Cowater International is recruiting a qualified candidate as a Value chain Advisor to support the Lao Cai Forest Protection Department (FPD) in delivering the project results. FPD is a project under GREAT 2 Program. The Advisor will report to the GREAT Agriculture Portfolio Manager while working closely with Project Coordinator of FPD, the GREAT Partner(s) and Lao Cai Cinnamon and Anise Association (LCAA) in planning, implementing organization and monitoring of project activities under the result framework of Lao Cai sustainable cinnamon development project.  

Cowater International is recruiting a qualified candidate as a Public - Private Sector Engagement Specialist to support the Forest Protection Department (FPD) in delivering the project results. 

The incumbent will report to the GREAT National Agriculture Portfolio Manager while working closely with Project Coordinator of FPD, the GREAT Partner(s) and Lao Cai Cinnamon and Anise Association (LCAA) in planning, implementing organization and monitoring of project activities under the result framework of Lao Cai sustainable cinnamon development project.  

GREAT is a flagship initiative of the Australian aid program.  The Program promotes women’s economic empowerment (WEE) in the ethnically diverse north-west region of Vietnam, through the integration of a market systems development (MSD) approach.

GREAT, under its second phase, is supporting Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) to implement the project namely “Technical assistance for the implementation of production development support policies under the National Target Program in Son La province from 2024 to 2027” that aims to achieve the objective “Policies on PS under the NTPs for the period 2026 - 2030 in the province are designed on the results of implementing PS projects according to market-based value chains, gender inclusive and responsive”. The project has 03 components. GREAT is seeking qualified consultancy to provide technical support to DARD Son La to implement component 1 and 3. The consultant team will work closely with DARD assigned staff and GREAT Agriculture Portfolio Manager to achieve the set results.

Abt Global, through Investing in Women (IW), is looking for a partner to implement the Gender-Responsive Innovations for At-Home Aged Care Initiative in Vietnam, which aims to build the evidence base on gender-responsive, private sector-led solutions that can improve the quality of at-home care for older adults in Vietnam while supporting the rebalancing of women’s responsibility for unpaid care work.

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.

The STTA Pool is a roster of vetted and qualified consultants from which Development Pathways can rapidly engage technical experts for DFAT-funded programs. The STTA Pool enables programs to effectively respond to emerging opportunities by drawing on exceptional external experts to deliver services.

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. 

Cowater is recruiting a Policy Manager as outlined in this TOR to lead and implement these initiatives. Reporting to the Deputy Team Leader and working closely with other GREAT staff, the Policy Manager will oversee and quality assure the work of a team of policy advisors and technical partners, provide strategic steering and technical support to partners to maximise outcome and document and share best practices on policy support at national and provincial level, updating of GREAT policy strategy and contribute to organisation-wide objectives as a member of the Strategy Team. 

Call for technical service provider

Capacity building for Lao Cai College in vocational training in the hospitality and tourism sector

Cowater is seeking to recruit a Technical Consultant / Consultancy specialised in vocational training and management to partner with Lao Cai College in building the College’s capacity to develop, text and manage innovative and market-facing tourism and hospitality training offers targeting ethnic minority women working in the tourism and hospitality sector. Individual Consultants / Consultancies or Consortia and welcome to apply.

The role will directly support the work of Cowater’s flagship socio-economic development initiative – The Gender-Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism Phase 2 (GREAT 2) in northwest Vietnam.