Net-zero Policy Expert for Ho Chi Minh City (DAI)

USAID Vietnam Urban Energy Security

Scope of Work

• Activity: Technical support to the Development of Danang & HCMC Net-zero Carbon City Action Plans
• Position: Net-zero Policy Expert for Ho Chi Minh City
• Level of Effort: 95 working days
• Period of Performance: January 9, 2023 – September 30, 2023
• Base of Operations: Ho Chi Minh City (with possible in-country travel)

Project Background

As Vietnam experiences steep increases in energy demand and rising air pollution challenges, there is growing recognition that cleaner, more reliable sources of energy are needed and greater capital investment is necessary. USAID Vietnam Urban Energy Security project (the Project) works closely with target cities (Danang and Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) to improve enabling frameworks, mobilize investment, and increase the adoption of innovative solutions for advanced, distributed energy.

The overall goal of the project is “advanced, distributed energy solutions deployed to improve urban energy resilience and energy security” in Vietnam. At its completion, the Vietnam Urban Energy Security must achieve the following high-level expected results:

1. At least 400 megawatts (MW) of advanced, distributed energy systems deployed in the selected cities.
2. At least $600 million in public and private investment mobilized for advanced, distributed urban energy systems.
3. At least 20 innovative solutions to address urban energy and environment issues demonstrated and/or commercialized.

The national climate change context

Vietnam’s net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions tripled between 1994 and 2006 to 316 million tons of CO₂eq. Emissions from the energy sector have been largely responsible for this growth in emissions as the country’s industrial output and demand for energy have increased. Without action, emissions are forecast to again triple by 2030, to 930 million tons of CO₂eq.^[1]

Vietnam has set ambitious goals: of becoming a high-income country by 2045; phasing out coal-fueled power generation by the 2040s (or as soon as possible thereafter); and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Achieving these goals will require profound actions and the role of cities, and the policies they select, will be significant.

The city context

In 2016 HCMC emitted 37 million tons of CO₂eq, which represented 12% of Vietnam’s total emissions. Emissions came from buildings (34%), energy industry (27%), transport (27%) and waste (10%). Population growth and the economy are expected to continue growing rapidly resulting in ever greater energy demand and consumption, and carbon emissions. If no action is taken, emissions in HCMC will rise from 37 to 102 million tons of CO₂eq by 2050. Similar data for Danang is currently being calculated and collated, with support from the Project.

Following Vietnam’s commitment at the 26^th UN Climate Change Conference in November 2021 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the Government of Vietnam has requested HCMC, Danang (and other cities) to study options for achieving net-zero carbon cities and to develop net-zero carbon plans by 2050.

USAID Vietnam Urban Energy Security is a five-year project with the overall goal of “advanced, distributed energy solutions deployed to improve urban energy resilience and energy security” in Vietnam. The Project is mandated to focus on HCMC and Danang cities.

HCMC and Danang counterparts have requested technical support from the Project to:

• advise on an approach to develop their net-zero carbon city action plans
• support modelling, the results of which can inform their net-zero carbon city action plan
• provide recommendations on the enabling policies and measures required to implement the net-zero carbon city action plan.

The key counterparts in HCMC will be DOIT and DONRE (Department of Natural Resources and Environment).

Objectives

The objective of this assignment is to facilitate the development of a net-zero action plan for HCMC. The action plan will draw on national and international expertise and experiences and will be developed in close collaboration with city counterparts. The process should aim to help build capacity and awareness of key stakeholders, including DONRE, DOIT and other relevant departments, thereby increasing city-level ownership of the action plans.

Net-zero action plan development process

• The Project will mobilize a team of local and international experts to support the HCMC to develop their net-zero action plans. The Consultant team responsible for the development of the net-zero action plans will follow this process and activities:
• Action plans e.g. Energy Efficiency Action Plans, Climate Change Action Plans, Green Growth Action Plans)
• GHG inventories and low carbon scenarios (already developed for HCMC and under development in Danang)
• Policies e.g. related to transport, waste management, housing
• Data and reports e.g. energy audits; data and reports related to the national Cleaner Production programCollate and review 1) relevant Danang and HCMC city-level documentation, and 2) relevant international documentation and experience:

b. International-level documentation will include (but will not be limited to):

• • Policies
  • Approaches
  • Frameworks
  • Activities and measures e.g. low carbon buildings, smart energy infrastructure (smart meters, e-mobility charging stations, electricity distribution grid, distributed energy solutions), and clean electrification.
  • .........

Role and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the International Expert, the Net-zero Policy Expert (as referred to “Consultant”) for HCMC is expected to undertake the following activities:

• Lead in the collation and review of relevant national and city-level documentation and experience : National and city-level documentation will include, but will not be limited to:
  • Action plans (E.g. Energy Efficiency Action Plans, Climate Change Action Plans, Green Growth Action Plans)
  • GHG inventories and low carbon scenarios (Already developed for HCMC)
  • Policies (i.e in relation to transport, waste management, housing)
  • Data and reports (E.g. energy audits; data and reports related to the National Cleaner Production Program)

• Support the International Expert in collating key learnings from the international community (E.g. through workshops, consultation meetings and learning exchanges). Potential sources include the C40,^[4] and Net-zero world initiatives, as well as cities that have already made advances in this field.

• Lead in engagement activities with relevant local stakeholders in HCMC city through a combination of workshops and consultation meetings.  Stakeholders will be relevant to both Danang and HCMC and will include (but will not be limited to) MONRE, DONRE, DOIT, PPC, DOT, DPI, the private sector, and academia. At least three consultation workshops are envisaged per city: an inception workshop, a consultation workshop (to source information, and share ideas and reactions) and a final workshop (to share the draft action plan). Whilst Net-zero Task Lead will overview these workshops in terms of their design, their actual implementation will likely to be led by the local consultant team and the Project team.

• Based on the above, support the modeling and development of scenarios :
  • Support the development of different scenarios for HCMC including 1) a Business As Usual (BAU) scenario 2) Low-carbon scenario (s) including net-zero scenario by 2050;
  • Review and consolidation of mitigation measures for HCMC city as per low carbon and net zero scenarios;
  • Support in completing the Ho Chi Minh City model to provide information on emissions, energy demand, required finances, and timelines for each of the different scenarios.

• Lead in conducting a barrier analysis to identify and present the key financial, social, technical and legal barriers/ challenges to implementing the net-zero carbon city action plan in HCMC and recommendations on how to overcome the barriers.

• Co-lead with International Expert in developing a high-level net-zero 2050 action plan for HCMC city with recommended targets, actions, and suggested approach.

• Co-lead with International Expert in developing a case study documenting the process. This will include an outline of the process, challenges, lessons, achievements and will be useful for other cities interested in developing net-zero action plans.

Deliverables and Expected Timeline

Throughout the assignment, the Consultant is expected to participate in regular phone calls and meetings with the Project to provide progress updates. S/he should provide outlines of deliverables for comment and approval before developing the reports and prepare drafts for feedback and input before finalizing. Additionally, the Consultant should provide information regarding interviews held, including interview notes, minutes of meetings, workshop notes, etc.

The Consultant is expected to produce the following key deliverables:

Location and Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Net zero Task Lead. The work-products and deliverables will be reviewed, commented on and approved by the Project.

Progress reporting may be in-person and/or through weekly conference calls.

All communication will be in English (written and verbal). All deliverables will be in both English and Vietnamese.

Qualification Requirements

• PhD degree in Environment; Climate Change or relevant fields;
• At least 20 years’ experience in environmental management or climate change;
• Deep understanding and experiences in climate change, mitigation/net zero and/or environmental analysis works, preferably climate modeling/simulation works;
• Familiar with city’s air quality studies and/or greenhouse gas inventory works; preparing policy papers, reports or briefs for city-level decision makers;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and drafting comprehensive reports and presentations of study outputs and findings;
• Past experience working with Ho Chi Minh city government agencies, preferably with HCMC DONRE;
• Proficient in English, particularly report writing skills.

About DAI

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments. More information about DAI can be found on the DAI website (www.dai.com).

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