Project Officer

Terms of Reference

Project Officer

Project background

Tra Vinh University is looking for a Project Officer for the 21-month project titled “Piloting Automated Sensors for Improving Paddy Irrigation Efficiency”. This World Bank funded project is designed to promote climate-smart agriculture, agricultural sector in the Mekong Delta region of Viet Nam. The project aims to improve productivity and resilience, while improving efficiency of water use, energy use, and organic and inorganic fertilizers and reducing overall GHG emissions through the application of ICT initiatives to address the challenges facing agricultural sector. The project activities are planned to be implemented in 3 locations: Tra Vinh, Can Tho, and An Giang provinces. The Officer will be based in Tra Vinh and is supposed to visit each site every week, travelling by motorbike. For more information, please check the attachment.

Duration

The position will be for the full 21 month project period. (until April 2019). It will start as soon as the contract with the World Bank is finalised, which is expected to be in the third week of July 2017.

Reporting

The Project Officer will report to the Project Coordinator (TVU-staff).

Responsibilities

The Project Officer will be responsible for facilitating the implementation of all project activities in the field. In particular, he/she will:    

Facilitation:

1. Undertake regular visits to the field to support and monitor the implementation of project activities;

2. Coordinate the preparation of all project reports. Assist executing partners in preparing their progress reports in accordance with approved reporting formats and ensure their timely submission.

3. Prepare consolidated progress reports for project management including identification of problems, causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation, and providing specific recommendations;

4. Check that monitoring data are discussed in the appropriate forum (such as the periodical review meetings of the project management board);

5. Facilitate, act as resource person, and join if required any external supervision and evaluation missions;

6. Identify the need for changes in project implementation plans and propose appropriate solutions accordingly;

Communication

7. Develop close working relationships with all project participants and stakeholders;

8. Establish and maintain good working relations with the relevant government agencies, such as Departments of Agricultural and Rural Development, Cooperatives Alliances of all 3 provinces;

9. Make all efforts to engage key stakeholders in important external evaluations to ensure an understanding of locally perceived impacts and problems;

10. Facilitate exchange of experiences by supporting and coordinating project participation in workshops and any other existing network of local government and projects;

Reporting:

11. Report frankly on fieldwork, highlighting problems and possible solutions plus lessons learned, emphasizing on innovation in critical reflection and learning;

12. Ensure that participatory M&E and learning initiatives are specified in terms consistent with the direction of the project;

Qualification and experience required

Suitable candidates should hold Vietnamese nationality and have a degree in a field related to development and/or agriculture, agricultural economics, experience in field research and development projects and at least 3 years of proven experience with:

1. Monitoring and evaluation methods and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative and participatory);

2. Data and information analysis;

3. Report writing.

Desirable:

1. Knowledge of the focal area in which the project operates;

2. Knowledge of the Alternate Wetting and Drying technique (AWD) in rice farming

Payment and benefits

To be discussed during the interview process

Application process and deadline

Please email your CV and cover letter in Vietnamese in 1 pdf file of maximum 4 pages to [email protected] before 15 July 2017.

Contact:

PhD. Diep Thanh Tung, Dean, School of Economics and Law, Tra Vinh University

Address: 126 Nguyen Thien Thanh street, Ward 5, Tra Vinh city, Tra Vinh province, Viet Nam