1.Background
About SNV
SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: A world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably.
To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.
Building on 60 years of experience, we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigor. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all.
SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995 and currently has over 70 national and international experts. SNV Vietnam implements projects in more than 50 provinces across the country, including the poorest and most remote areas.
About the Project
The Ma and Neun/Ca catchments support a wide variety of biodiverse landscapes and numerous ecologically significant sites. This extensive network supplies all the ecosystem services needed by over 8.5 million people (2018). However, the system faces threats from human activities and climate change. Without urgent action, the balance between the catchments’ renewable resources and human pressures will continue to be compromised and deteriorated.
The “Preparation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and associated studies in Lao PDR and Viet Nam” (IUCN-23-12-P03794-1), under the project “Fostering Water and Environmental Security in the Ma and Neun/Ca Transboundary River Basins and Related Coastal Areas”, implemented by SNV in collaboration with the Environment & Ecology Institute (EEI). It focuses on enhancing transboundary cooperation, establishing river basin management frameworks, strengthening water and environmental security and promoting gender equality.
This is the first bilateral GEF project between the two countries, addressing shared challenges such as hydropower impacts on river flows and sediment loads, deforestation and land-use changes affecting hydrology and ecosystems, agricultural expansion and increasing water withdrawals impacting environmental flows, pollution from point and non-point sources degrading water quality, socio-economic vulnerabilities including poverty and gender inequalities in water management, and climate change exacerbating floods, droughts, forest fires, seawater intrusion, and habitat loss in coastal zones (e.g., mangroves, wetlands, fisheries).
The project’s overall objective is to enable Viet Nam and Lao PDR to address freshwater resource management and ecosystem health through transboundary cooperation, joint fact-finding, information exchange, and sustainable practices. A key component is the development of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for each basin, which is a science-based, participatory process to identify transboundary issues, their root causes, and priorities for action. The TDA will inform a Strategic Action Program (SAP) for long-term basin management, emphasizing the source-to-sea approach, nexus conflicts (water-food-energy-ecosystems), gender equality, biodiversity conservation, and resilience to climate variability.
SNV Vietnam is now seeking the Technical Report Writer to produce thematic reports aligned with GEF IW methodologies, including FAO tools (e.g., water accounting, Collect Earth for land monitoring, MOSAICC for climate impacts).
2. Objectives and Scope of work
Serve as a technical/thematic report writer for the transboundary water and environmental issues, ensuring complete, verified, and standardized information across key themes: hydrology and water quantity, groundwater, water quality and sediment, climate and hazards, land/forests/biodiversity, water use and economy, pollution and permitting, planning and governance, and socio-economics/GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion).
The Consultant will work closely with the SNV TDA International Water Specialist, as well as SNV project team and consortium partner technical staff to carry out the following activities:
- Closely review relevant data and documents that will be shared by SNV in order to understand the required content, style, and tone of the technical reports to be written;
- Closely review and familiarise with all relevant data analyses (undertaken by the project team) and relevant report templates;
- Together with SNV TDA Team, organise and lead report writing to draw out approaches and expertise of consortium partners;
- With the inputs of consortium partners, prepare first technical drafts and share with internal and external reviewers;
- Based on feedback of reviewers, prepare second technical drafts;
- Participate in technical meetings to ensure coherence between technical approach and data analysis.
The consultant will have 30 working days to complete the assignment . All report development will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam or virtually, and the reports must be ready for submission no later than 30 June 2026.
Deliverables
Table 1: List of deliverables, outputs, and quality expectations
|
Deliverables |
List of outputs per deliverable |
Quality expectations |
Timeline |
|
First draft reports |
|
Follow relevant thematic report templates Meet criteria of thematic report review templates |
By 15 May 2026 By 15 May 2026 By 12 June 2026 By 12 June 2026 |
|
Final reports |
|
Address all the comments provided by SNV and reviewers (IUCN, JTC, DWRM, DWR, etc.) |
By 29/5 2026 By 29/5/2026 By 26/6/2026 By 26/6/2026 |
3. Reporting Lines
The consultant will report directly to the SNV TDA Team Lead for overall management and approval. Daily coordination on technical issues will be managed by the International Senior Water Specialist.
4. Duration and Payment Schedule
The assignment will last until 31 August 2026, with flexibility for parallel work in Laos and Vietnam or extensions for unforeseen delays (e.g., JTC and government agency responses). The payment will be made instalments and based on the deliverables accepted by SNV:
- 50% upon delivery and SNV’s approval of draft technical reports.
- 50% upon acceptance of complete reports after receiving JTC and government agencies’ comments.
5. Due Diligence instructions
Due Diligence (DD) checks apply to individual consultants engaged by SNV for the provision of consultancy services. Conducting these checks supports SNV in managing donor funds responsibly, ethically, and in full compliance with relevant regulations.
To apply download the Microsoft word form for completion.
6. Eligibility and Qualifications
The assignment is open to individual consultants who meet the following criteria:
- University degree in the fields of water resources, environmental science, hydrology, ecology, or related fields.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience writing successful international development-focused technical/thematic reports to multilateral/bilateral donors such as GEF, FAO, IUCN and government agencies;
- Ability to collaborate with the technical team across all levels and functions
- Exceptional conceptual, analytical, writing and editing skills, including the ability to synthesize large amounts of information into concise narratives (attach examples of previous written products)
- Knowledge of thematic, technical processes and the role of a report writer in those processes
- Strong organizational management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, time management, adherence to tight deadlines, and the ability to handle multiple activities
- Strong MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, GIS/maps and other computer skills
- Current or past experience in Vietnam desirable
- Excellent command of English, both written and spoken.
References: At least two from similar projects (e.g., technical/thematic report writing in Viet Nam).
Submission requirements
Interested Individual Consultants are invited to submit the following documents as per the instructions in the link https://smrtr.io/y988J.
- Technical Proposal: outlining relevant experience
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Financial Proposal: inclusive of tax.
- Work Samples: including reports or publications samples
- Completed Due Diligence Document: along with all required supporting documents. The form can be downloaded here: DD form for completion
Submission Deadline: by 20 April 2026