Consultancy for Project Baseline and Climate Vulnerability Assessment

Click HERE for Vietnamese

The Viet Nam Climate-Resilient Municipalities (VNCRM) project is seeking qualified consultants or consulting firms to conduct a project baseline study and climate vulnerability assessment. The recruitment process will be directed by the VNCRM Project Coordination Board (PCB).

Assignment	Project Baseline and Climate Vulnerability Assessment
Project	Vietnam Climate Resilient Municipalities (VNCRM)
Location	Four provinces and nine wards: Quảng Ninh, Đà Nẵng, Lâm Đồng, Đồng Tháp
Key contact	FCM Country Office Manager
Contracting authority	Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association (VUPDA)
Timeline	15 Sep to 30 Nov 2026
Languages	English and Vietnamese

1. Background

To proactively adapt to climate change (CC), address and support the resolution of urban challenges, the Ministry of Construction issued Decision No. 919/QĐ-BXD dated June 15, 2026, approving the Project Document “Vietnam Climate Resilient Municipalities” (VNCRM). The project owner is the National Institute of Urban and Rural Planning (VIUP). The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), which is implementing the project in partnership with the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association (VUPDA) in the period 2026–2030.

The overarching objective of the VNCRM Project is to strengthen the adaptive and resilience capacity of Vietnam’s urban areas in response to climate change. The project focuses on addressing key challenges in the management of urban technical infrastructure—including stormwater drainage, parks, greenery, public spaces, landslides, and flooding/inundation—as well as urban solid waste management, with priority given to plastic waste. These interventions are aligned with the vision of climate-smart urban development of Vietnam. The project will be implemented in nine wards in four target provinces and cities: Quang Ninh, Lam Dong, Dong Thap, and Da Nang.

2. Objective of the assignment

The first purpose of this assignment is to conduct a baseline study that establishes baseline values for selected performance indicators, as defined in the most recent Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) for the VNCRM project. The baseline study will support results-based management, confirm data collection methodologies, and inform target setting and ongoing monitoring throughout the project lifecycle.

The second objective of this consultancy is to conduct climate vulnerability assessments of priority public infrastructure assets and solid waste management and identify priority areas to strengthen climate resilience.

3. Scope of Work

Consultants or consulting firm will carry out both the baseline survey and the climate vulnerability assessment in the four project provinces and nine wards, as well as at relevant central agencies, international organizations, and domestic institutions that hold relevant information. The main tasks include:

Baseline survey:

Review key project documents, including the Project Implementation Plan, logic model, updated PMF, existing tools prepared by VNCRM, relevant municipal and sectoral documentation, and identify remaining information gaps.
Validate and operationalize selected indicators included in the VNCRM PMF, including indicator definitions, data sources, collection methods, and disaggregation requirements.
Finalize baseline survey methodology: review, adjust, and finalize data collection tools (survey questionnaires, interview guides, scoring tools, and quality assurance measures) based on FCM-provided tools, ensuring alignment with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Results-Based Management (RBM) requirements.
Assess the availability, quality, reliability, assumptions, limitations, and risks related to baseline data sources at ward, provincial, and national levels.
Collect primary and secondary data in selected wards and provinces and relevant agencies through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, document review, and other appropriate methods.
Develop stakeholder mapping in each project province and ward, linked to potential project activities and intervention areas.
Compile, clean, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to establish baseline values and targets for selected indicators, including sex-, age-, disability-, ward-, province-, and vulnerability-disaggregated results, where applicable and feasible.

Climate Vulnerability Assessment

Conduct the assessment using tools adapted to the IPCC Exposure–Sensitivity–Adaptive Capacity framework. Reference recognized methodologies such as the GIZ Climate Risk Sourcebook, ADB climate risk and vulnerability assessment methods, and/or ISO 14091:2021. The toolkit must include an analytical framework, data collection methods, scoring and ranking approaches, and quality assurance measures, tailored to the context and characteristics of each project province and ward.
Develop climate vulnerability maps based on national and provincial climate scenarios, disaster and damage records, and other relevant sources.
Compile existing maps and datasets, including but not limited to: (1) Administrative/ topographic maps; (2) Urban planning and land use maps; (3) Current technical infrastructure maps (stormwater drainage, greenery, solid waste management); (4) Climate hazard/disaster history maps and Socio-economic data in GIS format or PDF/hard copy maps.
Develop ward-level vulnerability maps and a ranked, prioritized list of public infrastructure assets, including assets related to solid waste management, with high climate risk exposure.Assess the vulnerability levels and adaptive capacity of project wards and related vulnerable groups.

Crosscutting activities:

Integrate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations across the baseline study and climate vulnerability assessment, including relevant disaggregated data, inclusive consultation practices, and analysis of differentiated climate risks and service gaps for vulnerable or marginalized groups.
Validate preliminary findings with the VNCRM project team, relevant FCM technical specialists, local partners, and key stakeholders, and incorporate agreed revisions.
Develop practical recommendations for climate-resilient infrastructure and solid waste management interventions that are feasible for local governments to integrate into planning, budgeting, and implementation.
Prepare draft and final reports, supporting analysis, raw and cleaned data, maps, tools, and other relevant files in appropriate formats in English and/or Vietnamese, as required by VNCRM project.
Conduct field missions and surveys as required within the scope of work.

4. Methodology

The consultants or consulting firms will apply a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. Methods may include document and data review, surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory validation workshops. All methods must be appropriate to the Vietnamese context and aligned with the indicator definitions and measurement approaches outlined in the updated PMF. The consultant will maintain regular communication and check-ins with the project team to validate assumptions, confirm direction, and ensure alignment throughout the assignment.

5. Deliverables

Deliverable	LOE (Days)	Due Date
The inception note should present the methodology, sampling strategy, data collection approach, quality assurance measures, workplan, and finalized tools, including: (i) Baseline survey toolkit developed based on materials provided by FCM; (ii) Climate vulnerability assessment toolkit, including: Indicator framework structured around Exposure – Sensitivity – Adaptive Capacity for each type of infrastructure asset; Scoring scales and weighting system; Procedures for addressing missing data.		25 Sep
Data Collected. The dataset will include: (i) Primary and secondary data collected for the baseline survey in project wards, provinces, and relevant agencies; (ii) Climate hazard and scenario data at provincial and ward levels to support the climate vulnerability assessment, including national climate data provided by the government agency; historical disaster and damage records; and relevant socio-economic data.		15 Oct
Draft Baseline Study Report, including methodology, respondent profile, preliminary baseline values and analysis, preliminary findings, assumptions, data limitations and recommendations.		31 Oct
Draft Climate Vulnerability Assessment report. The draft report will include: (1) Matrix or scoring tables of vulnerability levels for each type of priority infrastructure asset and each ward, based on the Exposure – Sensitivity – Adaptive Capacity framework, (2) Vulnerability maps at provincial and ward levels, (3) Prioritized list of infrastructure assets with high climate risk exposure; and (iv) Integrated content combining baseline survey findings, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) results, and practical recommendations.		10 Nov
Stakeholder mapping by province and ward relevant to potential project activities and intervention areas.		31 Oct
Validation meeting/workshop notes summarizing feedback on preliminary findings, agreed revisions, and follow-up actions.		20 Nov
Final baseline and climate vulnerability assessment report incorporating feedback from VNCRM and partners.		30 Nov
Supporting raw and cleaned data in relevant formats, including datasets, scoring sheets/calculation worksheets, maps, consultation records, interview notes and supporting evidence where appropriate, in English and Vietnamese, ass required by the VNCRM project.		30 Nov

6. Required Qualifications

Advanced degree in monitoring and evaluation, social sciences, environmental studies, urban planning, disaster risk reduction, climate change or a related field.
Demonstrated experience conducting baseline studies or RBM-related assessments for development projects.
Demonstrated experience conducting vulnerable assessments.
Deep understanding of the project selected wards and provinces, having local human resources in the project provinces will be an advantage.
Strong understanding of GAC results-based management requirements.
Experience working with solid waste management and climate resilience programming in Viet Nam.
Capacity to collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data within timeline.
Fluency in Vietnamese; working proficiency in English is required.

7. Reporting and Management

The recruitment process will be overseen by the PCB. Consultants or consulting firms will report directly to the PCB; FCM serves as the focal point. VUPDA will act on behalf of FCM to negotiate, sign contracts, and organize logistics. Day-to-day coordination, technical guidance, and review of deliverables will be managed by the FCM focal point on behalf of the PCB, supported by relevant FCM technical specialists—including the MELKS, GESI Specialist—and other project staff as required. All deliverables will be submitted to the VNCRM PCB for review and approval.

8. Financial Requirements & Applications

The estimated level of efforts will not exceed 69 days. The Consultants/consulting firms will be paid upon submission of an invoice and approval of the deliverables as agreed installments.

Interested candidates are requested to submit a complete application package, including a cover letter, current CVs of team members or the consulting firm profile, short technical proposal, and financial proposal. Applications should clearly specify:

Roles and expertise of each team member
Proposed methodology and implementation timeline
Suggestions on how to optimize this assignment
Experience with similar mandates
Proposed daily rate

The VNCRM project and its partners are committed to creating an equal opportunity recruitment environment, respecting all qualified applicants.

Please submit the application package to [email protected] and [email protected] by 18 Sep 2026. Please indicate “VNCRM Baseline and Climate Vulnerability Assessment Consultancy” in the subject line.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, we will only contact those selected for an interview.

All the applications will be kept on record for the duration of the project implementation.