Short Term Consultant for Sustainable Manufacturing Advisory

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Short Term Consultant
for Sustainable Manufacturing Advisory

1. BACKGROUND

About IFC

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. It is committed to financing private sector businesses in emerging markets, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, helping clients improve social and environmental sustainability as well as providing advisory services to businesses and governments.

Manufacturing Advisory

In most countries, manufacturing plays an important role in the economy. Manufacturers directly create jobs across a range of skill levels to enable people, especially women, to move from informal work to formal employment with benefits (such as more security, better pay, social insurance and access to financial services). Manufacturing creates opportunities across industry value chains by increasing demand for raw materials, energy, construction, technology and services from a broad array of supplying industries.

The manufacturing advisory group at IFC promotes sustainable manufacturing via resource efficiency (REF), renewable energy (RE), and circular economy (CE) programs in targeted sectors. It supports local manufacturers in building or enhancing their competitiveness by adoption of such sustainability measures, while helping them to comply with environmental, and low carbon, requirements from targeted buyers, especially global brands, and export markets.

In Vietnam, the Mekong Climate Smart Manufacturing (Mekong CSM) program and Vietnam Industrial Decarbonization project, under Mekong CSM, are on-going IFC Sustainable Manufacturing Advisory initiatives. The Mekong CSM program promotes REF and RE in select resource-intensive manufacturing sectors, primarily: (i) Textile-Apparel-Footwear in Vietnam and (ii) Food & Beverage and Agribusiness Processing in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Industrial Decarbonization project catalyzes adoption of innovative decarbonization measures, including REF/RE/CE, and other innovative solutions and technologies in heavy industrial sectors, including chemicals (including plastics, fertilizer) and construction materials (i.e. cement, steel, glass), for improving competitiveness, via significantly reducing carbon emissions. This will help support decarbonization and energy transition in these sectors, thereby contributing to the country’s green growth.

2. OBJECTIVES/ PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

IFC proposes to hire an experienced short-term consultant (STC) for up to 150 days over the 2022 (January to December 2022), with a possible extension based on the candidate’s performance and the business needs to implement the Mekong CSM and Vietnam Industrial Decarbonization projects. It is expected that a majority of the STC’s work will focus on (i) greening manufacturing supply chains with a focus on textile footwear and agri-business sectors and (ii) innovation decarbonization technologies with a focus on select heavy industrial sectors. These activities will include, but not be limited to:

• Demonstrate the business case for REF, RE, CE for selected manufacturers in textile, agribusiness and other select resource-intensive sectors.
• Build local capacity by developing model projects for selected resource-intensive private sector clients.
• Engage with firms to practically demonstrate how to adopt best practices and innovation technologies for saving energy, water and chemicals.
• Pilot innovative decarbonization technologies within select heavy industries.

3. SPECIFIC TASKS

The STC will work closely with the IFC project team and other IFC consultants to help implement the Mekong CSM and Vietnam Industrial Decarbonization projects and some activities supporting business development for potential IFC investment in decarbonization with clients, including the following specific tasks, amongst others:

• Develop REF/RE projects for targeted factories/suppliers, including:
  
  • Conduct a kick-off workshop to introduce the respective project’s scope, timeline and engagement plan
  • Compile factory data via questionnaires including pre-project baseline data on water and energy consumption and operating costs
  • Conduct baseline assessment via on-site visits, staff interviews and data collection
  • Develop low-cost, mid-cost, and high-cost options that have a good business case and offer co-benefits (e.g. higher product throughput for newer machines)
  • Integrate REF/RE activities in client or factory programs, while sharing best practices and tools
  • Recommend REF options, develop factory action plans, and track progress.
• Facilitate factory implementation of REF/RE projects, including:
  
  • Connect factories with vendors for cleaner technology options based on advice from sector experts, and facilitate piloting of newer technology as appropriate
  • Track progress towards completion of factory action plans and follow-up periodically
  • Use web-based monitoring and/or other measures to track energy and water savings periodically based on improvement measures implemented by the factory
  • Conduct mid-term and closing meetings with clients and supplier factories to share results and learnings and further raise REF/RE awareness.
• Participate together with hired consultant teams in onsite resource efficiency assessments, REF/RE/CE feasibility studies.
• Facilitate implementation of select REF/RE/CE options at client factories, monitor impacts in reductions of energy, water and other resources usage and increasing use of renewable energy supply options.
• Support engineering firms to pilot innovative decarbonization technologies at select factories.
• Carry out resource efficiency, energy management and other relevant trainings for firm-level work.
• Work with select partners to disseminate success sustainability/ decarbonization practices and case studies.
• Support the project leader in ongoing project execution activities, as required, including provide technical inputs, project results monitoring and evaluation, project supervision reports and other internal IFC documentation.
• Work with other IFC international and local consultants to manage quality of deliverables, including technical reviews of audit reports and other deliverables.
• Organize targeted workshops to raise sector awareness and build capacity, including prepare relevant materials, review consultant training materials, develop REF/RE/CE case histories and other supporting documentation to support projects outreach and scaling-up.
• Support business development activities for potential IFC investment in decarbonization with clients including market studies for potential sectors, introducing decarbonization advisory and investment services with them.

4. REQUIRED SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE

• Graduate degree in Energy, Industrial Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Management or similar qualifications.
• At least 10 years’ work experience in knowledge-based work environment and sustainability areas.
• Liaise and interact effectively with a network of contacts (internal and external) and respond effectively to inquiries and to diverse situations that require tact and pragmatic problem-solving skills. A good network of contacts, both with the business community, government stakeholders and/or other key sources of country context, would be a plus.
• Advanced Excel, PowerPoint and database skills.
• Excellent English writing and oral communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and quality of deliverables.
• Excellent teamwork skills, ability to take the initiative and work across organizational boundaries.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and function effectively in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines.

5. LOCATION AND DURATION

The consultant will be based in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and travel required. This contract is for a maximum of 150 days during the year 2022 (from January 2022 to December 2022) and may be extended based on performance of the candidate and business needs.

6. CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

All data and information received from IFC (or its clients) for the purpose of this assignment are to be treated confidentially and are only to be used in connection with the execution of these Terms of Reference. All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these Terms of Reference are assigned to IFC. The contents of written materials obtained and used in this assignment may not be disclosed to any third parties without the expressed advance written authorization of the IFC.

Interested candidates should review the complete job description and selection criteria and submit application letters and CVs to email: [email protected]. The closing date is 24 February, 2022. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.