BCG is seeking a highly experienced Team Leader that will be responsible for providing on-the-ground leadership, technical expertise, and operational oversight for the Aus4Growth program based in Hanoi, Vietnam. 

• Contribute your socio-cultural technical expertise as part of the Aus4Asean Future panel of experts
• Exciting opportunity to contribute to the strengthening of ASEAN-Australia relations
• Commencement from May 2025 onwards for short, medium, and long-term inputs
• Location: Southeast Asia; remote

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

Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development

Implementation Consultant and Event Organiser for Building Institutional Capacity for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) Implementation under RCEP

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 was created to implement activities that align with RCEP Chapter 5 on SPS. The objective is to enhance the practical application of SPS measures by promoting transparency and understanding of the development processes and applications among relevant stakeholders. The project seeks to strengthen coordination, communication, and consultation among the domestic parties involved in SPS measures, adhering to international standards, guidelines, and recommendations. With support from RCEP and the RT4D program, the fundamental goal of this project is to build the institutional capabilities of key stakeholders at the central and provincial levels under the leadership of FDD. This will set up a foundation to establish a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership, facilitating regional trade and investment expansion and contributing to global economic growth.

Improving inter-departmental coordination is another crucial component of the project; it will establish a collaborative, dynamic platform for stakeholders such as the FDD, Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DOLF), and Department of Planning (DOP) to monitor and evaluate the implementation of SPS chapters. This initiative aims to promote transparency, ensuring senior decision-makers and policy formulators have a unified understanding of the SPS chapter and the ASEAN Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Inspection and Certification Systems on Food Hygiene for Prepared Foodstuff Products (MRA) guidelines, alongside developing implementation regulations that clarify procedural and operational parameters. This framework seeks to mitigate arbitrary decision-making while reinforcing compliance with national legal standards through stringent oversight and formalised inspection processes.

The specific objectives of this project are to:

• To provide capacity building on implementing the SPS measures and provisions, focusing on Chapter 5 of RCEP commitments
• To strengthen economic cooperation and dialogue that supports the implementation and utilisation of key provisions within the SPS agreement 
• To increase public and stakeholders’ awareness of the benefits and impact of the RCEP and SPS Chapter to enhance access to information for businesses, especially Micro-Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), on the SPS requirements as well as MRA on import-export 
• To strengthen cooperation and exchange experience with RCEP Parties in the SPS Chapter, particularly on the collective participation approach at the ASEAN SPS committee meeting.

KEY INFORMATION
Position: Team Leader
Sector: Facility Management, Expert Deployment Mechanism and Framework Agreements
Duration: 25 months
Base City: Hanoi, Vietnam
Start Date: 10 June 2025
Reports to:  Contractor Representative, Cowater 
Contractual arrangement : Eligible for both Vietnamese residents/citizens and international applicants.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Program is a flagship initiative of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).  The Program promotes sustainable women’s economic empowerment (WEE) in the ethnically diverse north-west region of Vietnam by applying a market systems development (MSD) approach. The primary beneficiaries are women living in the provinces of Son La and Lao Cai, while an overarching emphasis is placed on the inclusion of women from ethnic minority communities.
 
The Program is in its second five-year (2022-2027), AUD 33.7 million, phase (GREAT 2) continuing its focus on agriculture and tourism - sectors that lend themselves to opportunities for advancing WEE. The Program works with multiple private and public sector stakeholders to address constraints, generate opportunities, drive market growth and increase the productive value of the sectors. Cross-sector strategies such as women’s leadership, access to finance, digital transformation, policy advocacy, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and social norm and behaviour change inform and complement sector interventions.
 
The Program works in close collaboration and coordination with provincial government agencies to ensure alignment with national and provincial Government of Vietnam plans and goals.

Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development Program

Technical Consultant on AISP Project “Developing National Policies and Laws Related to GRTKTCE; and Empowering Ethnic Communities through strengthening capacity for GRTKTCE protection for Interested ASEAN Member States (AMSs)”

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

The following project is approved under AISP.

• Project Name: Developing National Policies and Laws Related to GRTKTCE; and Empowering Ethnic Communities through strengthening capacity for GRTKTCE protection for Interested ASEAN Member States (AMSs)
• Project Objective:
  • For communities: Increase awareness within indigenous communities of GRTKTCE protections and enhance their capacity to benefit from non-legal and legal frameworks.
  • For institutions: Increase institutional capacity to strengthen non-legal and legal framework for the protection of GRTKTCE and the benefit of indigenous communities.

Program Background

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is the Australian Government’s flagship infrastructure initiative for Southeast Asia. It partners with Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to foster inclusive growth through sustainable economic infrastructure (i.e. transport, energy, telecommunications, and utilities). Phase 1 of P4I will run from 2021 to December 2025, with Phase 2 currently in the design process and due to begin early 2026.

Delivered through a single cohesive team, the initiative is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in collaboration with EY, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One. The Program’s Head Office is in Bangkok.

P4I focuses on infrastructure prioritisation and planning, policy and regulation, procurement, and project preparation (P4I does not finance infrastructure delivery). All services address gender equality and social inclusion, disaster risk reduction and climate change issues. P4I can respond to rapid requests but aims to develop longer-term infrastructure engagement.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change (DRRCC) team leads the advice and quality assurance of low carbon and disaster/climate resilience integration into over 100-plus energy, transport, public investment management and telecommunications activities. The team is located in Bangkok and across the region, drawing down on technical climate and disaster specialists utilised to support high-volume technical inputs into activities.

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

The Role

The Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Adviser will report to P4I’s Director of Climate and Inclusion, leading the DRRCC team and working closely with the Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) team, Delivery Partner organisations and other P4I staff to coordinate P4I’s integrated approach of DRRCC across all activities.

The role is open to all nationalities and is based in Bangkok.

The responsibilities of the position will include, but not be limited to:

• Manage 3 part-time DRRCC Advisers and a full-time Climate and Inclusion Coordinator to drive the design and implementation of the DRRCC workstream through the twin-track approach of standalone DRRCC activities and integrate DRRCC into the Program’s service delivery functions. This includes overseeing the management of a technical panel of climate and disaster specialists.
• Provide low-carbon and disaster/climate resilience advice, identifying relevant entry points for energy, transport, public investment management, and telecommunications as part of the design, implementation, and monitoring processes. 
• Work closely with activity teams, DFAT posts and, where relevant, DRRCC sub-contractors, providing quality assurance of all inputs provided.
• Collaborate with stakeholders on DRRCC and infrastructure, including officers and programs at Australian Government posts, Southeast Asian government and ASEAN officials. Coordinate with P4I’s Delivery Partner organisations to align activities with their existing programs, training and networking activities
• Support the coordination of DRRCC with other P4I teams, including Operations, Monitoring and Evaluation, Strategic Communications and Knowledge and Government to Government teams.
• Lead DRRCC reporting and tracking of work budgets that feed into Program Performance Reports.
• Lead the development of the DRRCC framework database that tracks implementation against Climate targets.
• Oversee climate finance alignment analysis of the portfolio according to DFAT requirements.
• Oversee Safeguards portfolio, including safeguards panel of technical specialists.

In undertaking all the above, the position will operate as part of P4I’s One-Team, contributing to well-coordinated planning and delivery across all members of the Delivery Partner organisations.

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.

Cowater International is recruiting a long-term, full-time Regional Director in Southeast Asia.

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.