Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development

Implementation Consultant and Event Organiser for Strengthening E-Commerce Dispute Settlement Processes in Lao PDR

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

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented through the Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility, aims to support ASEAN Member States (AMSs) to realise the full benefits of RCEP through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise. The primary objective of this project is to develop institutional capacity and establish a practical framework for resolving e-commerce disputes in Lao PDR, aligning with commitments under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The initiative focuses on building competencies within key government agencies and engaging the private sector and MSMEs to foster a collaborative approach. By developing a roadmap, conducting workshops, and leveraging digital platforms, the project aims to create a sustainable, inclusive e-commerce dispute resolution ecosystem.

Be part of a panel of program and investment design consultants on the Australian Government’s Climate Resilient Communities program in the Indo-Pacific, covering the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia regions.

An opportunity to be part of a panel of MEL consultants providing advice on the Australian Government’s Climate Resilient Communities program in the Indo-Pacific, covering the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia regions.

The Program

The Vanuatu Australia Infrastructure for Development (VAI4D) program is a five-year (2024-2029) investment funded by the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). VAI4D supports the Government of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU) to achieve sustainable and well-maintained infrastructure and services for all, through inclusive and effective partnerships. VAI4D continues Australia’s assistance to MIPU/PWD to effectively and efficiently managed Vanuatu’s public roads network while expanding support for strengthening the capacity of MIPU to deliver infrastructure projects in civil aviation, ports and marine, and public buildings.

The VAI4D investment is focused on three end of program outcomes (EOPOs):

• EOPO 1: MIPU PWD manages Vanuatu’s public roads network effectively and efficiently.
• EOPO 2: MIPU (civil aviation &/or ports and marine &/or public buildings) use improved systems, processes, and technologies.
• EOPO 3: GoV agencies deliver infrastructure portfolios and projects more coherently, effectively, and efficiently, in coordination with GoA partners.

VAI4D also mainstreams and spotlights cross-cutting areas, including gender equity, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate change & disaster risk resilience, social and environmental safeguards, localisation, and asset management through the identification, planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of projects.

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.

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 realizing 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.

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 realize 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: Effective application of Good Regulatory Practices (GRP) in developing technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures.
• Project Objectives: The objective of this project is to build capacity and a better understanding of (1) the effective application of GRP and (2) conducting Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for Country officials who are involved in developing technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures in Viet Nam.

Through that, the project contributes to the strategic objectives of The RCEP Agreement as stated in Chapter 6, Article 2, namely, 6.2 (a), (b), (c), and (d).

• Project Structure: The project consists of four activities designed to deliver multiple outputs:
• Activity 1: Development of two Research Reports
• 1. One Research Report on GRP application
• 2. One Research Report on RIA implementation
• Activity 2: Development of two Guidelines acting as manuals for implementing organizations
• 1. One Guideline on GRP application
• 2. One Guideline on RIA implementation
• Activity 3: Organization of capacity building Training Courses
• 1. Three 1.5-day Training Courses on GRP: one in Vinh Phuc, one in Da Nang and one in Ho Chi Minh City.
• 2. One 1.5-day Training Course on RIA in Vinh Phuc
• Activity 4: Organization of one final Regional Workshop communicating project components’ findings.

Cowater is seeking the support of a qualified service provider to support an action-oriented project (under GREAT 2 Program) to identify and invest in inclusive supply chain innovations with the aim of learning, disseminating lessons and replicating good practices in effective and inclusive supply chain management targeting ethnic minority women and men producers in mountainous areas in northwest Vietnam. 

Job description

Tender: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Panel of Advisors
Reports to: MEL Lead, Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I)
Location: Remote
Duration: To be engaged until 31 December 2025

Closing Date: Friday 15 November 2024

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. More information about P4I is available at www.partnershipsforinfrastructure.org

Purpose

P4I maintains a panel of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) advisors to support P4I activity teams to monitor, analyse and report on progress and outcomes of the activity portfolio across Southeast Asia. The panel consists of a database of organisations and individuals with demonstrated experience delivering high quality MEL technical assistance relevant to P4I’s mission. P4I is seeking applications from experienced advisors to join the Panel for the remainder of the current P4I phase to December 2025. The panel is a database of organisations and individuals with demonstrated experience delivering high quality MEL technical assistance relevant to P4I’s mission.

Cowater is recruiting an experienced professional as Project Officer in Lao Cai to support the provincial work of its socio-economic development initiative - Gender-Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism Phase 2 (GREAT 2 Program) in Vietnam. 

About the program: GREAT is an innovative, market-oriented program funded by the Australian Government and working in Son La and Lao Cai provinces in northwest Vietnam. The program works with innovative and forward-thinking commercial businesses, as well as government partners, to identify and unlock economic opportunities for ethnic minority women producers and entrepreneurs.

https://equality.aus4vietnam.org/

A strategic opportunity for the right business partner

Objective

The objective of the GREAT program is to work with one or more sector partners to test, develop and operationalise innovative business ideas that seek to transform the medicinal plant commodity sectors from low value conventional production toward GACP-WHO compliance to access potential markets in Son La and Lao Cai and open up mutual opportunities for ethnic minority women producers and pharmaceutical industry business investors. This is an ambitious agenda that seeks to build strong and effective partnerships between sector leaders and ethnic minority women suppliers and requires both innovation and a commitment to the medicinal plant commodity sector in northwest of Vietnam.

The GREAT program is seeking to support business initiative and innovation and would like to hear from those willing and able to try new ways of working with small scale producers and cooperatives and who are prepared to invest in successful models to develop the medicinal plant commodity sector in northwest Vietnam. The right business partner(s) will have the following expertise and interests:

• A track record in the production, supply and/or manufacture of medicinal plant products from northwest Vietnam
• Extensive knowledge, know-how and networks in the medicinal plant commodities sector and supply chains in Vietnam, particularly the northwest
• A track record of working with ethnic minority producers and cooperatives and/or in the development and support of supply chains characterised by large numbers of small scale producers
• Feasible business plans (under implementation or to be implemented) that seek to develop the GACP-WHO medicinal plants production areas Son La and/or Lao Cai
• Willingness and capacity to co-invest in supply chain development and production support

If the above applies to you or your organisation, then GREAT would welcome your Expression of Interest:

Your commitment: partnering with GREAT, provincial stakeholders and ethnic minority producer communities, particularly women, to pilot solutions for the development of the medicinal plant commodities sector in northwest Vietnam, including co-investing in the form of expertise, resources and finance.

GREAT’s commitment: supporting selected partners with critical resources including technical expertise and co-financing mobilise producers, build production and semi-processing capability and develop mutually beneficial production and off-take arrangements to drive quality, growth and resilience in the sector.