International STTA Sustainable Agribusiness Expert (focused on international experiences)

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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 (“VDT”) supports the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s (MOIT) 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:

• 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 international best practices on the use of digital technology and its application in the rice industry to ensure the requirements for quality, food safety, environment and origin of rice production.
• Analyze the surveys and interviews results shared by two local STTA experts, to identify gaps in the current situation of digital technology application in the rice industry in Vietnam, drawing from international experiences and benchmarks.
• Draft the part of the assessment report on international best practices on digital technology application in the rice industry and recommendations to ensure requirements for quality, food safety, environment and origin of rice production.
• Provide comments on the final assessment report, with a focus on international experiences on digital technology application in the rice industry.
• (Online) Participate in and present key findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders in workshops and trainings in Vietnam.

Activity Background

Under the approved work plan between the USAID and MOIT, the USAID Vietnam Digital Trade Activity will support the MOIT Agency of Foreign Trade of MOIT (the “AFT”), to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the state of digital technology application in the rice industry in Vietnam, to ensure the requirements for quality, food safety, environment, and origin of rice production.

Vietnam, one of the world's top three rice exporters, is under increasing pressure from global markets to meet stringent standards for the origin, quality, and environmental impact of its rice industry. To develop the industry in a sustainable manner, it is necessary to apply digital technology to help the production process of exported to ensure requirements for quality, food safety, environment, and origin which well and compressively responds to the requirements of export markets. This process needs to be implemented quickly by stakeholders in the rice industry value chain (producers, exporters, and state management agencies), and at the same time, increase efficiency.

In response, this proposed activity will primarily focus on conducting a comprehensive assessment of the current state of applying digital technology to support sustainable agribusiness, i.e. rice production. The activity is aims to:

• Evaluate the status of digital technology application to ensure requirements for quality, food safety, environment, and origin of rice production.
• Study appropriate digital technology application methods/processes for the rice industry based on Vietnamese regulations and requirements from other countries.

The assessment will encompass the mitigation of the environmental impact of rice production, especially concerning water usage and methane emissions. It will address food safety standards, focusing on pesticide use and potential contamination with mycotoxins such as  aflatoxin. Ultimately, the activity seeks to improve the transparency of the rice supply chain, allowing for better origin tracing and promoting sustainable production practices without directly implementing these changes.

The activity will include the following tasks:

• Conducting a survey of production facilities, exporters and state management agencies on the current situation and interviewing a number of large enterprises in Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
• Providing a report on results, guidance on the application of digital technology, and the method/process of applying digital technology in the rice industry. The report will also include the best international practices and recommendations.
• Workshop and trainings to relevant stakeholders.

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

• Local STTA Sustainable Agribusiness Expert (lead/focused on quality and food safety) (Local Expert 1): In charge of designing and leading the activity in cooperation with VDT Technical team, MOIT Legal Department and other local and international STTA experts. The Local Expert 1 will have the main responsibility of assessing the situation of digital technology application in the rice industry in Vietnam, to ensure requirements for quality and food safety. The Local Expert 1 will participate in the survey, workshop, and trainings and be the main responsible expert for delivering the final report, in cooperation with Local Expert 2 and the International STTA Expert.
• Local STTA Sustainable Agribusiness Expert (focused on environment and origin of rice production) (Local Expert 2): The Local Expert 2 will be in charge of assessing the situation regarding the application of digital technology  in the rice industry in Vietnam, to ensure the requirements for environment and origin of rice production. The Local Expert 2 will also participate to the survey, workshop and trainings and be the main expert responsible of delivering part to the final report, focused on environment and origin of rice production.
• International STTA Sustainable Agribusiness Expert (focused on international experiences) (this SOW): The International Expert will provide international best practice in digital technology application in the rice industry in other countries to ensure the requirements for quality, food safety, environment, and origin of rice production. The International Expert will participate in the workshop and trainings (online) and deliver part of the final report, focused on international experiences and recommendations for Vietnam.

In consultation with the VDT Technical team, the International STTA Expert will work primarily closely with the MOIT Agency for Foreign Trade and the other STTA local and international experts. The International STTA Expert may also be required to work in collaboration with other members of the VDT team in order to undertake this activity.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Masters) in Economics, Business Administration or related field.
• Have substantial experience of at least 10 years in the field of food safety standards and supply chain management, with a focus on the agricultural sector.
• In-depth knowledge of international food safety standards and best practices in supply chain management, specifically within the context of the rice industry.
• A global perspective on food safety and supply chain management, with the ability to bring in international best practices and standards to the assessment.
• Understanding of information technology (IT) applications in agriculture, particularly as they relate to food safety and supply chain efficiency.
• Proven skills in conducting market analysis within the agricultural sector, including the ability to assess market dynamics, trends, and economic implications of changes.
• Excellent written communication skills to produce clear, concise, and impactful reports, proposals, and presentations, focusing on food safety and supply chain management aspects.

 Level of Effort and Period of Performance

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

Deliverables

• Comments on the activity plan and the timeline.
• Written part incorporated in the assessment report on international best practices on digital technology application in the rice industry identifying any gaps in Vietnam, drawing from international experiences and benchmarks; and recommendations to ensure requirements for quality, food safety, environment and origin of rice production.
• Comments on the final assessment report on the situation of digital technology application in the rice industry in Vietnam focused on international experiences.
• Active (online) participation and a presentation at the workshops and training for relevant stakeholders in Vietnam, focused on requirements for environment and origin of rice production.

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.