As part of a consortium with Chemonics and Portland State University, JAA implemented the USAID-funded Vietnam Strengthening Provincial Capacity (SPC) activity. The consortium worked with two Vietnamese institutions – the School of Government at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (SOG/UEH) and the Startup Vietnam Foundation (SVF) – to improve the responsiveness, quality, and sustainability of economic governance capacity improvement offerings available to provincial officials. This project strengthened these institutions with the ultimate goal of enhancing the capacity of provincial officials and improving economic governance. JAA worked with SVF to strengthen its ability to provide services that build entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems in provinces away from the major cities whose ecosystems have received the most attention and support and with SOG/UEH to become more market-driven in offering training, consulting, and support services to provinces. For both institutions, a focus of JAA’s work was on long-term operational and financial sustainability so that they can continue offering high quality services demanded by provincial officials.  By the end of the project in 2022, both local partners had created sustainable business models while experiencing substantial growth during the preceding three years despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

In collaboration with Portland State University, JAA supported the development of a four-day course on “Innovation and Digital Transformation” for provincial officials tasked with implementing the central government’s ambitious National Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). Specifically, JAA developed a module to create the foundations of strategy development which introduced key concepts and trends in innovation and digital transformation as well as approaches to understanding and analyzing economic competitiveness. JAA prepared course materials including a syllabus, readings, presentations, and assignments for participants. JAA then trained instructors from SOG/UEH to be able to deliver the course to provincial officials.  

In the initial phase of this project, JAA worked closely with SOG/UEH and SVF to review, articulate, and enhance their business models to support sustainability. Through this, the institutions are developing their abilities to identify market needs and respond to these needs with appropriate products and services. The business models developed by JAA and local partners were used throughout the life of the SPC project to guide project implementation and the independent activities of the local partners. These business models were reviewed and updated regularly during project implementation to adapt to changing conditions and institutional development. 

JAA worked with SVF and SOG/UEH to engage with government officials within target provinces to identify needs and assess demand for services as part of a market needs assessment process. Through workshops, ongoing coaching, and pilot field exercises in one province, JAA has assisted its local partners to recognize pain points for provincial officials and respond to those with solutions – either through existing product offerings or through a product development process. JAA also conducted training and capacity building tailored to each organization around themes including product development, marketing and outreach, public-private dialogue facilitation, and service delivery. 

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Duration: 2019 - 2023