Senior Project Officer

Project title: Strengthening of Inland Tourism in Quang Nam project
Title of position: Senior Project Officer
Grade: GS-6
Project Duration: 12 months
Duty Station: Quang Nam Province
Duration of post: December 2013
Application deadline: 9 April, 2012
Email: [email protected]
   
1. Background and project information
Tourism to Quang Nam province has been growing significantly over the last decade. This is due to the province’s tourism icons grouped together in the North-East corner, dubbed the “Golden Triangle”, consisting of the World Heritage sites Hoi An and My Son and the World Biosphere Cham island; tourism areas that attract most of the tourists to Quang Nam, with Hoi An being the tourist, transportation and accommodation hub of the province. Meanwhile, the inland mountainous areas receive much less attention in terms of tangible actions proposed; most likely because it is realized that basic conditions for tourism development haven’t been met, yet (infrastructure, access roads, water and electricity systems etc.).
The sector has great potentials for creating economic opportunities for poor communities in the province but economic activity is currently very concentrated. Therefore, the province of Quang Nam seeks to explore ways of promoting tourism to the inland areas of the province in a concerted effort with the programmes of the government to develop tourism in the Western, mountainous areas, aiming at providing social and economic benefits to local communities, contributing to poverty reduction and balancing the distribution of the benefits of tourism throughout the province.
Together with the provincial initiatives on tourism development, the ILO is addressing this challenge through the “Strengthening of Inland tourism in Quang Nam Project”, from May 2010 to December 2013. The overall aim of the project is to utilize Quang Nam’s tourism sector as a driver for poverty reduction in the province, especially for individuals (primarily, but not exclusively women and youth) from disadvantaged regions of the province, focusing in two approaches: bringing the tourists to the communities and linking the poor in the mountainous communities to the tourism industry by enabling them to provide hospitality and sell locally made products.
The project is managed by a Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and National Project Coordinator (NPC) takes charge of carrying out the specific tasks. In order that the project activities are well deployed, a senior project officer will be needed to assist to the CTA and NPC. This ToR, therefore, describes the position of a senior project officer.
2.Task and Responsibilities

A Senior Project Officer with experience in local economic development, small enterprise development or skills development, especially in tourism and value chain, is sought to work in the project for 24 months. The position is based in the project office in Quang Nam province, requiring regular travel to project districts.

The incumbent will report to the Chief Technical Advisor and will assist him/her in project implementation contributing to the timely and effective delivery of activities and outputs. In particular, the project officer will:

1. Support the CTA in implementing the project and in coordinating the work with implementing partners and beneficiaries
2. Participate in the formulation of the project’s rolling work plans.  Provide background information and inputs for the drafting or project outlines and documents.
3. Collaborate with the implementing agencies at provincial level in drafting work plans and ensure its implementation of local economic development, enterprise and skills development activities.
4. Assist in the capability building of beneficiaries in the provinces including local government departments, local institutions, small enterprises and young people
5. Monitor, backstop and evaluate the work of local partners and consultants involved in the implementation of project activities. 
6. Monitor the financial management of programmes and projects and analyze relevant resources and activities.  Keep records of expenditures and allocations.
7. Coordinate and liaise closely on project activities with the Provincial Project Management Board and the Secretariat; with other ILO projects in the province and other UN projects.
8. Assist in the development of training methodologies and materials in the technical area of the project for the various target groups
9. In consultation with a responsible expert, conduct training seminars, workshops and meetings with provincial and district partners.
10. Participate in the preparation of implementation reports, medium-term plans reports and budget proposals by drafting selected sections and preparing budget tables.
11. Prepare briefing notes and reports related to programming functions and compile information and materials as required.
12. Prepare informal translations and may act as interpreter for the supervisors or visitors if required.
13. Perform any other related duties required for the project’s satisfactory implementation as requested by the Chief Technical Advisor

3. Selection criteria:
Vietnamese national
Education:  Advanced university degree in development related field or equivalent experience such as business management, economics, and social science. Master degree will be an asset.
Experience:   Five years of progressively responsible clerical or administrative work, of which at least two year with development project support. Familiarity with government bodies and other stakeholders at different institutional levels and practical working experience with the tourism sector would an added asset. Experience in result-oriented monitoring and evaluation, report writing and communication highly desirable,
Languages:  Excellent knowledge of English/Vietnamese with the ability to draft well. 
Other Competencies:  Thorough knowledge of programme planning, implementation and evaluation principles, practices and procedures.  Good knowledge of technical data and programme management skills.  Skill in applying the methodologies of a technical or administrative field.  Ability to work with word processing and spreadsheet software, as well as computer software packages required for work.  Good drafting skills, and demonstrated ability to prepare reports.  Good analytical skills.  Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.  Ability to deal with a broad range of staff and to respond to their queries.  Ability to work in a team and to work under pressure.  Good organizational skills.  Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with people in polite, courteous and cooperative manner.   Ability to make sound judgements.  Must demonstrate a high level of commitment and responsibility towards completing assignments efficiently, accurately and in a timely manner. Personal commitment to UN principles and the rights based approach, including gender and cultural equity, and participation; Ability to travel to remote areas and stay away from home for up to 30% of work time;  Ability to engage on a personal level with poor marginalized communities and individuals; Ability to strengthen the project’s Monitor & Evaluation (M&E) system.
Conditions:   Conditions of employment are subject to the ILO rules and regulations.
This job description is intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification, as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic developments following discussion with the post holder. The post holder will be expected to work to agreed objectives that should facilitate achievement of key responsibilities in accordance with the performance review process.