Athena Informics (funded by UNICEF) - Literature review and mapping of interventions of child labour - 2016

Project Description:

The purpose of this study was to increase understanding on the scope and drivers of child labour in various sectors, what services were currently available for child labourers and their families, and who was doing what in respects of child labour in Vietnam. The study was designed to inform policy development and programming with the private sector and Government, including the policy development and programme on Worst Forms on Child Labour and the National Programme on Child Protection.

WWF (Greater Mekong Programme Office) - Produce a Comprehensive Report Outlining Alternatives for Power Generation in the Greater Mekong Sub-region - 2015

Project Description:

Mekong Economics provided one International Economist and one Local Economist to complete the following key inputs into the Final Report:

o   Reviewing assumptions, assisting in scenario development and review of modelling results

o   Providing economic assessment for each for the modelled scenarios

o   Providing input into policy amendments.

Irish Aid - Scoping study to explore cooperation in the agriculture & agribusiness sectors under Irish Development Experience Sharing Programme - 2014

Project Description:

Irish Aid’s Bilateral Programme with Vietnam commenced in 2005. Ireland’s 2007-2010 strategy for Vietnam and the subsequent 2011 – 2015 strategy contained a commitment to develop bilateral experience exchange links between Ireland and Vietnam with particular reference to economic and private sector development via an Irish Development Experience Sharing Programme (IDEAS).

As Ireland’s c­­urrent strategy for Vietnam 2011-2015 was coming to an end, Irish Aid wished to explore the potential of new areas for knowledge exchange that could be incorporated into a new phase of the IDEAS programme post 2015. In preparation for the new phase of the IDEAS programme, MKE drafted a paper to undertake preparatory work prior to the scoping study by Embassy, with a specific focus in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors.

POSCIS Secretariat & GI - Chief Technical Adviser to the Program on Strengthening Comprehensive Capacity of the Inspectorate System in Vietnam - 2012

Project Description:

The objective of the Program on Strengthening the Comprehensive Capacity of Inspectorate Sector towards 2014 (POSCIS) was to build the ethical, strong, professional and modern inspectorate system capable of good performance of tasks as provided by laws in the areas of inspection, complaint and denunciation settlement, and anti-corruption.

MKE provided a Chief Technical Advisor who performed the functions of support the management, coordination and provision of technical leadership to enhance the capacity of the Inspectorate system to implement the Program and support the Program and Project Components to handle difficulties and short-comings arising during their implementation, provide policy advice on strengthening the capacity of the inspectorate system, especially in prevention and suppression of corruption, and give advice on training works, suggest the international experts who can support and share experience on the inspectorate profession.

WB & SEQAP - Research on study of recurrent (non-salary) costs for the scaling-up of full day schooling (FDS) reform - 2012

Project Description:

The long term objective of the SEQAP was to create the foundations for the implementation of FDS in primary schools throughout Vietnam by 2020. The short-term objectives were to develop the policy framework for FDS, to pilot and apply FDS model in selected provinces, and to create favourable conditions for moving to FDS nationwide. The assignment was for a study and development of a new/adjusted mechanism for budgeting/allocating non-salary recurrent costs, including transition to FDS.

CIDA - Facilitation for South East Asia Regional Forum on Sustainable Economic Growth - 2012

Project Description:

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was organizing a Southeast Asia Regional Forum on Sustainable Economic Growth (SEG Forum) that would bring together government officials, researchers, civil society organizations and bilateral and multilateral cooperation institutions from around the region. MKE prepared for facilitating the Conference and facilitated it.

Government Inspectorate of Vietnam (GI) - Building a result based M&E system for the Programme on Strengthening the Capacity of the Inspection Sector (POSCIS) - 2011

Project Description:

Designed and published a results-based M&E framework to be used to measure Programme impact at all levels of the Programme on Strengthening the Capacity of the Inspection Sector (POSCIS) of the Government Inspectorate (GI) of Vietnam. After a careful evaluation of the current Inspectorate M&E system, a new streamlined framework was proposed, based on existing data collected so as to assure sustainability beyond the Programme. The M&E framework was created on the basis of desk reviews, fieldwork, surveying and detailed interviews with Inspectorate staff and clients in the four relevant Provinces and five Ministries.

The World Bank - Agriculture and Rural Development Public Expenditure Review - 2012

Project Description:

The objective of this Agriculture and Rural Development Public Expenditure Review (PER) was to contribute to the preparation of the proposed poverty reduction and rural development operation in the Central Region through consolidating lessons learned from the recent period Public Expenditure Management (PEM), and making recommendations on how selected provinces and central agencies in charge of the implementation or coordination of related programs can effectively and efficiently use available financial resources for achieving the rural development and poverty reduction goals set out in core strategies/development plans for the forthcoming period. MKE completed the following tasks:

(i) Providing a broad description of the dynamics and patterns of allocations and spending and the overall PEM system in the ARD sector.

(ii) Conducting a broad assessment of allocative efficiency for the sector as the whole and a more in-depth one for the selected provinces.

(iii) Carrying out an in-depth analysis of technical efficiency in the selected provinces and the influencing factors

(iv) Providing an assessment of growth and poverty reduction impacts of selected ARD programs in the region.

(v) Producing a report presenting findings and recommendations of the PEM and its summary to be included in the synthesis report of the above-mentioned series of analytical works.

A Commercial Client - Position paper on liberalization of the wheat market in Vietnam - 2011

Project Description:

Completed a report containing an economic analysis to argue the need of complete tariff liberalization of  the wheat market in Vietnam. The study argued that reducing the import duty in 2011 was a first best policy choice than waiting until 2016. The study viewed both negative and positive effects of a duty reduction, and the particular circumstances of 2011 that made it attractive.

UNCTAD - Case Study of the zone regime in Vietnam: How to upgrade and move beyond zone-based FDI - 2011

Project Description:

Completed a report on the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Vietnam as a case study of best practices in how to upgrade and move beyond zone based FDI. Through desk research, direct interviews with experts and specialists in this field and available data, the report aimed to capture the aspects to success of the zone regime in Vietnam, and how Vietnam managed to progress to higher value-added FDI, and greater integration with the economy through the zone regime.

The main objective was to draw out the lessons learned and key zone policies implemented over time in Vietnam which would be useful information for a target audience of other governments and policy makers implementing zone regimes in their countries.