Consultancy Firm for Canada-Vietnam Technical Matchmaking (AGILE Project)

Assignment Title

Consultancy Firm to Co-design and Implement the Canada-Vietnam Technical Matchmaking component of the AGILE Project

Position Location

Canada (remote)

Reports To

Head of Asia Programs

Contract Term

12 months (renewable)

Closing Date for Applications

March 13, 2026

Overview

WUSC – World University Service of Canada – is a Canadian global development organization dedicated to catalyzing positive education and economic outcomes for young people. We foster collaboration with a diverse network of partners, including students, volunteers, schools, governments, not-for-profits, and businesses, all united by this shared mission. Together, we drive systems change and cultivate inclusive, youth-centered solutions that empower young people to thrive and belong. Our work encompasses all young people, with a particular focus on women and displaced populations. WUSC operates in 28 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Canada, managing an annual budget of approximately CAD $65 million. Our global team comprises over 100 staff in Canada and more than 250 internationally, implementing a diverse portfolio of development projects in partnership with numerous multilateral and bilateral donors and philanthropic foundations.

Scope of Work

The Advancing Growth, Innovation, and Leadership for Enterprises in Vietnam (AGILE) Project is a four-year initiative (2025-2029) aimed at increasing the climate resilience of vulnerable populations in Vietnam, specifically women. While women lead 27% of all Vietnamese businesses, 99% of these are MSMEs, which frequently lack access to the climate-adaptation technologies and finance necessary to prosper in a changing environment.

The AGILE Project operates at the nexus of:

• Gender Lens Investment: Deploying capital to specifically empower women.
• Climate Adaptation Finance: Directing resources towards solutions for climate impacts.
• Enterprise Growth: Supporting climate-focused SMEs to scale their impact.

A central pillar of AGILE’s strategy is the Matchmaking Component, designed to connect Vietnamese entrepreneurs with Canadian technical, social, or environmental solutions (Cleantech, AgTech, OceanTech, and Advisory). WUSC is actively seeking a Canadian partner organization or firm to collaboratively design and implement this crucial component. The successful applicant will be instrumental in building bridges between Canadian innovation clusters and Vietnamese climate enterprises.

Deliverables

The key deliverables for the Consultancy Firm for Canada-Vietnam Technical Matchmaking (AGILE Project) are as follows:

• Collaborate with WUSC to establish a flexible matchmaking framework between Canadian and Vietnamese businesses.
• Lead the outreach, recruitment, screening, and selection of potential Canadian participants.
• Serve as the primary liaison to Canadian private sector and innovation stakeholders.
• In collaboration with WUSC, facilitate productive exchanges between Canadian solution providers and selected Vietnamese businesses.
• Develop a framework that fosters long-term partnership sustainability.

Technical Requirements and Framing Questions

Applicants must provide detailed responses to the following framing considerations within their methodology:

• Network Mapping: How will you leverage specific Canadian networks or clusters (e.g., OceanTech in the Atlantic, AgTech in the Prairies) to identify niche solutions suitable for the Vietnamese context?
• Adaptability & Selection: How will you design a flexible framework that can adapt based on the specific technical gaps of the yet-to-be-selected Vietnamese SMEs? (Please include your proposed input for the partner selection process).
• Identification & Incentives: What is your approach to diagnosing enterprise challenges and identifying the most appropriate solution providers? How will you incentivize actors in both ecosystems to sustain partnerships beyond the project lifecycle? Have you previously worked with early-stage businesses, and if so, please provide evidence of value creation in your engagements with them.
• Market Expansion: Describe your strategy for facilitating market exploration for Canadian firms in Vietnam and Vietnamese firms in Canada.
• Inclusion: How will you ensure that the Canadian resources and innovations identified are inclusive of, and accessible to, women-led organizations?

WUSC’s activities are committed to addressing inequities and promoting sustainable development globally; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, consultants, representatives, and partners must align with the organization's values and mission. WUSC adheres to stringent safeguarding principles, advocating for responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence, and we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, coercion, and sexual exploitation and abuse in any form.

Application

Qualified and interested parties are requested to submit the following:

• A technical proposal, adhering to the guidelines specified in the RFP.
• A detailed financial proposal, as per the guidelines outlined in the RFP.
• A signed copy of the Declaration of No Conflict of Interest (Annex 3).

Please refer to the full request for proposal and annexes here. Any questions regarding the RFP can be sent via email to ebateman@wusc.ca with the subject line INQUIRIES - AGILE RFP, up to 3 business days prior to the submission deadline. Please note that questions via phone will not be accepted.

Closing date for applications is March 13, 2026.

Key skills/competency

• International Development
• Project Management
• Matchmaking
• Climate Adaptation
• Business Development
• Partnership Building
• Cleantech
• AgTech
• OceanTech
• Gender Lens Investment