USAID/Vietnam is commencing the process of developing a new Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for 2025 to 2030, which the Mission will use to direct and monitor its portfolio throughout this period. The Mission is currently at the outset of the development process and intends to complete mandatory analyses to ensure they are well integrated into the new CDCS. As part of the documentation for the new CDCS, USAID/Vietnam is required by Sections 118 and 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA), as amended, to prepare an analysis of tropical forests and biodiversity in Vietnam. By mandating an FAA 118/119 analysis (referred to as “the analysis” below), the U.S. Congress is recognizing the fundamental role that tropical forests and biodiversity play in sustainable development. Based on this analysis, USAID/Vietnam will define to what extent the CDCS will contribute to biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests needs in Vietnam.

Purpose and Use of the Analysis

The purpose of this task is to conduct an analysis of Vietnam’s tropical forests and biodiversity in compliance with Sections 118 and 119 of the FAA of 1961, as amended, and ADS guidelines. The “actions necessary” and “extent to which” as identified through this analysis will inform USAID/Vietnam in the development of its CDCS. The analysis should be delivered with close reference to the 2019 analysis, aiming to validate and update its findings where necessary.

The analysis should:

• Support the Vietnam Mission to better understand the strategic linkages between the conservation of a country’s tropical forests and biodiversity and development, so that it can structure a sound results framework to support future programming.
• Provide concrete examples of how biodiversity and conservation link to the current and proposed development objectives such as economic growth, health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and overcoming war legacies.
• Help ensure that USAID/Vietnam investments in the next five years should at least not harm forests and biodiversity and will, ideally, contribute to improving the country’s conservation of biodiversity.
• Carefully evaluate the threat climate change presents to the country’s tropical forest and biodiversity and identify strategic opportunities for the Mission.
• Support the implementation of USAID’s Biodiversity Policy goals to 1) conserve biodiversity in Vietnam’s high-priority habitats and 2) integrate biodiversity as an essential component of human development.

Position Description

USAID Learns seeks a local expert on tropical forests and biodiversity for this assignment. The expert will work closely with an international team lead and a local advisor to conduct the analysis.

Analysis Focus and Methodology

FAA Sections 118 and 119, as amended, require that USAID missions address the following:

1. FAA Sec. 118 Tropical Forests (e) COUNTRY ANALYSIS REQUIREMENTS. Each country development strategy, statement, or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development shall include an analysis of:
   • The actions necessary in that country to achieve conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests, and
   • The extent to which the actions proposed for support by the Agency meet the needs thus identified.
2. FAA Sec. 119 Endangered Species (d) COUNTRY ANALYSIS REQUIREMENTS. Each country development strategy, statement, or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development shall include an analysis of:
   • The actions necessary in that country to conserve biological diversity, and
   • The extent to which the actions proposed for support by the Agency meet the needs thus identified.

The FAA 118/119 analysis for USAID/Vietnam must adequately respond to the two questions for country strategies, also known as “actions necessary” and “extent to which.”

The focus of all activities undertaken will be threefold:

• Describe the current status of Vietnam’s tropical forests and biodiversity to include emerging issues, threats, and trends.
• Identify actions necessary (from all stakeholders) to conserve tropical forests and biodiversity and the extent to which the Mission is supporting such actions necessary.
• Develop recommendations that will guide the Mission in developing the new CDCS. This should reference the current Development Objectives of the 2020-2025 CDCS, as these are not expected to evolve significantly in the next strategy for 2025-2030.

This analysis will mainly involve synthesis and analysis of existing information, particularly the 2019 118/119 analysis completed in support of the previous CDCS, coupled with key stakeholder consultations and site visits to ground-truth information where necessary. The analysis will aim to validate and update the 2019 analysis as necessary to inform new CDCS development.

Deliverables

The following are the deliverables for this task:

• Deliverable 1: Inception report that includes a general work plan and materials to support data collection.
• Deliverable 2: Validation workshop with Mission colleagues discussing high-level findings.
• Deliverable 3: Utilization workshop with Mission colleagues to refine recommendations and identify how they can be best applied in the CDCS for 2025-2030.
• Deliverable 4: Draft FAA 118/119 report, approximately 20-35 pages, validating and updating the 2019 analysis report for USAID review and comment.
• Deliverable 5: Following USAID review and comment, a revised final 118/119 report, incorporating all comments, formatted and branded in accordance with USAID requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform desk review and identify additional information required for analysis.
• Provide technical expertise and support the Team Lead’s efforts in synthesizing and analyzing.
• Provide ongoing analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.
• Support the Team Lead on key stakeholder consultations and site visits to ground-truth information where necessary.
• Support the preparation and presentation of the key findings and recommendations to USAID.
• Write the assigned section of the draft FAA 118/119 report in coordination with the team lead, taking into consideration feedback from USAID, USAID Learns, and other stakeholders in validation and utilization workshops.
• Work collaboratively with team members throughout the analysis and report writing to complement each other’s areas of expertise.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in environmental studies, natural resources management, wildlife conservation, or relevant fields.
• At least 10 years of experience in tropical forests and biodiversity issues in Vietnam.
• Solid experience in delivering useful insights into biodiversity to inform donor programming.
• Significant experience in conducting interviews, facilitating workshops, and performing desk reviews.
• Strong analysis skills.
• Experience working with USAID is strongly preferred.
• Professional proficiency in writing, reading, and speaking both English and Vietnamese, with extensive report writing experience.
• Understanding of USAID programming is preferable.

Note: This post is open to local candidates only.