FLEGT-VPA Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist - Team Coordinator

In 2019 the Government of Viet Nam and the European Union (EU) have begun implementation of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA-FLEGT). After several years of negotiations, which began in 2010, the parties signed this Agreement in October 2018, ratified by the Government of Viet Nam and by the European Parliament in April 2019, and came into effect in June 2019. Viet Nam is one of 15 countries globally, and 5 in Asia, that are negotiating or implementing a VPA with the EU.

The objective of the VPA-FLEGT, consistent with the parties’ joint commitment to the sustainable management of all types of forests, is to provide a legal framework aimed at ensuring that all timber products imported into the EU from Viet Nam are legally produced and come from legal timber sources. This objective will be achieved through the establishment of a Viet Nam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS), together with a FLEGT licensing scheme which will cover exports of timber and timber products from Viet Nam to the EU market. While the FLEGT licensing scheme will only apply to exports to the EU, the scope of regulation of the VNTLAS is broader, covering the domestic market in Viet Nam and all export markets. In terms of timber sources, the VNTLAS also regulates domestically produced timber and timber imports. In so doing, the VPA is intended to make an important contribution to the fight against illegal logging and promote trade in timber products that are from sustainably managed forests and are harvested in accordance with the domestic legislation in the country of harvest.

The VPA-FLEGT includes important commitments to monitoring and evaluation. In Article 18 of the Agreement – on the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC), it is stated that Viet Nam and the EU will jointly monitor implementation of the VPA through the JIC. The specific monitoring functions of the JIC in this regard are set out in VPA Annex IX.

In Article 15 of the Agreement – on Stakeholder Involvement, it is stated that\: “Viet Nam shall ensure that a mechanism is in place to monitor implementation of this Agreement, made up of representatives of relevant Government agencies and other relevant stakeholders”; and that “Viet Nam shall ensure that implementation and monitoring of this agreement are done in a transparent manner together with relevant stakeholders including NGOs, forest associations, enterprises, trade unions, local communities and people living in the forest areas”.

In Article 16 of the Agreement – on Social Safeguards, it is stated that\: “In order to minimize possible adverse effects of this Agreement, the Parties agree to assess the impacts on ethnic minorities and local communities concerned and on their way of life, as well as on the households and the timber industry. And VPA Annex IX describes the functions of the JIC in this regard\: “To assess the social, economic and environmental impacts of the Agreement and decide on appropriate measures to mitigate any potential negative impacts.”

In Article 10 of the Agreement – on Independent Evaluation, it is stated that Viet Nam, in consultation with the EU, will engage the services of an Independent Evaluator to assess the implementation, effectiveness and credibility of the VNTLAS. The Independent Evaluator will report to the JIC, and will also design and operate a complaints mechanism. The Terms of Reference for the Independent Evaluation are set out in VPA Annex VI. In Article 12 of the Agreement – on the date of operation of the FLEGT licensing scheme, it is stated that the parties shall, through the JIC, commission an independent assessment of the readiness of the VNTLAS before the FLEGT licensing scheme commences. On the basis of this assessment and recommendations of the JIC, the parties shall agree on the date on which the FLEGT licensing scheme will start operating. The criteria for the assessment of readiness of the VNTLAS and the FLEGT licensing scheme are set out in VPA Annex VII.

To implement the Agreement, the parties are also committed to ensuring that forestry-related information, and information about implementation of the VPA, is made available to the public. These provisions on public disclosure of information are set out in VPA Annex VIII, including information to be disclosed by Viet Nam, by the EU, and by the JIC respectively.

The Government of Viet Nam has approved a VPA-FLEGT Implementation Plan through PM Decision. Under this plan, the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry has been assigned to take the lead and cooperate with other Ministries, sectors and agencies on the VPA implementation process. The VPA-FLEGT Implementation Plan includes the following actions on monitoring and evaluation\:

• Prepare and submit to the JIC for endorsement and implement a framework for monitoring and evaluation of VPA-FLEGT implementation;
• Strengthen activities of the VPA-FLEGT Multi Stakeholder Core Group to advise the JIC and to undertake monitoring and evaluation of the VPA/FLEGT implementation;
• Organise assessment of readiness of the VNTLAS prior to commencement of FLEGT licensing according to the commitment made in Annex VII of the VPA-FLEGT;
• Organise periodic independent evaluation of the VNTLAS according to the commitment made in Annex VI of the VPA-FLEGT;
• Conduct impact monitoring of the VPA-FLEGT implementation in economic, social and environmental aspects and identify and apply remedial measures for any unintended impacts.

The overall objective of this assignment is lead a team of consultants to prepare a Framework for VPA-FLEGT Monitoring and Evaluation (“Framework”) which can be used by the Joint Implementation Committee, and by stakeholders (as identified according to Article 15 of the Agreement), to guide the process of monitoring and evaluation during VPA implementation. The specific objectives are\:

1. To propose and describe the overall mechanisms for VPA monitoring and evaluation (as per Article 15 of the Agreement); and
2. To develop an umbrella Terms of Reference for the VPA Impact Monitoring which can be used by different agencies and stakeholders to guide their involvement in impact monitoring work.

The Framework will be prepared in a Team of two additional National Consultants through a process of consultation in order to help ensure that it meets the expectations of both parties, Viet Nam and the EU, and of other stakeholder groups that will be involved in different aspects of VPA-FLEGT monitoring and evaluation. The Consultant (and Team) will also be guided through the Joint Expert Meeting (JEM) and the Multi-Stakeholder Core Group. The JEM and Core Group members will be consulted at different stages in the assignment to make inputs to the Framework, to ensure there is consensus around what is proposed, and to validate the outputs of the consultants.

The Framework to be developed by the Consultant will be divided into two main Parts\:

• Part 1\: Overall mechanism for VPA-FLEGT monitoring and evaluation
• Part 2\: Umbrella Terms of Reference for VPA impact monitoring.

The Consultant will report to the Regional Coordinator for the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme who will consult a nominated representative of the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST).

• Strong knowledge of FLEGT issues globally, knowledge of VPA FLEGT in Viet Nam is a plus;
• Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation;
• Experience of coordination with multi-agencies and/or government;
• Experience in leading an international team.

Tasks and responsibilities

As Team Coordinator , the candidate will have the overall responsibility for designing and guiding the assignment, to ensure delivery of high quality outputs following the tasks and activities described in his/her terms or reference.

• Lead the process of developing the Framework, which includes a desk review and methodology development and inclusive consultations during the develoment of the Framework.
• Lead and ensure timely and satisfactory reporting, including the Inception Report and final report as well a final presentation to the JIC.
• Ensure that there is effective consultation with concerned partners and stakeholders in the process and methodology, and that their interests and positions are adequately reflected in the Framework.
• Integrate international experience on FLEGT-VPA monitoring and evaluation into the Framework, and to ensure the Framework follows international standards and best-practice.
• Ensure that the Framework is adequately adapted and suited to the particular requirements of the Viet Nam VPA and to the institutional context in Viet Nam.
• Help ensure smooth coordination and cooperation with different national partners and stakeholders during the process of conducting the assignment.
• Coordinate and ensure the effectiveness of the Consultant Team.