Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA) of the Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund (VNFF) - 2023-4

Description of Project:

Emergent is a U.S.-registered non-profit corporation that serves as the administrative coordinator and transactions platform for the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition, a public private partnership launched in April 2021 to increase global financial flows to tropical forest protection by catalysing the growth of high-integrity forest carbon markets.

Financial Intermediary (FIs) are an essential part of Emergent’s Transaction Architecture, providing oversight of funds management and implementation.

The purpose of the Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA) of this project is to evaluate VNFF’s internal policies and procedures, institutional capacity and organisational structure, and capability to function as an effective manager of proceeds associated with a possible LEAF credit transaction. The successful bidder will provide an overall assessment of the suitability of VNFF as FI for the LEAF program, including identifying gaps in structure, governance, and other areas, and recommend improvements in accordance with the obligations of the independent assessment set forth in Emergent’s FI selection policy.

Description of actual services provided by staff within the assignment:

Full implementation of the assessment: (i) lead development and implementation of evaluation methods and write-up, (ii) organise appointments, interviews, and travels/logistics, (iii) conduct fieldwork and synthesize findings, (iv) organise validation workshop; (v) ensure timely submission of Inception Report, Draft ICA Report, and Final ICA Report), (vi) timely incorporation of Emergent’s comments, (vii) and presentation of findings and recommendations to Emergent.

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Client: Emergent Forest Finance Accelerator, Inc.

Funding source: Emergent Forest Finance Accelerator, Inc