Terms of Reference

Position Title:

PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR (Re-advertised)

Location:

Son La with frequent travel in the province and some travel to Hanoi / Lao Cai

Period of Assignment:

1-year contract (with possible extension)

Reporting To:

Deputy Team Leader (for Program Coordination)

Responsible Portfolio Manager(s) (for direct partnership management)

Background:

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.

Cowater is recruiting a highly qualified professional as Provincial Coordinator to support a socio-economic development initiative - Aus4Equality|Gender-Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism Phase 2 (GREAT 2 Program) in Vietnam. 

The objectives of the Aus4Equality|GREAT 2 Program are:

Objective 1 – Ethnic minority women living in Son La and Lao Cai, have improved economic benefits.

Objective 2 – Ethnic minority women living in Son La and Lao Cai, have increased confidence and social status, including more balanced workloads and greater decision-making within the home, workplace, and community.    

Objective 3 – Ethnic minority women and household members living in Son La and Lao Cai benefit from more gender-responsive, inclusive, and effective provincial and national policies, plans, strategies, and programs.

The program is in its second five-year phase and GREAT 2 will continue its focus on agriculture and tourism, identifying specific sectors that lend themselves to opportunities for women’s economic empowerment and work with multiple stakeholders to address constraints, generate opportunities, drive market growth and increase productive value of the sector. A limited number of agriculture sectors will be targeted, in addition to tourism. Cross-sector strategies such as women, access to finance, digital transformation, policy advocacy and behaviour change will complement the sector strategies.

Statement of Duty:

The Provincial Coordinator provides leadership and coordination of GREAT 2’s work in Son La, establishes a close working relationship with the Program’s partners in the province, and acts as a focal point between those partners, the GREAT team and the Provincial Program Management Unit. The Provincial Coordinator also takes day-to-day responsibility for selected, high-impact project partnerships in the province.

Specific Duties:

Under the guidance and supervision of the responsible Portfolio Manager, the Provincial Coordinator will be responsible for:

1.     Project management (selected portfolio)

• Directly manage 3 to 4 project partnerships being implemented by partners in Son La 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, tourism sectors and gender equality;
• Input to, and support GEDSI and Policy coordinators and technical experts with, policy and WEE constraints and opportunities analysis;
• Support portfolio managers and technical experts in intervention concept development, partner identification and project design;
• 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 via GREAT’s reporting App;
• 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;
• Lead periodic partner performance 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.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Team leader, the Provincial Coordinator will be responsible for:

2.     Program coordination

• Represent GREAT 2 at provincial level;
• Establish effective working relationships with and liaise and support PMU
• Coordinate activities with the PMU and relevant government agencies to ensure effective functioning of the office and appropriate support to program activities and events;
• Support GREAT communications with input to media releases, briefings, communication activities and events;
• Supervise the work of provincial Administration Officer and Driver

Required Qualifications:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in business, economics or a related field, such as agriculture or tourism;
• At least seven (07) years’ experience working with multiple stakeholders, including government, community organisations, cooperatives, and private sector; Minimum three (03) years’ experience in managing inclusive business, value chain development initiatives, and/or implementing markets for the poor approaches in Vietnam;
• strong inter-personal and communications skills;
• Highly adaptive, solution-oriented manager able to work to hard deadlines;
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills;
• Experience working on agriculture and/or tourism value chain projects in Son La would be a distinct advantage;
• Good spoken and written communication skills (both English and Vietnamese)

Application process

Candidates are encouraged to apply no later than Fri, 2024-07-19. 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 [email protected]. Please indicate in the subject “Application for Provincial Coordinator – Son La”.

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.

For more opportunities, please visit our website at https://equality.aus4vietnam.org/careers