.
2. List of questions submitted and validated by ITC and meeting facilitated successfully
3. ITC SME Competitiveness Survey result analyses and included in the strategy document
4. Bi-weekly briefing note of any relevant updates related to sector development submitted and validated by the ITC

Task 2 outputs to be completed by June 1st, 2022;

• List of key stakeholders needed for consultations and interviews submitted 1 month before the consultations
• Invitation letters and all protocols regarding stakeholder engagement are met, based on the modalities of professionalism and hierarchy in the country.
• 1st part of the Sector Strategy document completed, specifically feedback information and

Task 3 outputs to be completed by July 01, 2022;

• List of key stakeholders needed for consultations and interviews submitted 1 month before the consultations
• Invitation letters distributed and all protocols regarding stakeholder engagement are met, based on the modalities of professionalism and hierarchy in the country.
• 2nd part of the Sector Strategy document completed, especially feedback information and conclusions resulting from the workshop and interviews collected and incorporated into the strategy document.

Task 4 outputs be completed by August 01, 2022.

• Consolidate strategy document submitted and validated by ITC

Skills

• Knowledge of ITC’s approach to export strategy and international trade issues;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Excellent research and analytical skills in the mentioned sectors/fields
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree (BA/BSC or other); Preferably masters;
• A relevant university degree in international business, economics, or any area related to mentioned sectors/field
• Vietnamese nationality

Experience

• Minimum of 07 - 10 years of progressively responsible postgraduate professional work experience, preferably in a multi-cultural and global context, in relation to trade strategy and/or business development;
• Proven experience in the required sectors/fields; Experience in the export of the sector is preferable;
• Experience in analytical research and analysis, including reporting, focusing on trade, economic and private sector development;
• Experience conducting research assignments. Knowledge of, and interest in, international trade and strategic development issues; Competence in using standard office and Internet search tools.

Language

The Consultants will be fluent in written and spoken English. Knowledge of other languages will be considered an asset.

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to send their CVs and cover letters by email to Ms. Ha Le Minh ([email protected]) before April 30, 2022. Please state: National Consultant_Sector_Full name in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.