The Project Officer, reporting to the Agriculture Portfolio Manager, will work closely with various GREAT 2 team members as required and, in particular, will:

• coordinate with the Provincial Coordinator, Provincial Management Unit and other provincial stakeholders in the management and implementation of selected projects in agriculture and cross-cutting sectors in Lao Cai
• work with other GREAT team members including Monitoring Evaluation Learning and Research (MERL) and Finance to support and guide project partners in developing proposals for specific sub sectors and cross cutting sectors.

The Project Officer will manage and provide quality guidance and support to assigned partners for effective implementation and delivery of value for money results for beneficiaries and market system change in coordination with other members of the Agriculture Portfolio.

Specific Duties:

Directly manage 3 to 4 projects being implemented by partners in Lao Cai province including, but not necessarily limited to:

• Provide inputs to sector & systems analysis and update of local government and private sector priorities and plans in the agriculture and cross cutting sectors and gender inclusion work;
• Input to, and support GEDSI and Policy coordinators and technical experts with, policy and WEE constraints and opportunities analysis;
• Manage and quality assure partners in project delivery, providing guidance on adoption of approaches consistent with GREAT’s Market System Development (MSD) and Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) goals and objectives;
• Ensure partners are familiar and up-to-date with all guidelines, policies and procedures in the GREAT’s SOP and manuals, particularly in project planning, budgeting and disbursement and provide training as necessary;
• Support and provide quality assurance to partner preparation and update of intervention plans, annual workplans and budgets;
• Support partners to prepare quarterly progress reports;
• Verification and validation of partner’s completed activities for financial acquittals;
• Support ongoing output and outcome performance monitoring (including disbursement status vs budget) and identification of key issues and mitigation strategies;
• Support partners and GREAT in establishing performance feedback loops, identifying in a timely manner performance issues to inform project adaptation and decision making;
• Provide inputs to and participate in annual value for money assessments;
  Identify and support training to address key technical skills gaps as part of partner support;
• Support partners and GREAT colleagues to identify, document and share lessons learned, and
• Other tasks as required.

Required Qualifications:

• University degree
• Minimum three (03) years’ experience in managing inclusive business, value chain development initiatives, and/or implementing markets for the poor approaches in Vietnam;
• Good understanding and experience of the full and results-based project management cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting).
• Commitment, demonstrated knowledge, and understanding of minority groups in Vietnam and gender-related issues.
• Strong inter-personal and communications skills;
• Highly adaptive, solution-oriented manager able to work to hard deadlines;
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills;
• Strong computer skills
• Good spoken and written communication skills (both English and Vietnamese)
• Experience in the following areas would be a distinct advantage:
  • Working on agriculture value chain projects in northwest Vietnam and/or Lao Cai
  • Experience with women’s economic empowerment and supporting ethnic minority groups is an advantage.

Application process

Candidates are encouraged to apply no later than 5 pm Hanoi Time (GMT+7) Friday 11th October 2024. Applications will be assessed as they are received. We thank all applicants, however, only those making the shortlist will be contacted.

Interested candidates are invited to send an application to recruitment@aus4equalityvn.org. Please indicate in the subject “Application for Project Officer – Lao Cai”.

Applications should include:

• A cover letter responding to the selection criteria
• A Curriculum Vitae
• Contact details of three referees

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.