Policy Dialogue for Sustainable Aquaculture Cooperative Development – MACIB Project

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title	Policy Dialogue for Sustainable Aquaculture Cooperative Development MACIB Project
Client	Phuoc Binh, Toan Thang and Hoa Nho, Hoa De, Tan Phat Loi, Tai Thinh Phat Farm coop and Ca Mau Cooperative Alliance.
Country	Vietnam
Project number	24ATVN-9764
Assignment number	–
Period	Dec 2025 – Jan 2026
Cooperative advisors (CAs)	Le Thi Thu Hien, Tran Quang Dieu

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 Context of the Aquaculture and Cooperative Sector in Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the world’s leading aquaculture producers, with the Mekong River Delta (MRD) playing a central role in the industry. The MRD accounts for 70% of Vietnam’s aquaculture production and contributes significantly to global seafood exports. The region is home to 18 million people, many of whom rely on aquaculture for their livelihoods.

However, the sector faces major challenges:

Fragmented production and weak linkages in the value chain.
Limited access to finance and technology for smallholder farmers and cooperatives.
Unstable market conditions and fluctuating export prices.
Environmental degradation due to climate change and unsustainable farming practices.
Regulatory barriers affecting certification, seed quality, and policy enforcement.

Cooperatives play a vital role in addressing these challenges by improving collective bargaining, financial resilience, and market access. However, many cooperatives still struggle with weak governance, limited access to financial services, and a lack of structured policy engagement. Public-private-producer dialogue (PPD) is crucial to bridging these gaps and ensuring that policies support cooperative growth and sustainable aquaculture.

1.2 Dutch Priorities in Vietnam’s Aquaculture Sector

The Netherlands has a long-standing collaboration with Vietnam in sustainable aquaculture, particularly in the Mekong Delta. This partnership is guided by the Netherlands-Vietnam Strategic Partnership Arrangement on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security and the Strategic Partnership Arrangement on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management.

Dutch priorities for Vietnam’s aquaculture sector include:

Strengthening climate-smart and circular aquaculture models to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact.
Improving disease control and reducing antibiotic use to meet international food safety standards.
Enhancing digital transformation in aquaculture through data-driven farming and precision aquaculture technologies.
Supporting the development of high-tech shrimp and pangasius farming models to boost efficiency and market competitiveness.
Facilitating public-private partnerships (PPPs) to link Vietnamese farmers and cooperatives with Dutch expertise, innovative technologies, and financing solutions.
Promoting sustainable certification (ASC, VietGAP, organic) to improve access to high-value markets such as the EU, USA, and Japan.

1.3 Background of MACIB Project

The Making Aquaculture Cooperatives in the Mekong Delta Inclusive and Bankable (MACIB) Project is an initiative (2024-2026) led by Agriterra, supported by the Dutch Government, and aligned with Vietnam’s Sustainable Aquaculture Development Plan to 2030. The project is designed to strengthen financial, governance, and policy frameworks for aquaculture cooperatives in the MRD.

Key objectives of MACIB:

Objective 1: Professionalize aquaculture cooperatives to make them financially independent and bankable.

Objective 2: Enhance service provision within cooperatives to improve production efficiency and climate-smart aquaculture.
Objective 3: Increase participation of women and youth in cooperative governance.
Objective 4: Strengthen policy engagement by advocating reforms that improve market access, certification, and financial sustainability.

BACKGROUND OF ASSIGNMENT

The implementation of MACIB project has revealed that many aquaculture cooperatives under the project still operate through traditional management methods, lacking digital tools to support decision-making, production tracking, and climate-resilient practices. This limits their ability to respond to environmental changes, manage water resources, and meet market demands. These gaps also reduce transparency and hinder access to certification and high-value markets in the future.

To address these challenges, a policy dialogue will be held by Agriterra to explore digital solutions, such as GIS-integrated platforms, AI-driven water monitoring, and mobile applications for production logging and traceability that can strengthen cooperative governance and climate-smart aquaculture. The dialogue will serve as a strategic input into provincial development planning, helping local authorities design policies and investment frameworks that better support cooperative transformation. In turn, this will create long-term benefits for cooperative beyond the MACIB project.

This assignment directly supports MACIB’s objectives to professionalize cooperatives, enhance service delivery, and improve policy engagement. It also aligns with Dutch priorities in Vietnam’s aquaculture sector, including climate-smart farming, digital transformation, and public-private collaboration.

Given the technical and policy complexity, Agriterra will recruit a team of national consultants to lead and facilitate the whole process, ensuring contextual relevance and integration into provincial strategies.

2. OBJECTIVES

The goal is to collaboratively identify feasible digital solutions by engaging local government bodies, Combi-Track partners, and other key stakeholders. This process aims to explore (otherwise co-creating) smart digital applications for future adoption that can be integrated into local policies, empowering cooperatives to manage production more effectively and adapt to climate change..

Specific objectives:

Create an opportunity to enhance knowledge on innovation, technology application, and digital transformation in production among dialogue participants, especially cooperative members.
Provide room for Combi-Track partners to share their expertise, experiences, and digital solutions applied in the production practices of MACIB cooperatives.
Discuss feasible ideas for a digital platform to manage the production landscape of MACIB and other shrimp cooperatives, based on an ecologically sustainable landscape approach.
Discuss an action plan for applying digital technologies to improve cooperative management and production operations in response to climate change under the MACIB project.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The dialogue will utilize a participatory and evidence-based approach, including:

Desk research on existing aquaculture policies and cooperative needs for digitalization adoption.
Stakeholder consultations with cooperatives, policymakers, and private sector representatives.
Workshops and roundtable discussions to develop policy recommendations.
Policy drafting sessions to prepare actionable recommendations.

4. DELILERABLES

Policy Review Report: A concise assessment of current regulations related to digitalization support for aquaculture cooperatives, identifying key gaps in the adoption of digital tools and systems that are essential for positioning cooperatives competitively in both domestic and international markets.
Stakeholder Engagement Report: A summary of consultations with cooperatives, government agencies, private sector actors, and project partners, capturing critical feedback and shared perspectives on the feasibility, relevance, and potential impact of proposed policy directions.
Regulatory Proposal: A draft set of policy and regulatory recommendations designed to serve as a strategic input for government bodies in shaping development plans that support digital transformation and strengthen cooperative governance in the aquaculture sector.
Final Policy Recommendations Report: A consolidated set of actionable policy recommendations for government adoption, providing a roadmap for short- and long-term reforms.

5. TIMELINE AND CONSULTATION

The assignment will be conducted from 1 Dec 2025 to Jan 25, 2026, with the following key phases:

Activity	Timeframe (tentative)
Preparatory Research deskwork	1 Dec – 10 Dec 2025
- Policy consultation Review (interview of project’s key partners) - Draft proposed agenda for policy dialogue	10 Dec – 25 Dec, 2025
Stakeholder policy dialogue	Jan 2 – Jan 15, 2026
Finalization & Reporting	Jan 16 – Jan 25, 2026

The consultancy will include:

Number of consultancy days: 30 to 35 working days.
Fees: Based on Agriterra’s standard cost norms for consultant fees and reimbursable costs.
Contract Type: A contract will be signed with the lead consultant, covering the full team. Individual payments will be based on agreed consultancy days.
Location: The policy dialogue will take place in one of 03 project provinces, Vinh Long or Can Tho or Ca Mau province (TBC).

6. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The consultant(s) must meet the following criteria:

Educational Background: A master’s degree in agriculture, aquaculture, economics, social sciences, or related fields.
Experience: At least 7 years of experience in policy research, cooperative development, sustainable aquaculture, or related fields.
Technical Expertise:
- Strong knowledge of Vietnamese aquaculture policies and cooperative governance frameworks.
- Experience in public-private-producer dialogue (PPD) facilitation.
- Familiarity with financial mechanisms for cooperatives, market integration, and policy formulation.
Analytical and Communication Skills:
- Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
- Strong report writing and policy recommendation skills.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation abilities.
Languages: Fluency in English and Vietnamese (written and spoken) is required.

7. MANAGEMENT AND CORDINATIONS

The policy dialogue will be led by a dedicated implementation team consisting of:

02 Cooperative Advisors from Agriterra: Responsible for technical support, policy recommendations, and cooperative development.
01 Consultant: Leading policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and report drafting.
Cooperative Alliance of Can Tho, Vinh Long and Ca Mau provinces: Providing regional coordination, facilitating cooperative participation, and ensuring policy alignment.
Representatives of Cooperatives: Engaging in dialogue, providing insights on cooperative challenges, and advocating for policy reforms.
The consultant will report directly to Agriterra Vietnam’s MACIB Project Team, under the supervision of the Senior Agribusiness Advisor and in close collaboration with relevant project advisors and cooperative support teams.
The assignment will involve regular coordination with cooperative board members, data focal points, and local extension officers, especially during the field data collection and validation phases.
Agriterra will provide:
- Letters of introduction to cooperatives and local stakeholders
- Technical briefings and existing datasets from MACIB assessments
- Logistical and advisory support for training activities and validation workshops
All deliverables must be submitted in English (with key training materials in Vietnamese) and will be reviewed and approved by Agriterra prior to final acceptance.

8. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Interested consultants should submit:

Consultant team profile and relevant experience.
A short technical proposal outlining the approach and methodology.
Samples of previous reports from similar assignments.
CVs of team members.

Submission deadline: Proposals should be submitted in English via email to [email protected] with the subject “Policy Dialogue for Sustainable Aquaculture Cooperative Development” by 15 Nov, 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussion.

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