Business Due Diligence Consultant/s

BUSINESS DUE DILIGENCE CONSULTANT/S

ABOUT US

With more than 35 years of experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specialising in international development. We have managed the implementation of over 2500 projects in more than 95 countries around the globe for clients such as DFID, DFAT Australia, the European Union, the World Bank and Global Affairs Canada. We work with governments, partner organisations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, economic and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies from 2017 to 2021.

BACKGROUND

GREAT is a flagship initiative of the Australian aid program.  The program promotes women’s economic empowerment (WEE) in the ethnically diverse north-west region of Vietnam, through the integration of a market systems development (MSD) approach.

The primary beneficiaries are women living in the provinces of Son La and Lao Cai, while an overarching emphasis is placed on the inclusion of women from ethnic minority communities as these provinces are home to twelve and twenty-six ethnic groups respectively.

The objectives of the Aus4Equality|GREAT Program are:

• Objective 1 – Women, particularly ethnic minority women living in Son La and Lao Cai, have improved economic benefits.
• Objective 2 – Women, particularly 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 – Women, particularly 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.

Our approach to women’s economic empowerment focuses on:

• Reach: Engaging women in all project activities and addressing barriers to participation.
• Benefit: Improve women’s access to assets, financial services and support services.
• Empower: Strengthen the ability of women to make strategic life choices and put these into action.

The program is entering 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. Cross-sector strategies of women’s leadership and entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, digital inclusion, policy advocacy and behaviour change will complement the sector strategies.

To support the transition into the second phase, Cowater is seeking the services of an experienced consultant/s to support the due diligence of potential GREAT partners.

SUMMARY OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Reporting to the Deputy Team Leader and working closely with other GREAT staff, the Due Diligence Consultant/s will conduct due diligence on selected partners on market and business risks in the cinnamon, bamboo shoots, ramie, vegetables, fruit and medicinal plants and prepare the due diligence reports including recommendations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• In conjunction with the GREAT team, to develop the due diligence framework for selected partner proposals based on the due diligence guidelines.
• To provide inputs into the mission plan for assessing the technical feasibility of partner proposals.
• To lead the due diligence assessment of selected partners including interviews with partner management, relevant stakeholders (eg. government and mass organisations) as necessary and supply chain participants (eg. service providers, traders and households).
• Prepare a due diligence assessment report that will cover:
  
  • Market outlook and potential risks.
  • Relevance of proposed business model and potential risks.
  • Clear recommendations on whether the investment should proceed and any conditions.
  • Key risks and potential mitigation measures.
  • Capacity building needs of lead partner and other supply chain actors.

DELIVERABLES

• Due diligence assessment framework.
• Due diligence assessment reports.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• An excellent understanding of agribusiness and market-based approaches to development.
• Experience working on tourism development.
• A minimum 10 years relevant work experience, including experience with similar assignments.
• Relevant university qualifications, preferably at Master’s Degree level, in business, finance or another relevant field.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills in Vietnamese and English.
• An understanding of women’s economic empowerment and experience working with ethnic minority communities in northwest Vietnam.
• An understanding of inclusion principles and approaches of working with people with disabilities is preferred.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Candidates are encouraged to apply no later than 5 pm Hanoi Time (GMT+7), 10 November 2022. Please send an application to [email protected] and indicate in the subject “Application for Business Due Diligence Consultant”.

Cowater is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and people from minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply. We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.

For more opportunities, please visit our website at https://equality.aus4vietnam.org/careers or facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Aus4EqualityGREAT/