International Trade Center (ITC) - Consumer survey on preferences for animal and plant products for Traditional Asian Medicine - 2015

Description of the Project:

ITC helped firms in developing countries integrate into the global economy through capacity building and access to trade intelligence. In order to understand more about how to structure markets for sustainability, ITC commissioned MKE to carry out a consumer preferences survey of the use of animal for the market for Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM), including rhino horns. The current project aimed to assess the characteristics and drivers of demand for wildlife for use in traditional medicine in Vietnam.

MKE conducted face-to-face interviews with representatives of companies supplying TAMs and also interviewed 1,000 individuals through Vietnam on the use of TAM and rhino horns (300 rhino horn users and 700 rhino horn non-users but who used at least a kind of TAM were interviewed using structured questionnaires). The project was carried out in close consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and supervised by the ITC’s Trade and Environment Program.

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.

The World Bank Group - Implementation of the EAP Enterprise Surveys (EAP ES 2014) - 2014

Countries Involved:

Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

Project Description:

The EAP ENTERPRISE SURVEYS 2014 was a World Bank (WB) project aiming to study the business environment in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Laos and Vietnam. With the participation of 13 key professional staffs and sub-contractors, MKE led the following responsibilities:

·        Identifying sample frames in accordance with World Bank outlined strategy and approval;

·        Conducting the face-to-face interview with approximately 6,090 establishments of the sample frame;

·        Providing to client a set of a cleaned database of all completed interviews in the STATA electronic database

·        Preparing report, in English, on the data describing all codes, sampling biases introduced in the survey implementation and other pertinent information for researchers.

ICRW - Formative and Baseline research for a career and life skills program in Village Saving and Loan community members of Sre Ambel district (Koh Kong) in Cambodia - 2014

Project Description:

ICRW served as an evaluation partner and strategic advisor for P.A.C.E. (Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement) a financial and life skills program that had been operational among female garment workers in factories for seven years now. It was now being extended to the community setting to benefit young women of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA) from the Cambodian community.

Mekong Economics was commissioned to conduct an interviewer-administered survey to obtain baseline information on participant characteristics as well as knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding key objectives of the program in the VSLAs in Sre Ambel district, Koh Kong province.

Trade Commission of an Embassy - Update the profiles of the three industries and Vietnam Market Overview - 2014

Project Description:

Mekong Economics updated these profiles for the Embassy’s Trade Commission.

A Russian Market Research Firm - A desk research into the selected sectors of the Light Industries in Vietnam, China and Japan - 2014

Countries Involved:

Vietnam, China and Japan.

Project Description:

Mekong Economics accomplished a desk research of this market study in the three countries’ markets.

Belgium Technical Cooperation/Ministry of Planning and Investment - Assessment of the Business Environment and Competitiveness of enterprises in services sectors - 2014

Project Description:

The overall project had four specific outputs:

1.      Comparative Literature Review (Cross-country and multi-sectoral);

2.      Qualitative Primary Research Report (24 in-depth interviews, 16 Case Studies, 4 Value Chain Analysis, and Study Tour Findings);

3.      Final Synthesis Report with concrete recommendations and solutions to 2020, and highlight visions to 2030.

4.      Two workshops

Trade Commission of an Embassy - Opportunities for Aquaculture & Fisheries Products, Equipment, Technologies & Services - 2014

Project Description:

To determine the nature and extent of (commercial) opportunities in Vietnam’s aquaculture sector (as defined by the Client Country’s supply capability), and to develop a market entry strategy to assist the Client Country’s suppliers to access those opportunities.

ASEAN Secretariat - Scoping Study of Outsourcing in ASEAN - 2014

Countries Involved:

Ten ASEAN member states.

Project Description:

The project conducted an assessment of the ASEAN regional production network and ASEAN’s role in the global supply chain. It involved:

a)   a stock take and a characterisation of the offshoring/outsourcing activities in the region;

b)   an assessment of the trends and developments in outsourcing both in goods and services within and outside the region, particularly in developed countries as well as in the BRICS countries.

This consulting opportunity was to support these activities with the overall goal of enhancing ASEAN’s approach/strategy towards the creation of a single market and production area and a strong presence in the global supply chain, as well as increasing the role of small and medium enterprises in the regional production process.

The Association of Volunteers in International Service - Evaluating AVSI project on establishing a farmer’s cooperative in Pyin Ah Lan Village Tract - 2014

Project Description:

Farmers’ Cooperative in Labutta Township in the Delta Region of Myanmar funded by LIFT and implemented by AVSI Foundation The total budget was around 301,377 USD. The project duration was 36 months from May, 14th, 2011 to 14th May 2014. The project location was six villages (Aing Ma, Kwin Pauk, Ah Mat Gyi, Ah Mat Ka Lay, Yae Cho Kan and Thaung Lay) in the Pyin Ah Lan targeted Village Tract in Labutta Township.

This final evaluation offered the opportunity to assess the implementation of the action with regards to the achievements, impacts/outcomes, the approached and methodology used, the management aspects (including efficiency), as well as to identify weaknesses and strengths in current implementation strategies. It also offered the opportunity to identify ways in which project implementation may be improved to more effectively achieve programme goals and outputs. Emerging lessons learnt and recommendations would be specifically highlighted in order to enable the project team and the network of farmer groups to make necessary adjustments when designing further programme design.