TERM OF REFERENCE

Technical support for the project “Improving the inclusive and gender responsive business environment through measuring and implementing action plans to improve the district and departmental competitiveness index in Lao Cai province (DDCI Lao Cai), period 2022 - 2025 or 2023 – 2026.

Background

The Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Program is a flagship initiative funded the Australian Government that seeks to support improved economic opportunities and social-economic development for ethnic minority women in Son La and Lao Cai provinces in northwest Vietnam.

https://equality.aus4vietnam.org/

Phase 1 (GREAT 1) from 2019 to 2021 has supported the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) to implement the project "District and Department Competitive Index of Lao Cai Province (DDCI Lao Cai) for the development of businesses and female entrepreneurs in Lao Cai”. DDCI Lao Cai aims to improve the quality of economic management and administration in the districts and departments in the province. This set of indicators is built and measured annually to promote awareness and action to improve the business environment and competitiveness at the provincial level, thereby bringing the best benefits to businesses and cooperatives, business households and investors. In the period of 2019-2021, the project has completed supporting the development of methods, tools, conducting surveys, analyzing data, developing and publishing the annual assessment report of DDCI Lao Cai. In particular, in 2021, the project has integrated the analysis of the competitiveness index from the gender perspective to identify some issues of gender inequality in a number of local economic management activities and public services.

Phase 2 (GREAT 2) from 2023 to 2027 will continue to support DPI, related districts and departments in Lao Cai province to implement the project Improving the inclusive and gender responsive business environment through measuring and implementing action plans to improve the district and departmental competitiveness index in Lao Cai province (DDCI Lao Cai), period 2022 - 2025 or 2023 – 2026”. DDCI Lao Cai project in phase 2 will focus on building capacity for districts and departments to improve DDCI of their respective sectors and localities.

Therefore, GREAT is seeking qualified organizations to provide technical support to DDCI project in Lao Cai province. Please see attached for detailed TOR.

Key Tasks

Technical support for DPI (project owner), districts and departments of Lao Cai province in:

1. Develop and publish annual survey and measurement reports on the competitiveness index at departmental and district level, local economic management capacity under different aspects of economic management capacity, improve investment and business environment for the years of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 (4 rounds/4 years), including summary reports and recommendations for improvement for the province.
2. Capacity building for stakeholders to improve business environment and competitiveness in districts, cities in Lao Cai province including: (i) Support districts and provincial departments to develop and implement action plans to improve business environment and improve competitiveness in the period of 2022 - 2025 or 2023 - 2026; (ii) Promote the active participation of the Business Association in the business survey process and policy dialogue, and monitor the implementation of the Action Plans to improve competitiveness at district and department levels.

Application Process

Interested organizations are invited to send proposals to [email protected]no later than 5 pm Hanoi time, 24 May 2023. Please indicate in the subject “DDCI Lao Cai”.

Proposals will be assessed as they are received. We thank all applicants, however, only those making the shortlist will be contacted.

Cowater is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people with a disability, and people from minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply. We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.

For more opportunities, please visit our website at https://equality.aus4vietnam.org/careers or facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Aus4EqualityGREAT/

Organization: Aus4Equality|GREAT Program
Location:
Application deadline: 2023-05-24
Send application to: [email protected]