Vietnam Support Unit - Oxford Policy Management (OPM) - 2022-24

Description of Project:

Background

• The Vietnam bilateral development program comprises multiple investments managed across development, economic and political teams in the Australian Embassy in Hanoi. Additionally, multiple regional and global development investments deliver activities in Vietnam.

• On 29 May 2020, the Australian Government launched its new development policy Partnerships for Recovery — Australia’s COVID-19 Development Response and performance framework. This policy includes a new performance system, with several reporting requirements for individual country programs. The policy will guide DFAT development policy and programs until a new framework is required, and the Vietnam bilateral program will input to any successor policy and plan for its implementation as needed.

• The Australian Embassy in Hanoi has a requirement for a development program support unit to provide monitoring, evaluation and learning, and partnership brokering support. This support needs to be flexible in services Post’s needs across the development, political and economic sections. This will negate the need for each section and program to source their M&E and partnership brokering services individually.

• The Support Unit would enable program managers at Post to access timely advice and support with streamlined procurement and contracting through a single point at Post. A focal point at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi in the Development Section will manage the Support Unit, ensuring prioritisation, tracking of expenditure and contract management.

The Support Unit enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of Australia’s development program in Vietnam. The Support Unit provides timely advice, inputs and/or other services to DFAT in Hanoi Post and also attends meetings and other fora, as needed and directed.

Description of actual services provided by your staff within the assignment:

The MKE was requested to provide a range of consulting and management services through the issue of tasking notes under the lead of OPM. The services included provision of strategic policy support for development program delivery in Vietnam, including:

- Design, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) support and quality assurance services.

- Providing investments with the partnership brokering services.

- Management, administration and logistics support as required.

- Other related ad-hoc services.

Specific inputs are agreed and issued through specific tasking notes.

Funding Source: Australian DFAT

Client: Oxford Policy Management Australia Pty Ltd (OPM)

Mekong Economics