International STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert

DevTech Systems, Inc. (DevTech) is an international consulting firm dedicated to development, with 39 years of experience providing advisory services and technical assistance to government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders in more than 100 countries. DevTech core practice areas include: Monitoring Evaluation, Research and Learning; Data Solutions; Public Financial Management and Fiscal Sustainability; and Education, Gender, and Youth.

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Background

The Indo-Pacific Opportunity Program (IPOP) is a 4-year, regional activity in the Indo-Pacific Region designed to address the Public Financial Management (PFM) objectives under the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS). It aims to create inclusive and sustainable economic growth, encourage regional cooperation, promote good governance, and improve the management of institutions. IPOP will focus on improving the macroeconomic policy and trade environment in the target countries. It also aims to strengthen democratic institutions to oversee PFM and implement sustainable infrastructure projects. IPOP is designed to contribute to four intermediate results:

• Improve trade and investment policy and capacity
• Strengthen ability to implement sustainable and high-quality infrastructure projects
• Improve macroeconomic and fiscal policy; and
• Strengthen democratic systems to oversee PFM.

Project Background

The VDT is a two-year activity (2023-2025) addressing regulatory gaps and promoting private sector engagement in the rapidly growing digital economy. USAID VDT Activity supports the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)’s implementation of frameworks that facilitate digital trade, with an emphasis on supporting MOIT in holding public-private dialogues to ensure implementation is done in consultation with the private sector. Regulations that are responsive to private sector needs remove bottlenecks in trade faced by enterprises and increase regulatory transparency, helping to shape an e-commerce sector where enterprises of all sizes can benefit. The Activity encourages the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in digital trade by introducing new business models and other best practices, such as traceability of goods, as well as facilitating cross-border connections between enterprises via MOIT’s digital trade promotion platform.

Key Tasks/Responsibilities:

The International STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert will be responsible for:

• Provide comments on the activity plan and the timeline, in collaboration with the VDT team, MOIT Foreign Trade Agency, and other local STTA experts.
• Desk study on best practices on digital transformation in logistics services (Seaports, Road Transport, and Warehouses)
• Analyze surveys and interview results shared by local STTA experts, to identify gaps in the current situation of IT applications in logistics services in Vietnam, drawing from international experiences and benchmarks.
• Draft the part of the assessment report on international best practices on digital transformation in logistics services (Seaports, Road Transport, and Warehouses) and recommendations to promote digital transformation in logistics for Vietnam.
• Provide comments on the final assessment report, with a focus on international experiences on digital transformation in logistics services.
• Participate in and present key findings and recommendations to MOIT Foreign Trade Agency, VDT, and other relevant stakeholders in a workshop in Hanoi, focused on international experiences on digital transformation in logistics services.

Activity Background

Under the work plan approved by the MOIT and USAID, the VDT will support the MOIT Agency for Foreign Trade to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the status of IT application in logistics service enterprises in Vietnam, and to make policy recommendations to promote digital transformation in the industry.

The assessment is expected to target three different sectors:

• Seaports: the survey will select key seaports in Vietnam in cooperation with the Foreign Trade Agency of MOIT and will collect information about the applications in use to manage the relevant operations (for example, the presence of Port Community System, Cargo Tracking and Tracing Systems, Terminal Operating Systems, Electronic Data Interchange, etc.)
• Road Transport: the survey will select key logistic and transport companies in Vietnam and collect information about the different IT applications adopted (for example, Transport Management Systems, Tracking and Tracing applications, Mobile applications for drivers, etc.)
• Warehouses: the analysis will focus on the IT applications adopted in selected warehouses (for example: warehouse management systems, execution systems, yard management systems, mobile apps for warehouses workers).

To conduct this activity, the VDT will mobilize three local experts and one international expert to implement the following tasks:

• Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (Lead) (Local Expert 1). In charge of designing and leading the activity in cooperation with the VDT team, MOIT Agency for Foreign Trade and other local and international experts. Expert 1 will take the lead in conducting the survey (including the interviews) and be the main expert responsible of delivering the final report on the assessment of IT applications in the logistics service enterprises in Vietnam and recommendations to promote digital transformation in Vietnam, in cooperation with the local and international STTA experts. Besides the general responsibility of leading the activity, the expert will be in charge of the analysis of the logistics in seaports.
• Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (focused on road transport) (Local Expert 2). The Local Expert 2 will participate in the survey (including the interviews) and contribute to final report (focused on road transport).
• Local STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (focused on warehouses) (Local Expert 3). The Local Expert 3 will participate in the survey (including the interviews) and contribute to final report (focused on warehouses).
• International STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert (this SOW). The International Expert will support the design of the activity, to provide the international best solutions in the  three named areas and will  work in cooperation with the other local STTA experts and the VDT team providing recommendations to  relevant stakeholders.

In consultation with the VDT Technical Team, the International STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert will work closely with the MOIT Legal Department and the local and other international STTA experts. The International STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert may also be required to work in collaboration with other members of the VDT team in order to undertake this activity.

Qualifications

The International STTA Logistics Digital Transformation Expert should have the following qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field such as Business, Economics, Law, Engineering, Logistics, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• Proven track record with at least 10 years of experience in international logistics, digital transformation (3 years in this specific area are considered sufficient), and related industries.
• In-depth knowledge and expertise in global logistics practices, digital transformation trends, and international best solutions within the logistics industry.
• Strong collaborative skills with a demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including local STTA experts and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Proficiency in delivering clear and impactful presentations, essential for contributing to the development of PowerPoint presentations for workshops and reports.

Level of Effort and Period of Performance

The period of performance will be February – August 2024. The total level of effort will be up to 20 days.

Deliverables

• Comments on the activity plan and the timeline.
• Written section integrated into the assessment report on international best practices on digital transformation in logistics services (Seaports, Road Transport, and Warehouses) with identifying gaps in the current situation of IT applications in logistics services in Vietnam, drawing from international experiences and benchmarks; and recommendations to promote digital transformation in logistics for Vietnam.
• Comments on the final assessment report on the status of IT application in logistics service in Vietnam, focused on international experiences.
• Online presentation at a workshop in Hanoi focused on key findings of the assessment report, focused on international experiences.

NOTE: This job posting should not be construed to imply that the requirements are the exclusive standards of the position nor will it be the sole basis for any subsequent employee evaluations. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor. 
 
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age (40 and older), physical and mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history) or characteristics, military status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship or alienage, or any other protected status as established by applicable federal, state, or local law.