Climate Risks Analysis and Scoping Study in Cambodia - DFAT - 2024

Description of Project:

Australia's International Development Policy emphasizes the need for increased climate investments and better risk management to support the region in addressing the accelerating climate crisis, including measures like biodiversity protection, low emissions technology development, and climate considerations. 

As part of the new International Development Policy, the Australian Embassy Phnom Penh created a Development Partnership Plan (DPP) for Cambodia, in consultation with the Cambodian Government and stakeholders. The plan aligns Australian Government activities with Cambodia's Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans and consider climate risk.

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

This project informs the drafting of the Cambodia DPP and required climate risk analysis annex, as well as the future design process of a potential flagship bilateral climate program, and was undertaken in three parts:

• Part 1: Provide a high-level analysis of the current and expected impacts of climate change, and provide recommendation

• Part 2: Provide an in-depth analysis of the current and expected impacts of climate change on Cambodia’s water security, and its flow on effects

• Part 3: Development of the Investment Concept Note to addressed DFAT’s Design and Monitoring and Evaluation Standards and Development Risk Management Framework and safeguard policy (subjected to DFAT agreeing to go ahead with a flagship bilateral climate program). 

Client: Department of Foreign Afairs and Trade (DFAT)

Funding Source: Australian DFAT

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Vietnam Climate Change Adaptation Program Design – OPM - 2023

Description of Project:

DFAT seeks a design of Australia’s climate change adaptation investment for the Vietnam
bilateral program. The design builds on areas of cooperation under the Australia Vietnam
Joint Commitment to Practical Action on Climate Change and existing bilateral and regional aid
investments such as Mekong Australia Partnership Water Energy and Climate (MAP-WEC)
investments, activities under the Australian Water Partnership, Aus4Innovation and programs
implemented by the Australia Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
The main outcome of the design process is a new investment in climate change adaptation
that is strategically aligned with Australia and Vietnam’s priorities, relevant to local context, is
suitably structured to deliver effectively and efficiently for DFAT. It is complementary with the investment in energy transition which is currently under design. It is anticipated that the resulting investment will be predominantly project based, but capability to facilitate government twinning and policy dialogue will also be important.

The design also allows intersection with and leverage of regional and global programs
managed out of Canberra and regional hubs such as Bangkok and Jakarta. This includes (but is
not limited to) Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I), Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP),
emerging Australian investments in climate change finance, and private sector financing
instruments like the Australian Climate Finance Partnership.
Gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) is central to the design, including
the identification of significant objectives in these areas.

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

MKE provided a GEDSI Specialist (National) who;
1. Under the direction of the Team Leader and the International GEDSI Specialist, contribute to
the preparation of the design of the Vietnam Climate Change Adaptation Program, including
identifying program strategies and approaches that have the potential to make a positive
contribution to the lives of women and girls, marginalised and/or socially disadvantaged
groups and people living with disability.
2. As a member of the Design Team, specific tasks may include:

∙ Development of the Investment Concept Note: together with other Design Team members, and under the direction of the International GEDSI Specialist, participate in consultations with DFAT and other key Government of Vietnam and nongovernment stakeholders; collect, analyse and review key documents relevant to the design; and engage in discussions with the other Design Team members on the development of the Concept Note for the investment.

∙ Stakeholder engagement and consultation: in collaboration with the International
GEDSI Specialist, organise, facilitate, and participate in meetings, workshops and consultations with relevant government, non-government and civil society stakeholders in the development of the program, ensuring that the voices of women and socially disadvantaged groups are heard and that they are given the opportunity to participate in the design as equally in the program as other groups.
∙ Research and/or analytical work: undertake and/or commission research and analysis to inform and strengthen the design, e.g., on how climate change impacts differently on women and girls, people with disability and socially disadvantaged groups, and how climate change adaptation programs, strategies and approaches can ensure inclusivity and the fair distribution of benefits to these groups.

∙ Draft Investment Design: contribute to the preparation of the Investment Design Document, including assisting in the drafting of relevant sections of the design and related annexes, e.g., GEDSI analysis and discussion on how any proposed climate change adaptation measures will address the needs of women and girls, people with disability and marginalised and/or socially disadvantaged groups.

∙ Presentations and quality assurance processes: participate in presentations to DFAT, Government of Vietnam stakeholders and other primary stakeholders and in any quality assurance and appraisal discussions as required.

∙ Undertake any other tasks as directed by the Team Leader and the International GEDSI Specialist.

Funding Source: Australian DFAT

Client: Oxford Policy Management Australia Pty Ltd (OPM)

Location: Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh, Can Tho, An GIang, Hanoi

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

Regional Trade Facilitation and Transport Sector Review for the BBIN Countries - 2019 - 2022

Description of Project:

Gravity models showed that total goods trade within South Asia could be worth US$67 billion rather than the actual trade of only US23 billion. The deepening relationship between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN countries), cemented by several sub-regional and bilateral agreements, suggests there was momentum to advance the regional connectivity and trade agenda between these countries.

The objectives of this assignment were to (i) prepare a detailed assessment of multi-modal transport infrastructure, trade-supporting infrastructure, and the policy, institutional, and regulatory environment in the BBIN countries, and (ii) identify and prioritize hard (physical) and soft (institutional) interventions to facilitate the implementation of an efficient and effective multi-modal transport system along priority regional transport corridors.

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

Mekong Economics is responsible for the following tasks and outputs:  

• Conducted a detailed review and comparison of the current level of transport costs for all relevant transport modes in the BBIN countries.

• For key commodity groups relevant to BBIN trade, collected information on volume of movement, by mode, by time, through the logistics chain (including origin, points of transshipment, delivery to warehouses and the final consumption destination).

• Examined and specified constraints in the movement of goods, including documentation, formalities, transit efficiency, port facilities and storage facilities along key corridors of movement.

• Conducted primary data collection in BBIN countries through KIIs and surveys (online and face to face) to estimate transport costs and barriers to trade. 

• Provided technical expertise and inputs into the research plan, providing feedback on the research methodology, technical inputs, data collection tools, and overall objectives of the research.

• Provided technical expertise into the final report.

• Reviewed the final report before submission to the client, providing technical feedback and expert review.

Client: ECORYS India Private Limited

Funding Source: World Bank Group

Location: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal

Study on Climate and Natural Hazard Induced Migration in Vietnam - World Bank - 2022

Description of Project:

Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. The impacts of climate change have manifested in the increased length and frequency of drought, floods, and cold spells, which in turn exacerbates local communities’ vulnerabilities. The current state of climate change impacts can be assessed by looking at the effects of climate-related disasters. 2. Given Vietnam’s concentration of both population and industry in low-lying coastal areas and river deltas, sea level rise poses a particular risk to continued development in the country. The objective of this assignment is to undertake primary and secondary research to better understand how vulnerable population groups in Vietnam are projected to experience climate induced in- and out-migration, what adaptation measures are currently being employed, and what policy makers and governments can do to facilitate an effective and inclusive approach to climate change. 

The purpose of this research comprises three (3) components. The first component is to review literature on climate induced migration in Vietnam, policy responses, and develop an analytical framework. The second component explores differentiated impacts of climate induced migrations and existing communities’ strategies to cope with climate change impacts. The third component explores entry points for citizen engagement and community-led climate change adaptation.

Description of Actual Services Provided:

Main outputs of the consultancy included:

1. Prepare an inception report that contains a detailed research plan including an annotated bibliography to be included in the desk/literature review, a list of relevant policies and regulations to be reviewed, site selections (including the rationale of selection) and research methods.

2. Carry out literature review, identify gaps, identify differentiated impacts of climate change on different social groups and migration patterns, policy responses, and propose an analytical framework for the study

3. Conduct 300 survey interviews, 20 FGDs, 20 KIIs in the selected sites in urban and rural setting to understand communities’ lived experiences, perceptions and responses to climate change and climate change induced migrations and examine communities’ responses to climate and hazard-induced migration and identify barriers and opportunities for effective and inclusive climate adaptation.

4. Draft the background paper summarizing the findings 

5. Finalize the deliverables by incorporating the feedback from WB team.

6. Present the research findings to the WB team and other stakeholders

Funding source: World Bank Group (Washington D.C)

Location: Vietnam - An Giang, Soc Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong

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)

Assessment on the Status-quo of Household Businesses and Recommendations of Policy Interventions for Better Support and Governance of the Sector - 2023

Description of Project:

The study assessed the status-quo of the household business sector, identified shortcomings and challenges both in terms of business practices and legislation, and assessed the needs to improve the legal status of household business operators. Based on the findings and international best practices, the study recommended policy interventions to mainstream and better support household businesses. 

The study aimed to: 1/ Support household businesses to overcome disadvantages and enhance competitiveness by improving the sector’s legal status; and 2/ Streamline the legislative framework applicable to household businesses for better governance of the sector.

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

MKE undertook the below tasks:

• Conducted desk review

• Conceptualised and developed outlines for (i) survey report, (ii) international best practice study and (iii) final assessment report

• Conducted surveys, discussions, key informant interviews and other primary data collection

• Prepared survey report based on an online survey and in-depth interviews

• Studied and reported on international practices

• Drafted assessment report

• Presented key findings

Client: Deloitte Services LP

Location: Vietnam - Hanoi, Thua Thien Hue, Lao Cai, HCMC, Thanh Hoa

Vietnam Scoping study to inform Phase II of Foundation Botnar’s Healthy Cities for Adolescents Programme (HCA-II) - 2023

Client: Ecorys UK Limited

Description of Project:

The assignment undertook a scoping study to determine needs and opportunities for the Healthy Cities for Adolescents programme in Vietnam. This study supported strategic decision-making in terms of: selection/ prioritisation of intermediary cities; health and wellbeing priorities of/for adolescents in those cities; potential projects and/or implementing partners (either already operating in the cities or able to work there); and wider opportunities for policy advocacy at city and national levels.

The study was composed of three core parts:

1. Identifying potential intermediary cities and assessing the viability and likely entry points for HCA-II

2. Identifying potential organisations / initiatives that could be considered for funding under HCA-II

3. Assessing the potential for engagement with other stakeholders (local government institutions, private sector organisations, start-ups, etc.) working in the healthy cities landscape at both city and national levels with whom the HCA II programme and its beneficiaries may interact, and assessing opportunities and avenues for policy advocacy on key priorities identified by adolescents

Description of actual services provided by staff within the assignment:

MKE undertook the below tasks:

• Conducted a desk review to identify the most relevant, intermediary cities

• Identified through stakeholder mapping, the institutions and actors (public/private) or pre-existing initiatives that were considered as potential grantees or projects to support under HCA-II, and relevant to the implementation of the HCA-II programme

• Conducted Key Informant Interviews and other primary data collection

• Identified barriers and challenges that could determine or undermine the sustainability of the project

• Prepared report

• Presented key findings

Investing in Women to Strengthen Supply Chains: A Global Development Alliance (GDA) - 2021

Description of Project: The purpose of project is to design country specific interventions, the project conducted supply chain and gender assessments in target countries to understand farmer and supplier dynamics in PepsiCo supply chains, with an emphasis on current roles men and women have on-farm and in the home; perceptions of women in the supply chain; and, heard directly from women on the barriers and opportunities in achieving economic empowerment. 

The Vietnam Gender and Supply Chain Assessment is the first step to identify constraints and opportunities in current supplier networks and growth geographies that could benefit from improved engagement and support. The assessment will report on opportunities, constraints, and preferences of farming communities (and women in particular) and provide recommendations for culturally appropriate improvements suitable for Vietnam’s specific context. The analyses were practical, and field focused to highlight the realities and nuances of farmers and their relationship with PepsiCo.

Description of actual services provided by your staff within the assignment

The assessment covered two different regions in Vietnam: the Central Highlands and the Red River Delta. Given these considerations, the participants for interviews and group consultations are PepsiCo lead farmer, PepsiCo aggregator, PepsiCo Household, Governments, Private sector, Financial institution and Gender expert.

• Adapted existing interview and group consultation guides to the local country context considering country-specific gender and agricultural concerns. 

• Translated the guides into the local language appropriate for the assessment.

• Conducted key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, group consultations, and observations with stakeholder groups outlined in the target participants above. 

• Conducted debrief session with local PepsiCo team following completion of all data collection. 

• Prepared detailed notes from all interviews, consultations, and observations in the provided template.

• Provided summary of key findings and activity recommendations.

• Gendered supply chain map.

• Reviewed and commented on preliminary slide deck to PepsiCo.

• Reviewed and commented on final report

  Client: USAID and PepsiCo

Investing in Women to Strengthen Supply Chains: A Global Development Alliance (GDA) - 2021

Description of Project: The purpose of project is to design country specific interventions, the project conducted supply chain and gender assessments in target countries to understand farmer and supplier dynamics in PepsiCo supply chains, with an emphasis on current roles men and women have on-farm and in the home; perceptions of women in the supply chain; and, heard directly from women on the barriers and opportunities in achieving economic empowerment. 

The Vietnam Gender and Supply Chain Assessment is the first step to identify constraints and opportunities in current supplier networks and growth geographies that could benefit from improved engagement and support. The assessment will report on opportunities, constraints, and preferences of farming communities (and women in particular) and provide recommendations for culturally appropriate improvements suitable for Vietnam’s specific context. The analyses were practical, and field focused to highlight the realities and nuances of farmers and their relationship with PepsiCo.

Description of actual services provided by your staff within the assignment

The assessment covered two different regions in Vietnam: the Central Highlands and the Red River Delta. Given these considerations, the participants for interviews and group consultations are PepsiCo lead farmer, PepsiCo aggregator, PepsiCo Household, Governments, Private sector, Financial institution and Gender expert.

• Adapted existing interview and group consultation guides to the local country context considering country-specific gender and agricultural concerns. 

• Translated the guides into the local language appropriate for the assessment.

• Conducted key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, group consultations, and observations with stakeholder groups outlined in the target participants above. 

• Conducted debrief session with local PepsiCo team following completion of all data collection. 

• Prepared detailed notes from all interviews, consultations, and observations in the provided template.

• Provided summary of key findings and activity recommendations.

• Gendered supply chain map.

• Reviewed and commented on preliminary slide deck to PepsiCo.

• Reviewed and commented on final report.

Client: USAID and PepsiCo