Aus4Growth is seeking an individual who has proven experience leading and managing trade/economic development projects or policies, preferably in the context of international development.

Request for Proposal – AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) - Promoting AANZFTA through Communications and Business Engagement

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28

Project Summary

This project will support a series of connected communications activities to promote AANZFTA throughout the Financial Year 2024-25 (until June 2025) under the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) to strengthen public and private sector stakeholders' awareness of its economic benefits.

Objectives:

(i) Increase understanding of AANZFTA, the AANZFTA Upgrade, and AISP activities.

(ii) Build on 2023 AISP-ECWP communications and business engagement initiatives, including:

• A Communications Package on AANZFTA Upgrade benefits.
• Regional and national business roundtables.

(iii) Develop business engagement resources to strengthen partnerships with diverse and potentially marginalised communities.

Key Outputs:

1. Explainers for ASEAN businesses
2. Business Roundtable Factsheets
3. Four Case Studies on AISP success
4. AEM-CER Communications Package and Video

Duration

Until 31 October 2025 (6-8 months)

Location

Hanoi, Vietnam

Reports to

P4I Energy Lead

Closing date

04 Apr 2025

About P4I

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is an Australian Government initiative partnering with Southeast Asia to drive sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through quality infrastructure. P4I partners with Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

P4I works with partners to strengthen infrastructure decision-making and practice across the transport, energy, utilities and telecommunications sectors. P4I’s focus is on the early stages of the infrastructure lifecycle, including planning and prioritisation, financing strategy, and procurement.

The four main services offered by P4I are linkages with Australian government agencies and other institutions, technical and policy advice, infrastructure project advice and knowledge-sharing and learning.
As the foundation of quality infrastructure, P4I also integrates gender equality, disability, and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change considerations into all activities.

Delivered through a single team, P4I is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in collaboration with Ernst & Young, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One. P4I has a head office in Bangkok, with other staff located around the region.

Scope of Work

The responsibilities of the Expert will depend on specific skills and job requirements, as well as the needs of P4I and ERAV in knowledge sharing and capacity building for ERAV. The Expert will provide support to ERAV’s Power Market Department under the expert-sharing cooperation mechanism. Responsibilities will be based on the Expert’s qualifications and may include (but are not limited to) the following tasks as requested for research by P4I and ERAV.

1. Facilitate ongoing technical collaboration with ERAV through expert support, knowledge sharing, joint research, and capacity-building initiatives.
2. Sharing information on the activities on the survey and Market Analysis and Technical Support as requested
   • Collection of Quantitative Data:
      
     1. Gather historical market data, including electricity demand, generation, pricing trends, and settlement outcomes.
     2. Collect statistics on market participation, such as the number of wholesalers, independent power producers (IPPs), and renewable energy generators.
     3. Obtain data on curtailment rates for renewable energy, grid congestion issues, and system outages.
   • Qualitative Data Collection:
      
     1. Conduct interviews and surveys with key stakeholders, including ERAV, market participants, grid operators, and independent power producers.
     2. Gather insights into operational challenges, regulatory hurdles, and market design concerns directly from stakeholders.
   • Market Analysis and Technical Support:
      
     1. Conduct in-depth analysis of Vietnam’s wholesale electricity market (VWEM), including its design, implementation, and alignment with intended objectives.
     2. Identify challenges and propose practical solutions for improving the VWEM, addressing inefficiencies, transparency, and market participation.
   • Policy and Regulatory Guidance:
      
     1. Provide insights into Vietnam’s regulatory and policy landscape, particularly the New Electricity Law and related regulations (e.g., Circular No. 21/2024/TT-BCT, etc.).
     2. Advise on integrating renewable energy and implementing mechanisms like direct power purchase agreements to foster private sector investment.
   • Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building:
      
     1. Assist in organizing workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder consultations to share Australia’s experience in competitive power markets and renewable energy integration.
     2. Support ERAV in building institutional capacity to implement and manage wholesale market reforms effectively.
   • Engagement with Stakeholders:
      
     1. Serve as the primary local liaison with ERAV and other key stakeholders (e.g., energy companies, government agencies, and market participants).
     2. Facilitate communication between P4I’s Australian experts and Vietnamese stakeholders, ensuring mutual understanding of technical concepts and recommendations.
   • Program Coordination:
      
     1. Coordinate local logistics for P4I’s program activities, including meetings, site visits, and events.
     2. Monitor program progress and ensure alignment with P4I’s objectives and timelines.

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.

Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming.

The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

Project Summary

The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of RCEP through the provision of capacity building support and access to technical expertise.

The following project is approved under RISP.

• Project Name: Fostering Inclusive Policies and Practices in ASEAN’s E-Waste Management and Recycling Industry to support Manufacturing Related Services

• Project Objective: The project aims to strengthen inclusive regulatory frameworks and business practices in e-waste management and recycling services; especially those of electronic vehicles (EV) battery and solar cell panels. In doing so, the project will ensure that e-waste policies and business models in ASEAN advance gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) outcomes and promote more equitable, innovative and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. In line with this aim, the project has the following objectives:

o to strengthen the capabilities of key stakeholders who are engaged in e-waste management and recycling services to use digital technologies, especially in the area of EV batteries and solar cell panel supply chains.

o to identify GEDSI issues and recommendations to support businesses, including those owned by women and people with disabilities, to effectively participate in e-waste management and recycling services.

o to encourage key stakeholders, particularly policy makers, to align trade related policies and regulatory frameworks to advance GEDSI and circular economy practices at the national and regional levels.

Tetra Tech International Development is seeking an experience Senior Manager to manage and provide strategic input for the Vietnam Australia Centre (VAC), a key initiative under Aus4Skills, aiming to build the capacity of public sector leaders and managers in Vietnam.

Contribute to a world where people, communities and the planet thrive.

Tetra Tech International Development is a leading development consulting firm working with government, businesses, and NGOs to solve complex development challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. For more information, please visit our website

The opportunity

• Full-time contract until 31 Dec 2025
• Location Hanoi, Vietnam

Aus4Skills and Vietnam Australia Centre (VAC)

Aus4Skills is a DFAT funded program with the goal to support Vietnam to access and use high level professional and technical knowledge, skills and competencies, to contribute to the country’s sustainable economic and inclusive development.

Established in 2022, the VAC is a key initiative under Aus4Skills, aiming to build the capacity of public sector leaders and managers in Vietnam. The VAC promotes a close, positive, and enduring cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Australia. It coordinates and delivers training and capacity-building activities, bringing together Australian and Vietnamese officials for learning, exploration, and research on topics of mutual interest.

The AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP), implemented through RT4D Facility, aims to support ASEAN Member States to realize the full benefits of AANFTA through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.

The following project is approved under AISP.

• Project name: Assessing ASEAN Members State’s (AMS’) Readiness and Developing a Guideline for AMS to implement its trade-in services commitment of transposing from a Positive Listing to a Negative Listing approach in AANZFTA.
• Project Objectives: Regarding the liberalization of services among AANZFTA Signatory Parties, each country’s understanding, progress, and institutional capacity are variable. The Strategic Directions and Priorities of the Committee on Trade in Services look to narrow the regional gaps in institutional capacity to liberalize services trade and ensure the transition to the Negative List schedule for trade in services within the agreed timeframes.

Aligning with the Strategic Directions and Priorities of the Committee on Trade in Services, this project aims to support interested AMS, specifically The Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and others with a smooth transition to a Negative List approach within the committed timeframe, enabling trade in services liberalization.

The Role

Australia has a long-standing partnership with Vietnam in the energy sector, and the two countries share a commitment to take urgent and ambitious climate action. The recently upgraded Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) includes a pillar on climate, energy and environment. Vietnam is a priority country in the Australian Government’s international climate engagement strategy, with P4I serving as an important mechanism to support Vietnam’s clean energy transition and respond to the impacts of climate change

P4I recently undertook a high-level energy design to guide energy programming in Vietnam through P4I over the coming 18 months to December 2025. The Energy Officer - Vietnam will work closely with P4I’s Energy Lead based in the Bangkok program office and P4I staff working for different delivery partners, the Australian Embassy Hanoi and DFAT to drive P4I’s energy program through fostering stakeholder relationships with relevant government entities and officials in Vietnam. Based on these relationships, the Energy Officer will support development and implementation of P4I’s energy programming.

The role supports the Australian Government’s priority of developing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth in Southeast Asia through the development of quality infrastructure. This will be achieved through the creation of strong partnerships amongst Australian and Southeast Asian government agencies and institutions.