RFI Innovative Workforce FINAL.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

RFI number: 72044023RFI00002 Posting Date: June 9, 2023 Response Due Date: June 26, 2023 at 9:00 Hanoi time

Dear Interested Parties:

The United States Agency for International Development’s Mission to Vietnam (USAID/Vietnam) is in the process of gathering information to support the anticipated Innovative Workforce Activity. This potential five-year award will aim to enhance the capacity of Vietnam’s digital workforce and local innovation to meet the demands of a growing digital economy and support the realization of Vietnam’s National Strategy on the Industrial Revolution - 4.0.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to conduct market research and to obtain input from interested parties. USAID welcomes any information and any relevant general feedback and comments that partners may wish to share. Attachment 1 below includes a draft activity description. Attachment 2 contains specific questions and response submission guidelines.

This is a Request for Information Only

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or Request for Task Order Proposal (RFTOP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government to issue any solicitation or notice of funding opportunity, or, ultimately, award a contract or assistance agreement on the basis of this RFI, or to pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of this request.

Furthermore, USAID is not at this time seeking proposals/applications and will not accept unsolicited proposals/applications. Responses to this RFI are voluntary. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFTOP, if any is issued.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs. We look forward to receiving your feedback.

Best regards, /s/

Tatiana Ronning Contracting Officer

Attachment 1. Draft Activity Description

I. BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES

The term “Industrial Revolution 4.0” or IR 4.0 was popularized by Prof. Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum, who made the case that new technologies, with the core digital elements being Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data, are blurring the lines between digital, physical, and biological spheres, and requiring workers of all sectors in the future to have a technical skill set encompassing some portion of the IR 4.0 technical skills, necessitating broad-based investment in the workforce across many sectors.

The Government of Vietnam (GVN) has made strong policy commitments to embrace the IR 4.0 in which innovation and digital economy are key to unlocking future economic growth and positioning Vietnam competitively in the region. The Politburo issued Resolution 52 in September 2019 to provide policy guidance for the country to proactively participate in IR 4.0. The Resolution emphasizes the need to restructure the development model to focus on becoming a knowledge-based economy, with emphasis on innovation, science, and technology as the backbone of a digital economy that positions Vietnam as an Asian hub for high-tech innovation and startups by 2045.

To achieve that ambitious goal, Vietnam needs to build a skilled digital workforce to sustain the accelerated growth of its digital economy and strengthen the open, interoperable, reliable, and secure digital infrastructure aligning with international best practice, especially in promoting core technologies and standards for the digital economy such as 5G and Open and Intelligent Radio Access Networks (O-RAN) standards.

The figure below illustrates the range of IR 4.0 skills required in the Vietnam’s labor market of today and the future:

Besides the necessity for digital skills development, Vietnam’s ability to nurture and sustain innovation also needs to be strengthened to meet the demands of the knowledge economy.

Despite the impressive growth of its internet economy in recent years1, Vietnam lacks a strong

1 e-Conomy SEA 2022 report - Google: The Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of Vietnam’s internet economy reached $23 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $50 billion by 2025 and $200 billion in 2030, ranking second after Indonesia in 2030.

https://economysea.withgoogle.com/report/ domestic high-tech industry, relying mostly on imported technologies for its core IR 4.0 technologies and digital infrastructure, many of which do not follow international standards, hampering network interoperability, security and sustainability. Therefore nurturing a local innovation ecosystem that can help realize Vietnam’s aspiration to develop “homegrown technologies” that comply with international standards and best practices is crucial to accelerate the country’s path to become the regional technology hub by 2045.

However, Vietnam is facing numerous challenges in meeting the skill and innovation demands of the digital economy and the IR 4.0. The most prominent are as follows:

Innovation and creativity: While innovation happens in all segments of the economy from private to public sectors, in recent years, startups are often seen as primary drivers of technological innovation and creative progress in a knowledge economy. The spectacular successes of once-scrappy upstart technology companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Uber, and Airbnb serve as templates worldwide for the staggering growth potential for the right idea well implemented in a conducive environment, leading to intense interest in the potential for startups to likewise drive explosive growth in Vietnam2. Besides startup-led innovations, commercialization of intellectual property, especially from universities, has also been considered key to the country’s economic growth. Unfortunately, with some exceptions, Vietnamese startups and innovators are frequently imitating successful digital business models elsewhere in the world, especially from China, including fintech models (like peer to peer lending, QR Code payments, e-wallets, etc.), online games, Alibaba cloned - ecommerce platforms, dining app platforms, etc. Furthermore, research organizations often do not have the knowledge on how to protect or commercialize the new technology created3. There are many views on why homegrown business models, technologies and innovation do not take off, and why Vietnamese startups turn to successful foreign business models versus designing and launching uniquely Vietnamese digital concepts and platforms.

While the weak education system feeding high growth sectors is an easy target for blame, there are likely other factors at play, such as weak intellectual property enforcement, limited market-driven exit opportunities for investors, weak institutional capacity to support the startup ecosystem and the innovation commercialization process, weak legal and regulatory environment and others.

Digital skills supply and demand: Vietnam’s workforce lacks the necessary skills to fully harness the digital economy. According to a World Bank report (2021), only 40 percent of businesses in Vietnam reported adequate Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills to maintain and fully use their digital systems. This skill and talent shortage has been exacerbated by the brain drain of many local skilled workers to overseas markets. Besides the quantitative gaps, ICT graduates do not possess the sufficient skill-sets required by the market. Despite the reported

2 USAID Assessment on Vietnam's Innovation Ecosystem 3 Vietnam : Science, Technology, and Innovation Report 2020 https://files.digitalfrontiersdai.com/media/documents/VIETNAM_DIGITAL_INNOVATION.pdf https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36207 close engagement with industry, studies find a significant mismatch in the perceptions on digital skill preparation between employers and training institutions. In the IR 4.0 context, the gap between the employees of the present and the workforce of the future is obvious and widening given the dynamism in today’s technologies, applications, and natures of work. The traditional model of learning - i.e. kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) plus four years of post-secondary training - is no longer the ticket to economic success. Instead, job seekers of all ages may need to shift their mindset to embrace a new human capital development paradigm, learning new skills attested to by new certifications. As a result, upskilling and reskilling play a vital role in the fast changing digital economy to bridge the skill gaps and support the slow-reforming formal education system but such “lifelong learning” concept requires ongoing commitments of time and money and thus prohibits the effective participation of a large portion of the workforce, especially those in rural areas.

Digital divides: Technology advancement speeds up development but will most likely fuel greater digital divides (i.e. gender digital divide and geographical digital divide). Vietnam, like many of its neighbors, still lags behind when it comes to national policies that address female digital inclusion, female-focused digital skills training, and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.4 Vietnam’s culture has strong stereotypes around the sorts of professions that women can or cannot work in. Findings from recent research by UNESCO shows a significant bias against girls and women in STEM in Vietnam. Local perceptions regarding female participation in STEM include: (1) Boys study STEM better than girls because they have a better logical mind; (2) Girls should not study engineering because of their health requirements; (3) Girls’ ability to calculate and use computers is not as good as boys; and (4) Women are not good at technology and practical projects like repairing cars etc. This bias causes significant challenges for women to effectively participate in the digital economy. Besides the gender divide, the urban-rural gap in digital skill development is also significant mostly due to the poor access to financial resources and connectivity of the rural population. While affordability and financing are not significant barriers for urban learners, rural learners and immigrants to cities may not have the financial means to pursue training opportunities. Current financing products are typically not available to these learners or are too costly due to the lending risks involved with lack of collateral or income.

Over the last few years, the GVN, especially MPI, has been a trusted partner of USAID. The foundational USAID Workforce for an Innovation and Startup Ecosystem (WISE) Activity has been working with a number of private sector training institutions to scale their digital skills training programs to meet the increasing demand. Over the past 2 years, WISE has focused on: (1) improving basic digital literacy skills of workforce participants (upskilling) and the digitally aspiring (reskilling); (2) developing a diverse, demand driven, private sector-led market for upskilling and reskilling; and (3) stimulating viable financing solutions to promote lifelong training and skills development. Based on the success of WISE, USAID will develop the Innovative

4 Vietnam’s Twin Tech Challenge: Spearheading While Catching Up https://www.csis.org/analysis/vietnams-twin-tech-challenge-spearheading-while-catching

Workforce Activity to assist Vietnam’s efforts in (1) developing digital/ICT skills to meet the market demand in the IR 4.0 context; (2) creating an enabling environment for local innovation, creativity, and startups; and (3) addressing the urban-rural and gender digital gaps to support inclusive development in Vietnam.

II. STRATEGIC LINKAGES

This Activity directly supports the achievement of USAID/Vietnam’s 2020-2025 Country Development Cooperation Strategy’s Development Objective 1- Economic Competitiveness Increased. It will respond to two Intermediate Results (IR): IR1: Business enabling environment increased; and IR3: Innovation ecosystem enhanced.

In addition, this Activity will contribute to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)’s priority on engaging comprehensively with partners in the region to pursue high-standard rules of the road in the digital economy, and to harness rapid technological transformation, including in the digital economy. It also contributes to USAID’s overall Digital Strategy 2020 - 2024, promoting the country's resilience and bolstering the capacity of Vietnam, a critical partner in the Indo-Pacific Region.

The Innovative Workforce Activity will complement other existing activities supported by USAID/Vietnam to assist the GVN in enhancing the country’s digital transformation strategy, improving economic resilience, and bolstering independence from non-strategically aligned actors. Specifically, the Activity will expand models that were effectively introduced by WISE such as innovative financing solutions, public private sector linkages, incentives for female students as well as seek other creative solutions to promote a more facilitative environment for continuous learning in Vietnam. The Activity will also complement and leverage the expected outcomes of the Higher Education (HE) portfolio, especially the new Higher Education Policy Support (HEPS) Activity, by (i) seeking to strengthen the collaboration between MPI and Ministry of Education and Training (in particular between NIC and Department of HE as their focal points) in both their official mandates and coordinating roles with other GVN agencies; (ii) focusing on upskilling and reskilling via non-degree programs for those with limited access to the official HE systems; (iii) supporting or building on the foundation created by HEPS IR 2.1 (strategic plan and roadmap developed to accelerate digital transformation) in its engagement with training and private sector partners when applicable; and (iv) opening a pathway for results of HEPS IR 3.1 (research collaboration in key strategic areas increased) and HEPS IR 3.2 (targeted programs upgraded to meet international standards) by creating market-led opportunities for further innovation and commercialization.

III. THEORY OF CHANGE

Building on the above context, the Innovative Workforce Activity aims to help Vietnam meet its objective of fostering the innovative and creative capacity of its digital workforce to meet the demands of the digital economy, promote Vietnam’s ability to master critical digital technologies for the IR 4.0, and advance the country’s transition to a more knowledge-based economy by 2045. Therefore, the theory of change of this Activity is that:

IF the IR 4.0 digital skill supply and demand gaps in selected areas are narrowed, and IF the local innovation ecosystem is strengthened, THEN the capacity of Vietnam’s digital workforce and local innovation will be enhanced, directly supporting the realization of Vietnam’s strategic goals set out in the National Strategy on the IR 4.0.

Logical Framework

USAID assumes that a context-driven approach will be taken to achieve success under these Activity objectives given the various actors involved in digital skill development and innovation capacity promotion under the leadership of MPI - the prime counterpart for this Activity. In addition, sufficient political will needs to exist on the part of the GVN to implement legal and policy reforms required to improve Vietnam digital workforce and innovation capacity.

Under the scope of this Activity, the following terms/conditions are used:

● Digital skills development under this Activity will address both core technical skills, soft skills, and other required competences for Vietnam’s ICT workforce to be competitive in domestic and international labor markets in the context of the IR 4.0;

● Interventions in digital skill development under this Activity only focus on upskilling, reskilling and non-degree training programs for the ICT workforce. Traditional degree education programs DO NOT fall under the scope of this Activity; and

● The innovation ecosystem mentioned in this Activity follows the Massachusetts Institute of Technology D-LAB innovation ecosystem analysis framework mentioned in the USAID’s assessment of Vietnam Innovation Ecosystem.

● The Activity must also follow USAID Digital Principles

IV. ACTIVITY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

1. Activity Goal: The Innovative Workforce Activity aims to enhance the capacity of Vietnam’s digital workforce and local innovation to meet the demands of a growing digital economy and support the realization of Vietnam’s National Strategy on the IR 4.0.

2. Activity Objectives:

2.1. Cross-cutting objectives: The Innovative Workforce Activity aims to ensure the following crossed cutting objectives entire the project implementation:

● Vietnam’s digital divides (gender, urban-rural) narrowed

● Strategic partnership with US counterparts established for knowledge and experience sharing

2.2. Main Objectives:

A. Objective 1: Digital skill supply and demand gaps in selected areas narrowed

Under this objective, the Activity will aim to: (1) strengthen the regulatory framework for an inclusive digital skill development; (2) expand inclusive, private sector-led digital upskilling and https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TpKl08ix7f-E34YkYNLbjhmZwJFaKUwr/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TpKl08ix7f-E34YkYNLbjhmZwJFaKUwr/view https://www.usaid.gov/digital-development/principles-digital-development-factsheet reskilling opportunities; and (3) support the implementation of innovative solutions to strengthen the connection between digital workforce and market demand in the IR 4.0 context.

This objective will be achieved through three IRs:

IR 1.1: Legal and regulatory framework for an inclusive digital workforce improved

The Activity will work closely with MPI and other relevant GVN agencies and stakeholders to identify gaps in the current legal and policy framework and find innovative solutions for a responsible, inclusive, ethical and unbiased digital upskilling and re-skilling development legal framework that broadens opportunities for women and marginalized populations.

Specifically, the Activity will support MPI and relevant Ministries in reviewing and adopting the current regulations related to digital workforce development and digital employment (i.e.

training opportunities, access to finance, access to ICT infrastructure, etc.), and identifying barriers which prevent or limit the healthy development of an inclusive digital workforce. The legal and policy review process aims to narrow the legal gaps between Vietnam’s digital legal framework with international best practices and norms. Active participation of and partnership with the private sector, academia (especially partnerships between universities and research institutions), civil society, and citizens will be required in this legal review process to enhance Participation, Inclusion, Transparency and Accountability (PITA) principles.

Recommendations, and as-needed support for adoption/implementation for legal and policy reforms will help promote healthy competition to create a more enabling environment for private sector investment in digital upskilling and reskilling to meet the increasing market needs.

Illustrative Activities:

● Support MPI and relevant Ministries to organize consultation workshops, conduct research and surveys, and review the legal framework for an inclusive digital workforce focusing on removing obstacles and bias to broaden opportunities for women and marginalized populations.

● Introduce international best practices to help Vietnam’s digital workforce development (i.e. training opportunities, access to finance, access to ICT infrastructure, etc.) and identify barriers which prevent or limit the healthy development of an inclusive digital workforce.

● Promoting public-private dialogues to enable private sector participation in and contribution to the development of digital workforce development regulations.

Expected results:

● Comprehensive policy and regulatory analyses and recommendations to support GVN’s policy reform efforts to enhance Vietnam’s inclusive digital upskilling and reskilling opportunities, and

● Inclusive digital workforce development policy and regulatory guidance developed/improved and implemented.

IR 1.2: Sustainable private sector-led digital reskilling, upskilling, and lifelong learning models expanded

The Activity will expand the availability of quality and affordable digital upskilling and reskilling programs especially to underserved populations, vulnerable groups, and female students so that they can participate productively and effectively in the digital economy. The digital skills under this objective focus on core technical ICT skills and other required soft skills and competencies to meet the requirement of IR 4.0. Specifically, interventions under this component aim to:

1. Continue and expand successful upskilling and reskilling models tested by WISE as well as other successful efforts, such as training the trainers, private sector-led initiatives, public private co-investment, etc.

2. Implement effective solutions to further promote the partnerships between private sector training organizations/initiatives with the formal training systems such as technical vocational education and training (TVET) centers, professional associations, non profit organizations, and non-degree programs of universities to utilize the extensive training network of formal/conventional training systems nationwide.

3. Adopt international standards and best practices in digital upskilling and reskilling.

4. Raise awareness of and promote training on ethical digital technology to protect public interests, privacy, and other ethical values.

Illustrative interventions:

● Based on the WISE learning notes5 and further analysis, continue and expand successful upskilling and reskilling models tested by WISE such as training the trainers, private sector led initiatives, public private co-investment, etc.

● Design and implement creative financial support packages to female students, expand women focused training programs, and create favorable conditions for girls and women to access digital training opportunities.

● Introduce effective incentives and solutions to promote the partnerships between

5 WISE Learning Notes https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FpLQ66qeSjmV_NBnQFEdjnOSPWq7D5op private sector training organizations/initiatives with the formal training system such as TVET centers, non profit organizations, professional organizations and non-degree programs of universities etc. to utilize the extensive training network of formal/conventional training systems in provinces.

● Introduce, scale up or localize creative virtual and blended training programs/initiatives to increase coverage, maximize investment while maintaining high training quality and proactive student engagement.

● Conduct public awareness raising programs to break social and cultural barriers to engagement in digital reskilling and upskilling by underserved populations, vulnerable groups, and female students.

Expected Results:

● Digital upskilling and reskilling availability broadened, especially to underserved populations, vulnerable groups, and female students.

IR 1.3 Solutions to strengthen the connections between digital workforce supply and demand implemented:

The Activity will explore creative solutions to improve the linkages among key actors of the skill development and employment ecosystems especially employers, training providers, job seekers, financiers, etc. The Activity will expand the initial employment support partnerships established by WISE to ensure the effective market linkages between digital skill supply and demand.

Illustrative interventions:

● Implement mechanisms, dialogues, events, platforms etc. to improve and sustain the linkages among key actors of the skill development and employment ecosystem, especially employers, training providers, job seekers, and financiers.

Expected Results:

● Creative solutions to strengthen the connections between digital workforce supply and demand in selected areas implemented.

B. Objective 2: Local innovation ecosystem strengthened

Under this Objective, the Activity will focus on fostering local innovation and creativity for the deployment and commercialization of “Created in Vietnam” technologies, reducing reliance on imported technologies, and thus increasing the resilience of Vietnam’s digital economy. The interventions will target (1) improve the legal framework for innovation and creativity; (2) strengthen the institutional capacity of key actors in the innovation ecosystem; and (3) enhance the ecosystem linking corporations, startups, small and medium businesses, incubators/accelerators, financiers, and research centers.

In addition, the Activity will promote strategic partnerships between Vietnam and the U.S., with collaborations that might include but not limited to universities, research institutions, innovation hubs, and the private sector for know-how and knowledge transfer (experience and best practices). The partnership shall aim at helping build Vietnam’s resilience and economic growth and align with the U.S. Government (USG)’s objective of advocating for an inclusive and sustainable free, open, enterprise-driven development by building a resilient market economy in Vietnam.

This objective will be achieved through three IRs:

IR 2.1 Legal and regulatory framework for innovation and creativity improved

The Activity aims to strengthen the regulatory framework for the innovation ecosystem focusing on building a responsible digital transformation and broadening opportunities for the development and commercialization of new digital technology, especially those related to cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, 5G, OpenRAN and subsequent generations, while protecting the public and consumers’ interests.

Specifically, the Activity will assist MPI in its effort to design and implement regulatory sandboxes6 in selected areas aiming at nurturing local innovation and startups as well as creating a more favorable environment for the commercialization of local intellectual properties. In addition, the Innovative Workforce Activity will explore models for assistance to MPI’s National Innovation Center (NIC) to improve their institutional capacity that are linked to the Activity’s goal and objectives. MPI and NIC will be the Activity’s Managing Agency and Project Owner, respectively, and MPI will be responsible for providing top-down support and national engagement for all the Activity goals and objectives.

As the private sector, academia and general public play crucial roles in the innovation ecosystem, the Activity in consultation with MPI and relevant agencies will work closely with these key stakeholders during the regulatory reform process.

Illustrative Interventions:

● Support MPI and relevant Ministries to organize consultation workshops, conduct research and surveys, and review the regulatory framework related to innovation, creativity, and startups.

● Work with MPI and relevant stakeholders to design and implement regulatory

6 Reference: some information about regulatory sandbox from OECD’s perspective: The role of sandboxes in promoting flexibility and innovation in the digital age https://goingdigital.oecd.org/toolkitnotes/the-role-of-sandboxes-in-promoting-flexibility-and-innovation-in-the-digital-age.pdf https://goingdigital.oecd.org/toolkitnotes/the-role-of-sandboxes-in-promoting-flexibility-and-innovation-in-the-digital-age.pdf sandboxes to promote local innovation, creativity, and startups.

● Provide institutional capacity building to NIC to improve their institutional capacities that are linked to the Activity goal and objectives.

Expected results:

● Selected regulatory sandboxes to promote the environment of Vietnam’s innovation, creativity, and startups designed and implemented.

● Institutional capacity of NIC in local innovation nurturing improved.

IR 2.2 Linkages among key actors of the innovation ecosystem strengthened

The Innovative Workforce Activity will explore creative solutions to foster the deployment and commercialization of “Created in Vietnam” digital technology, especially women-led initiatives, via enhancing the ecosystem linking corporations, startups, small and medium businesses, incubators/accelerators, financiers, universities, and research centers to ensure the commercialization of locally created products. The Activity will work closely with MPI and relevant stakeholders to design and implement creative linkage mechanisms to promote the commercialization of innovations from universities and research institutions. Strategic partnership with US counterparts will be established for knowledge and know-how sharing.

Illustrative Interventions:

● Conduct assessment to get more data and information on the needs for network strengthening.

● Implement creative solutions to strengthen and sustain the linkage between corporations, startups, small and medium businesses, incubators/accelerators, financiers, universities, and research centers to support the commercialization of locally created products.

● Develop mechanisms for corporations to share data/information with startups, research institutions, etc. to solve private sector issues.

Expected Results:

● Strategic partnerships between private sector and universities/research centers established to promote commercialization of local innovation.

IR 2.3: Institutional capacity of selected actors in the innovation ecosystem improved

Under this IR, the Innovative Workforce Activity will provide institutional capacity strengthening packages to selected key actors of the local innovation ecosystem to promote “Created in Vietnam” digital technology and innovation commercialization, especially those in cyber security, AI, 5G, OpenRAN and subsequent generations.

Further, collaboration and partnership between relevant US - Vietnam counterparts which include but are not limited to universities, research institutions, innovation hubs, and the private sector must be utilized in providing the above-mentioned institutional capacity building packages.

Lastly, the Activity will work closely with MPI and relevant stakeholders to design and implement creative mechanisms to promote locally-led and woman-led initiatives and ideas.

Illustrative Interventions:

● Conduct needs assessments on capacity building in the innovation ecosystem and other related context assessments.

● Design and implement tailored capacity building packages to selected key actors of the innovation ecosystem.

Expected Results:

● Institutional capacity of selected actors in the innovation ecosystem related to promoting “Created in Vietnam” technology and commercialization of Vietnam’s innovation improved.

● Creative solutions to promote open standard, open source, open data, and open innovation implemented.

V. ILLUSTRATIVE MEASURE OF ACTIVITY SUCCESS:

The illustrative indicators may include but are not limited to the following:

● Number of laws, policies, regulations, or standards promoting digital skill development and an open, interoperable, reliable and secure digital innovation ecosystem formally proposed, adopted or implemented as supported by USG assistance (disaggregated by laws, decrees, circulars, other regulations and standards).

● Number of institutions with increased capacity to participate in an open, interoperable, reliable and secure digital economy as supported by the USG assistance.

● Number of established and functional partnerships/dialogues/platforms/ mechanisms between U.S. and Vietnam organizations to share experience and international best practices to enhance Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem.

● GNDR-8: Number of persons trained with USG assistance to advance outcomes consistent with gender equality or female empowerment through their roles in public or private sector institutions or organizations (disaggregated by sex: males vs females).

● EG.6-12: Percent of individuals with new employment following participation in USG-assisted workforce development programs (disaggregated by sex: males vs females).

● Value of private sector resources leveraged for the Activity.

VI. GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS:

The Activity will be implemented in major technical hubs such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, to lay the foundation for subsequent replications in more remote areas, especially the Mekong Delta.

VII. GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND CROSS CUTTING ISSUES

a. Collaborating, Learning & Adapting (CLA)

Given the complex economic political context, the Activity will need to adopt these CLA approaches in order to be successful:

● Strong political analysis, insight, and understanding;

● Appreciation for and responsiveness to local context; and

● Flexibility and adaptive management.

b. Coordination with existing programs

This Activity will be managed by the Office of Governance and Economic Growth at the USAID Mission in Hanoi. While the main local counterpart for this Activity is MPI, the Activity is expected to work with a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., national and local governments, private sector, associations, NGOs, academia, research institutions, and other actors of the innovation ecosystem) to implement interventions at the national and sub-national levels, to coordinate with USAID’s and other donors’ existing programs working on this issue, and to collaborate and share information, best practices, and lessons learned on a regular basis, which will lead to greater impact and more positive, sustainable changes.

c. Strengthened Partnerships between US - Vietnam Institutions

The Activity will utilize the significant experience and expertise of relevant U.S. institutions in all aspects of its work, and will establish equitable and sustainable partnerships between Vietnamese and American institutions in pursuit of mutual development goals.

d. Private Sector Engagement

The USAID Private Sector Engagement Policy outlines the value of aligning the interests of the private sector, the host government, and the donor community. USAID is committed to increasing the sustainable impact of our development assistance programs through strategic partnerships with the private sector. The Activity will work with the private sector and explore ways to promote private sector led initiatives, public private co-investment as well as other creative approaches to advance the respective interests, and achieve far greater development results and impacts. The Activity target to facilitate linkages between local government agencies, training and research institutions with industries in areas relevant to achieve the Activity objectives.

e. Sustainability

Strengthening the sustainability of locally defined and implemented development results is at the heart of the USAID programs. From USAID’s experience, sustainability can be greatly enhanced by following principles of locally led development - listening to GVN and local actors, understanding local systems, taking the time to understand the context, following local leadership, fostering local ownership and commitment, and experimenting, learning and sharing.

f. Gender

USAID/Vietnam has an explicit commitment to gender equality in all of its development activities.

Despite the high proportion of women engaged in the Vietnamese labor market, Vietnamese women face long-established and pervasive structural and societal barriers to employment or upskilling opportunities, especially in STEM education and careers. Social norms, especially in rural Vietnam, prevent women and girls from pursuing careers in STEM sectors, or even education. In addition, women, and women-owned-businesses, generally do not have equal access to information, financial resources, professional networks, mentors and sponsors needed to acquire the necessary skills to participate in the digital economy. The Activity will narrow the digital gender divide by (1) dismantling systemic gender barriers which ensure that women in marginalized populations are afforded equal access to and opportunities of digital skills training and employment; (2) promoting entrepreneurship, and financial and digital inclusion; and (3) enhancing opportunities for equal, well-paying, quality jobs.

g. Climate Change

Vietnam is among the most vulnerable nations to climate change impacts. As a result, job transition, especially from agriculture to higher-skilled jobs, is expected to intensify in the upcoming years. The Activity will work with relevant stakeholders to equip workers with sufficient skills for this transition, especially in the Mekong Delta, the most vulnerable area to climate change in the region.

Attachment 2. RESPONSE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI in Microsoft Word compatible formats and submitted via email to Tatiana Ronning at tronning@usaid.gov and Van Trinh at vantrinh@usaid.gov. Responses to this RFI will be accepted through the date and time indicated above.

Please include “RFI Inquiry_ Innovative Workforce” in the subject line of your e-mail.

Responses should be sent as email attachment in English. Responders will not receive individualized feedback. All inquiries concerning this RFI must be directed only to the email addresses identified above. Hard copy submissions will not be accepted nor will phone inquiries be entertained.

Please use 12-point Calibri font or similar size typeset, 8.5 inch by 11-inch paper, and single-spaced pages for all narrative documents, with each page numbered consecutively. If the respondent has developed relevant reports, these reports may be included, preferably as embedded links. If the reports are not available online, they may be submitted in the attachment/s. The main RFI submission must be in English; reference documents and links may be submitted in Vietnamese.

Please do not submit applications, proposals, or resumes, as they will be discarded. Responses will be held confidential, however, USAID may use any information provided without incurring any obligation. USAID/Vietnam reserves the right to incorporate any or all comments into the new solicitation document. Proprietary information should not be sent. RFI submissions will not be acknowledged.

For RFI submissions please use the following format:

1. Cover page. Respondents must include all of the following information.

a. Organization name and address.

b. Point of contact name, telephone number, and email address

c. Organizational Business type and status - US-based, International, Local (Vietnamese); Large, Medium, Small business status; For-profit, Not-For-Profit; etc.

d. Optional: Summary description of your organization; Technical area of interest for partnership with USAID.

2. Comments and questions on the draft Activity Description, including attachments for referenced reports if any.

mailto:tronning@usaid.gov mailto:vantrinh@usaid.gov

USAID/Vietnam welcomes any general comments on the Draft Activity Description.

Respondents may respond to any or all of the following questions/requests for comments.

(Note: USAID will not be providing written responses to questions submitted. USAID will review all comments and questions and may use them to inform the development of any activity. USAID asks respondents not to send any additional information beyond what is requested).

USAID Questions:

1. Context/Background Does the context and background adequately lay out the opportunities and challenges to the Activity? What other opportunities or challenges may exist that are in line with the Activity purpose? Are there other evidence-based reports or documents that nuance or refute the positions described in the context/background? Please attach reports, links, or summaries of reports that provide analyses and/or describe opportunities to build on current or past initiatives and lessons learned.

2. Theory of Change and Activity Logical Framework While this theory of change is based on USAID’s consultations, lessons learnt and international best practices, are there alternative evidence-based models that could be adopted/adapted to achieve the Activity’s purpose? Please attach reports, links, or summaries of reports that illustrate these models.

3. Objectives and Expected Results Are the initial objectives and Expected Results proposed in the draft Program Description achievable and/or realistic? If not, why? Please be specific.

Are there additional objectives or results that you believe would make this Activity more effective in achieving its stated purpose? Please describe and explain why.

4. Adaptive Management Does Program Description provide adequate flexibility to adapt and tailor interventions to take advantage of emerging opportunities and partnerships? If not, why? How can it be modified? Please be specific.

5. Private Sector Engagement Does Program Description provide adequate space for partnership with the private sector to include both local and international firms? If not, why? How can it be modified? Any suggestions for other models for the Private Sector Engagement? Please be specific.

6. Engagement with Universities and Higher Education Sector While the activity will focus on working with private sector providers to provide upskilling and reskilling support - please describe what engagement and coordination opportunities the activity should seek with the higher education education sector on a general, or individual basis with institutions.

7. Monitoring Are the suggested Indicators successfully measuring progress and achievement of the proposed objectives and results? Can measurement gaps be addressed by custom indicators? Please be specific and reference exact objectives/results if describing measurement gaps. Are there any challenges related to the indicator and measurement requirements that the design team should be aware of? Which ones and why?

8. General Comments and Feedback USAID/Vietnam welcomes any general comments on the attached draft Statement of Work not already solicited under the other listed questions above (this response may not exceed half a page in length).

[End of Request for Information]