Long Term Expert – Fund Manager – Vietnam Business Challenge Fund (VBCF)

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change.
Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments.

Background:
The overall purpose of VBCF is to support the private sector in Vietnam to develop innovative business models that deliver both commercial benefits for the private sector and developmental benefits for poor people, in terms of job creation, income improvements and availability of more affordable goods and services.
The Vietnam Business Challenge Fund will award matching grants to firms operating in Vietnam through competitive calls for business proposals that will benefit the poor, be commercially sustainable and replicable in the long run. It will focus on three areas of support; Agriculture, infrastructure services and low-carbon growth.
DAI is looking for Fund Manager to undertake the day to day operations of grant disbursements and management of grantees.
Length of the project: 36 months
Start Date: July 2012

Duties and Responsibilities:
- Establish robust and transparent grants procedures in line with DFID guidelines
- Manage day-to-day operations of the Challenge Fund
- Ensure wide publication of proposal/bidding calls
- Assess financial and administrative capacity of grantees and train and coach grantees to enhance their capacity in these areas
- Contribute to efforts in meeting donor reporting requirements as well as reporting to DAI
- Europe home office
- Track and document the overall monthly programme burn rates and estimate pipeline needs

Requirements:
- Strong grants management experience
- Experience working with DFID
- Solid understanding of the business community and other relevant private sector organisations in Vietnam
- General knowledge of the state of Vietnam’s agriculture, infrastructure services and low-carbon growth would be highly desirable.
- Pre-screening applicants
- Ability to read, analyse, interpret and communicate financial information
- Ability to conduct fiduciary assessments of for financing

Key Qualifications:
- 7 or more years of experience working with the business community in Vietnam
- Experience in managing grants programs
- Excellent communication skills
- Fluency in English and Vietnamese (both written and oral) is essential

How to apply:
Please submit your CV with a covering letter to [email protected] quoting “VBCF – National Fund Manager” in the subject line.
Deadline for Application: 30 April 2012