The deadline for submissions is January 3rd (5 pm EST), 2022.
Background
Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM provides technical assistance to Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries to maximize the development impacts of trade and investment. Over seven years (2018-2025), EDM will invest CAD 16.5 million to support Canada’s developing country trading partners to negotiate, implement and benefit from and adapt to trade and investment agreements with Canada.
EDM is a demand-driven project that will benefit potential partners – including governments, local private sector groups and local civil society organizations – through capacity building and technical advisory support on policy reform issues that have a high potential to reduce poverty and gender inequalities and support progress in trade and investment agreement negotiations.
Vietnam’s development over the past three decades has been remarkable. Through its sustained economic reform efforts, Vietnam has increased per capita GDP tenfold; risen from one of the poorest nations in the world to Lower Middle-Income Country status; lifted tens of millions out of poverty; cut infant mortality in half; and increased life expectancy by almost 7 years.
An important part of its development strategy has been to integrate the regional and global economies, including through membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Russian-leg Customs Union Block, bilateral trade agreements with the European Union, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, in addition to joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Global Affairs Canada has identified Vietnam as a priority beneficiary of EDM technical assistance in the context of implementation of the CPTPP. Since its launch in 2019, EDM has provided support for multiple activities designed to: introduce new legislation, regulations, policies and procedures to conform to the obligations of the CPTPP; to raise public awareness of the obligations and opportunities created by the Agreement, and to strengthen trade policy capacity.
The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has requested technical assistance to “increase economic growth and job creation for women-owned businesses in Vietnam by enhancing their competitiveness and participation in international trade.” The request is to provide expertise to develop e-learning modules to be used by VIETRADE and partner trade support organizations to strengthen the skills of women entrepreneurs in management, marketing and exporting. The training will form part of Vietnam’s SheTrades strategy, prepared in partnership with the International Trade Center.
This assistance is aligned with Canada’s efforts to promote an inclusive approach to trade, including gender equality and social inclusion.
Linkage to EDM Performance Measurement Framework
This assistance is consistent with the EDM Performance Management Framework, Immediate Outcome 1220: Increased capacity of partner country ministries, departments and agencies to expand access to export-oriented economic opportunities for SMEs, particularly those led by women, indigenous or other under-represented groups. The assistance contributes to the EDM Country Needs Assistance Plan for Vietnam, Mandate 2: Export Development Training for SMEs.
Description of Technical Assistance Request
The technical expert(s) will:
- Prepare ten e-learning modules for women entrepreneurs on a list of management, marketing and exporting subjects, to be agreed, which may include: voluntary sustainability standards and Fair Trade certification; digital commerce; marketing, including effective use of social media; regulatory standards for imports to the Canadian and other major markets; export contracts. In determining the subjects to be addressed by the training modules, care should be taken to review findings from previous consultations undertaken with women entrepreneurs and individuals or organizations with expertise in women entrepreneurs’ access to markets in Vietnam and validate the selections with Vietnamese counterparts. Additional consultations may be required to identify the most urgent training needs.
- Each module should include a mix of text and video elements to sustain participant interest, as well as interactive content, such as exercises or case studies. Women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds should figure prominently within the content, exercises, and case studies. Each should include guidance for virtual and in-person coaching to enable use in both self-directed learning or facilitated training sessions.
- All training materials will be prepared in English and Vietnamese at a minimum, and consideration should be given to translating the materials into ethnic minority languages, as appropriate. Final versions will be delivered in an electronic format and style consistent with VIETRADE SheTrades online content. Relevant gender equality and social inclusion considerations should be incorporated into the format and content of training materials.
- Prepare and present two “train-the-trainer” workshops to prepare officials of VIETRADE and partner trade support organizations to facilitate in-person or virtual training based on the e-learning modules. This should include guidance on how diverse groups of women entrepreneurs can best be reached for inclusion in training and gender equality and social inclusion considerations in the planning and delivery of workshops. The workshops should be designed to accommodate 60 to 80 participants.
Given the current travel restrictions imposed by the ongoing pandemic, delivery of the workshops is expected to be by virtual means. Bidders should, however, indicate whether they would be available to deliver the training in-person if travel restrictions are lifted and provide an estimate of the costs of in-person delivery.
The EDM seeks to promote gender equality/social inclusion, with a particular focus on women, Indigenous Peoples and MSMEs, and environmental protection as cross-cutting objectives of all technical assistance. Proposals should explain how these objectives – which are evaluated criteria - will be integrated into the content and delivery of the training.
The immediate beneficiaries of this technical assistance will be trade promotion officials of VIETRADE and other national government departments and agencies, provincial trade promotion organizations, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Vietnam Women’s Union and sectoral industry associations. The ultimate beneficiaries are women entrepreneurs, who will receive the training and support of these agencies. In the near term, the technical assistance will provide new tools to strengthen the services of trade support organizations targeted to women entrepreneurs. In the medium to long term, the assistance will increase exports by women-owned businesses, increase job creation, and poverty reduction.
Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required
Bidders for this technical assistance activity must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience in:
- knowledge of barriers and opportunities for women entrepreneurs’ access to markets
- export market development;
- trade-related technical assistance;
- the design of online publications;
- adult education, including distance learning methods.
The EDM includes a core focus on gender and social inclusion and environmental issues associated with trade activities. Successful applicants are required to research and integrate specific good and emerging practices in these areas and partner with other expert consultants if necessary. Any prior experience in the provision of TA on gender equality and social inclusion and the environment will be viewed as a strong asset.
Timelines
- Starting date: January 2022
- Proposed duration: 6 months
Deliverables
The main deliverables for this technical assistance activity include:
- A detailed work plan, work schedule and budget for the delivery of activities;
- Completed EDM Performance Measurement Framework template for the TA, including baseline data and targets against EDM indicators.
- A draft outline, draft text, final text and a final formatted text in the machine-readable format of each e-learning module and the train-the-trainer workshop curriculum and teaching materials, for approval by EDM and the beneficiary;
- A Final Narrative Report: Due within 30 calendar days of completion of all TA activities. The report shall describe activities delivered; results achieved (versus initial expected results and baseline); lessons learned of relevance to future EDM activities; expenses incurred by the Consultant in carrying out the TAA; gender equality and social inclusion outcomes, environmental outcomes, document officials trained/participating in activities (name, gender, job title, institutional affiliation). This report will be reviewed and approved by EDM prior to being shared with Global Affairs Canada.
- Contribute as necessary to the development of EDM communication materials and participate in an EDM roundtable highlighting key results achieved.
Proposal Submission Process
For your proposal to be considered, please name your document in the following format:
1.16 Consultants Last Name, First Name
(Proposals can be submitted by a single consultant or a consortium of consultants).
Your proposal should contain the following sections:
- Cover letter
- Your approach to implementing this TA, taking into account COVID-related travel restrictions. Provide as much detail as possible. (10 pages maximum)
- Describe your approach to ensuring that gender equality and social inclusion are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery. (2 pages maximum)
- Describe your approach to ensuring that environmental impacts are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery. (1 page maximum)
- Outline your project management and monitoring strategy for the implementation of the activities. (2 pages maximum)
- Indicate all personnel who are being proposed to implement this project, their roles and responsibilities. Include all CVs of proposed personnel/experts. (20 pages maximum)
- Provide an estimated level of effort (in days) and consulting rates (in CAD$) for each proposed personnel and/or expert implementing the project.
Please submit your proposal as one document through the Cowater Career Page. Emailed proposals will not be accepted. If you have any questions, please email info@edm-mde.ca.