Vietnam Urban Energy Security (VUES) Inception Phase Work Plan

The project directly supports USAID Vietnam's Development Objective of strengthening capacity to protect and improve health and well-being. VUES objectives in support of cities are to improve enabling policies, regulations, and city-level plans/programs for the deployment of resilient, distributed energy services. The project's overall goal is to deploy advanced, distributed energy solutions to improve urban energy resilience and energy security. At its completion, the VUES project must achieve the following high-level expected results: at least 400 megawatts of advanced, distributed energy systems deployed in selected cities, at least $600 million in public and private investment mobilized for advanced, distributed urban energy systems, and at least 20 innovative solutions to address urban energy and environment issues demonstrated and/or commercialized. The VUES program is designed to increase the deployment of advanced, distributed energy solutions in urban areas by implementing technical assistance and training in three parallel and intertwined components: Improved Enabling Environment, Enhanced Private Sector Investment, and Demonstrated and Deployed Innovative Solutions. The project also includes a Grants under Contract fund to lower risk to local financial institutions and companies and to encourage and reward collaboration of private sector and local entities to introduce innovative equipment, technologies, and approaches. The VUES project will provide a combination of short- and long-term technical assistance to the Government of Vietnam at the national and city level, to NGOs, and private sector partners. The project will primarily use full-time staff, short-term technical assistance to deliver U.S. Government Assistance. VUES will also use subcontracts and the grants under contract to implement activities, take advantage of unforeseen opportunities, and provide additional support. The project's management and administration will be overseen by USAID/Vietnam through the Task Order Contracting Officer Representative (TOCOR). The TOCOR is responsible for monitoring the project's quality and effectiveness and will work closely with the Inception Engagement Team (IET) in the design of the work plan and initial stakeholder interface. USAID also provides guidance to the VUES Management Team in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning, Gender, and other areas to ensure compliance with USAID requirements. The VUES project's inception phase work plan covers activities to be conducted in Hanoi and in the six short-listed cities during the inception phase of the project. The work plan includes the development of a clear and concise rationale and methodology for the ranking and selection of cities for the implementation phase of the project, a description of activities and sub-activities that address the inception phase scope of work and deliverables, information on how VUES will engage with stakeholders and conduct the co-creation process, and timelines for implementing inception phase activities. The VUES project's period of performance covers four years, from October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2023. The project's objectives and associated activities are linked to USAID's Development Objective Intermediate Result Increased adoption of approaches to achieve climate-smart development, resilience, and biodiversity conservation.