Research Consultant for a Review of Financial Health of Private Sector WASH Businesses in Rural Vietnam

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Research consultant for a review of financial health of private sector WASH businesses in rural Vietnam

Background

Since 1988, East Meets West, a program of Thrive Networks, has been working in partnership with governments, communities, and the private sector in Southeast Asia to improve quality of life through evidence-based interventions. Our expertise lies in pro-poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, primarily through an output-based approach (OBA). Our core belief in the power of partnerships and collaboration has been key to success. EMW leverages substantial public resources for sustainability and scales results by developing, implementing, and managing innovative business models and public-private partnerships.

WOBA

Women-Led Output-Based Aid (WOBA) Vietnam is a project funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Water for Women Fund over 4.5 years (June 2018 to December 2022). The project is delivered by Thrive Networks/East Meets West Foundation Vietnam (EMW). WOBA Vietnam has two objectives:

• Objective 1: To increase access to WASH services, especially for poor and vulnerable households in rural Vietnam. EMW partners with the government at all levels, private sector sanitation suppliers and water scheme operators, to deliver water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services to five provinces through an output-based subsidy scheme.
• Objective 2: To improve gender empowerment and inclusion of women through program implementation and decision making.

We are seeking a qualified consultant to conduct a research study on the financial health of private sector WASH suppliers generally in Vietnam and specifically in WOBA. The consultant should be available to start by mid April. It is preferable that the consultant is based in Vietnam and is fluent in Vietnamese. The consultant can be home-based when not conducting fieldwork.

Deliverables:

1. 1 report of the desktop review in English containing 1) documentation of the supply chains in WASH markets; 2) financial viability risk register
2. 1 translated survey instrument in Khmer
3. 1 cleaned set of survey data
4. 1 summary report of the survey results
5. 1 translated interview schedule in Khmer
6. Transcripts of the interviews in English
7. 2-4 case studies in English
8. 1 final report in English
9. 1 slides deck

Selection criteria:

• Advanced degree in business, economics or related studies in the social sciences and development studies
• Experience and substantial knowledge on entrepreneurship, business management, markets analysis in developing economies particularly in Southeast Asia
• Demonstrable proficiencies in conducting research using survey, interviews, and case study research methodologies
• Strong report writing and communication skills to present research results to diverse audience
• Commitment to upholding research ethics with the outstanding personal qualities of openness, respectfulness and integrity
• Minimum five years’ experience in conducting research, preferably in developing countries or equivalent or demonstrated research productivity and a research portfolio consistent with this experience
• Knowledge of the WASH sector in Vietnam is desirable

How to apply:

Please refer to the attached ToR [1] for more information. Interested candidates can apply as a team or individual consultant. Please send the following documents with subject Research Consultant Vietnam – Financial health study to Dr Lien Pham ([email protected] [2]) COB 4 April 2022:

1. CV of consultant
2. List of relevant past research and details of two referees. The referees must be for at least one of these works.
3. Written example/s of similar research publication
4. Consultant’s daily fee rate and availability