Individual Short-Term Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE
INDIVIDUAL SHORT-TERM CONSULTANT
AG TECH VIETNAM PROJECT

Position: Individual Short-Term Consultant
Location: Hanoi/HCMC, Vietnam
Contract Term: Up to 150 days (including onsite and offsite)

A. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. Our vision is that people should have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. We work with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In our last fiscal year which ended June 30, 2018, we delivered more than $23 billion in long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

About IFC Agriculture Technology (Ag Tech)

IFC has made agribusiness a priority because of its potential for broad development impact and especially strong role in poverty reduction. We combine investments and advisory services to help the sector address higher demand and escalating food prices in an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive way. IFC invests across the agribusiness supply chain—from farm to retail—to help boost production, increase liquidity, improve logistics and distribution, and expand access to credit for small farmers.

IFC Advisory Services (AS) supports companies that promote good agricultural practices that benefit small-scale farmers, and value chain solutions involving small and medium size enterprises. IFC-MAS (Manufacturing Agribusiness and Services) business unit has identified Ag Tech (Agriculture Technology) as a key enabler for smallholder development. IFC identified five focus areas of Ag Tech:

• Digital Supply Chain Management
• Digital Farmer Training
• Digital Agri Advisory App
• Digital Farmer Finance
• GIS and Remote Sensing

The objective of Ag Tech Vietnam project is to provide access to Ag Tech innovations to smallholder farmers in three agriculture subsectors in Vietnam with existing clients to improve their overall agricultural production practices and sustainability. By the end of the project, a commercially viable model for delivery of Ag Tech services to smallholder farmers will have been developed and tested, and at least 1,200 farmers using those services will be reporting improved performance. The services may include:

• E-learning extension services: improve access for farmers to extension services by converting existing IFC farmer training modules into digital platform which farmers can access the modules through smartphones;
• Drone for farm monitoring and crop protection: improve accuracy and efficiency in providing advice to smallholder farmers related to crop health and crop protection;
• Agri precision app for smallholders: improve farming practices by applying tailored agri advice to smallholders on issues ranging from soil status, water management, crop development, pests and disease monitoring, harvest and post-harvest activities;
• Agri-finance: improve access for farmers to financing both for farm input investment and harvest financing. The agri-finance advisory services may include linking farmers with existing fintech provider(s).

B. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT

The STC will be supporting the implementation of MAS AS introduction of agri tech innovations across a number of key agricultural sectors. In collaboration with leading private sector agribusinesses and their associated smallholders, IFC aims to build the capacity of these small farmers, improving their technical knowledge, while at the same time meeting the business objectives of IFC and its agribusiness clients. In addition, IFC seeks to improve the farmers’ access to technology and markets. IFC is developing new agri project initiatives with domestic and multinational clients in Vietnam and this STC assignment technically supports the design and roll-out of these new initiatives.

IFC is seeking to contract a local Consultant (“the Consultant”) for a period of up to 150 days from November 15, 2019 to June 30, 2020 to provide support to the implementation of the MAS AS agri project interventions under supervision and in association with IFC Specialists and/or Project Managers (“IFC”). The consultant will specifically be expected to provide technical inputs to the design, development and implementation of agri industry interventions, with a focus on agri technology innovations, supply chain strengthening and industry standards.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant will report to IFC, under an agreed work plan, to undertake tasks that will include, but not be limited to the following:

• Carry out operational tasks, i.e. participate as a full member of a multi-disciplinary team and undertake activities to include MAS AS project identification and design, service delivery and supervision;
• Lead the technical implementation of assigned project components, especially for the agri tech interventions;
• Provide technical support to feasibility studies, supply chain analyses, agri technology providers and other specific research, where and when required by IFC management;
• Specifically support a comprehensive supply chain mapping exercise of the Vietnam agri industry for IFC clients, as requested, involving current Vietnamese trading partners and suppliers;
• The consultant will also assist in the development and implementation of a strategy for supply chain strengthening, with features determined by the client (e.g. Rain Forest Alliance standards application, building the capacity of Vietnamese suppliers, etc). This includes the development of a business case for suppliers, particularly farmers which will be important in ensuring the sustainability of the agriculture supply chains;
• If so required, explore opportunities to deploy IFC Gender and Supply Chain Mapping tool once specific interventions are identified;
• Provide support and coordination in the consulting and training services to client companies;
• Coordinate with other team members across disciplines and project components;
• If needed, identify suitable consultants, draft their Terms of Reference, participate in the process of identifying and negotiating with consultants, then monitor and supervise to ensure high level of services to the client;
• Prepare and develop documents/reports to clients (review the translation as required), and support project monitoring and supervision reporting activities;
• Work closely with M&E colleagues and other specialists (e.g. climate smart agriculture, gender) as appropriate;
• Assist the Project Manager in the preparation of reports and presentations for donors and other stakeholders. This can include sector briefings, background reports, case studies, research projects etc.;
• Provide other project-related support, as requested by IFC management.

DELIVERABLES/SPECIFIC OUTPUTS EXPECTED FROM CONSULTANT

The Consultant is expected to prepare monthly progress reports to IFC. The reports will include the status of activities completed for the preceding month, a summary of all meetings held and forecast of activities for the upcoming period. Final reports are also to be prepared and a debriefing session will also be required. Additionally, the Consultant may be required to provide key inputs for IFC’s internal and external reporting requirements from time to time. Specifically, the consultant will also support the development of deliverables for major IFC agri clients, inclusive of value chain and feasibility studies. All reports will be delivered directly to IFC. The consultant will not communicate directly with the client, unless specifically directed to do so by IFC.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

The ideal candidate is a locally-based professional with a few years of business experience, and knowledge of IFC’s systems and processes.

Required selection criteria include:

• Thorough understanding of agri technology sector globally and their relevance for Vietnamese agri sector;
• Strong teamwork skill and ability to facilitate feedback giving and receiving sessions;
• Strong analytical and communication skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions;
• Fluency in Vietnamese and English.

Preferred selection criteria include:

• Advanced university degree (master's level) in business administration, economic sciences, finance, international relations, or related area;
• Previous experience in the private sector in Vietnam, preferably in consulting or banking;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision;
• Ability to solve problems, and to facilitate wider use of time, information and/or resources;
• Enthusiasm for working in multicultural teams and across borders;
• Commitment to sustainable private sector development.

REPORTING

The consultant will report to IFC’s Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services Senior Operations Officer- Ms. Marta Bogdanic ([email protected]). IFC needs to be informed in advance of any contacts or work arrangements with the producer within this assignment.

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

All data and information received from IFC 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.

The consultant must guarantee that:

• Never transfer or give any things obtained from this assignment including from the producer/client and from IFC to anyone and to any third-party organizations.
• Fully take legal responsibilities and commitments including any damage compensations caused by the violations of the consultant to the confidentiality and intellectual property rights of this assignment.

OWNERSHIP OF MATERIALS

Any deliverables under this assignment in any form will be the property of the including intellectual property developed under this assignment. All the Project outputs including reports and other creative work called for by these Terms of Reference in written, graphic, audio, visual, electronic or other forms shall acknowledge the support of IFC.

Deadline for applications and contact

If interested, please send a cover letter and a CV to Ms. Nguyen Thuy Linh ([email protected]) by November 12, 2019.