Job Description

Project: United States Department of Agriculture Food For Progress U.S.-Vietnam Trade in Agriculture and Food Safety Expanded

Location: Vietnam

Duration: on/around February 23 to June 30, 2026

Expected Level of Effort: 66 working days

IESC Background:

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since our founding in 1964 , we have delivered lasting solutions across 139 countries.  

IESC is a valued partner to people and communities throughout the economically developing world. We share proven business skills and experience with entrepreneurs, jobseekers, businesses, farmers, cooperatives, and governments. We also offer resources—human, technological, and financial—that sustainably build capacity and empower communities. Our long legacy of strengthening developing economies is matched by our vision for the next generation: a world with economic opportunity for all, where people and communities thrive.    

Project Background:

Building on three decades of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (1995–2025), the 2025–2026 period marks a significant transformation in bilateral ties. Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) framework, agricultural cooperation has been identified as a key pillar. This cooperation has deepened beyond merely promoting bilateral trade turnover to focus on technical collaboration and enhancing system management capacity. This progression is an essential step toward realizing joint commitments to transparent, science-based trade, aiming to promote economic prosperity and ensure substantial benefits for the business communities of both nations.

To realize this strategic vision, Vietnam has been officially selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as one of five focus countries for the "Food for Progress" Program for the 2025–2030 period. In Vietnam, the USDA Food for Progress Program will be implemented through the USDA Food for Progress Trade in Agriculture and Food Safety Expanded (TAFSE) project. This opens a rare opportunity for Vietnam to access financial resources and deep expertise from the U.S. to resolve bottlenecks in infrastructure and SPS standards (sanitary and phytosanitary measures), thereby comprehensively modernizing the national agricultural trade system.

This is a technical assistance project funded by non-refundable official development assistance from the U.S. Government through the USDA, and managed by IESC. From Vietnamese Government, The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) is the project Executing Agency (EA). The Agricultural Projects Management Board (APMB) is the agency assigned by MAE to coordinate with stakeholders during project preparation and implementation.

The project will:

• Improve the efficiency of the food safety system in Vietnam;

• Strengthen supply chain capacity and cold chain logistics systems;

• Expand access to trade finance for the private sector;

• Support Vietnam’s broader goals for innovation, private sector growth, and international integration.

The project will operate nationwide, focusing on major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and localities with major ports and cold chain development needs. The total estimated non-refundable ODA value is $21.1 million USD.

General Objectives:

To proceed with Government of Vietnam (GVN) procedures for ODA project approval, IESC is looking for a group of qualified consultants to develop the TAFSE Project Document in compliance with the GVN’s regulations on the management and use of ODA.

The Project Development consultant team consists of 03 positions: (i) 01 Team Leader; (ii) 01 Food Safety Consultant; and (iii) 01 Agricultural Trade and Logistics Consultant. The consultants will work in Hanoi and travel to provinces for field work if required.

The consultant team will undertake the following responsibilities:

• Collect relevant documents and materials to serve the project document development;

• Provide intensive analysis on relevant regulations of the Government of Vietnam regarding the preparation and implementation of technical assistance projects using non-refundable ODA, as well as specific technical issues related to their assigned scope.

• Coordinate closely with relevant public and private stakeholders during the drafting and finalization of the project document;

• Participate in consultation meetings to gather data, information and feedback from stakeholders on the draft Project Document;

• Revise and finalize the Project Document based on stakeholder feedback until the project approval is granted by the MAE; and,

• Prepare the Project Document in accordance with the Project Document Template for technical assistance using non-refundable ODA as specified in Decree 242/2025/ND-CP dated September 10, 2025, regarding the management and use of ODA and concessional foreign loans.

Responsibilities:

The Food Safety Consultant will:

• Be directly responsibility for drafting project activities (the "Project Description" section of the Document) related to improving the efficiency of the food safety system in Vietnam;

• Support the Team Leader in drafting the following contents of the Project Document related to food safety expertise: context and necessity of the project, implementation plan, and project monitoring and evaluation;

• Coordinating with the expert team to synthesize the outputs of their assigned work into the project document; and,

• Complete other tasks as assigned by the Team Leader.

Deliverables:

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher in Agriculture (cultivation, husbandry, veterinary, etc.), Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Agricultural Economics, or related field required; 

• At least 15 years of relevant working experience in the fields of agriculture, rural development, food safety management/testing, and SPS measures;

• Well-organized, detail oriented, excellent verbal and written communication skills; 

• Maturity, professionalism, and positive attitude ; and,

• Fluency in Vietnamese and English.

Please note that this position is intended for a Vietnamese National.

Working Method and Project Support:

The Consultant will report to the Head of the Project Preparation Team APMB and the IESC TAFSE Project Director and Deputy Project Director. APMB will provide office space for the consultant. APMB and IESC will provide available documents, data, and input and will assign staff to coordinate and support field work (if any) to facilitate the implementation of the consulting assignment.

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