National Gender Equality & Social Inclusion / Women’s Economic Empowerment Adviser - Agrifood Sector

NATIONAL GENDER EQUALITY & SOCIAL INCLUSION  / WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ADVISER 

AGRIFOOD SECTOR

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation driven by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Founded in the Netherlands in 1965, we have built a long-term country presence in over 24 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors works with local partners to equip communities, businesses, and organizations with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to markets and basic services - empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development. Our work focuses on three sectors - Agrifood, Energy, and Water.

SNV has been working in Viet Nam since 1995, and currently has over 30 national and international staff. SNV Viet Nam’s team works hand-in-hand with communities, government agencies, and businesses in more than 50 provinces, including the most remote and poorest areas of the country. We operate from a country head office in Hanoi and regional offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat.

Poverty and vulnerability are predominantly rural phenomena in Viet Nam, and the agriculture sector remains of critical importance to rural socio-economic development, employment, and livelihoods. Viet Nam has become an agricultural powerhouse – a leading global producer and exporter of many major agricultural commodity crops. However, agricultural production remains dominated by smallholder farmers, who, as the Covid-19 pandemic has shown, are extremely vulnerable to commodity price shocks, market fluctuations and supply-chain disruptions. Viet Nam is also widely recognized as being one of the countries most adversely impacted by climate change due to the large proportion of the population living in low-lying coastal and delta regions and dependent on land and agriculture for their livelihoods. SNV is strongly committed to supporting the Government of Viet Nam in promoting a more holistic approach that goes beyond agricultural production alone and aims to facilitate systemic change towards sustainable agrifood systems that deliver food security and healthy diets, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable food production and socially-inclusive economic opportunities that strengthen the resilience of vulnerable smallholder farmers to both climate and economic shocks and trends.

SNV Viet Nam’s Agrifood programme today is strongly focused around promoting socially-inclusive climate resilient agriculture. In recent years, SNV Viet Nam has implemented a wide range of projects promoting climate smart approaches and inclusive value-chain development throughout the country in numerous sub-sectors, including rice, shrimp, coffee, fruits, vegetables and spices. Many of our interventions support vulnerable groups such as ethnic minorities in rural uplands access markets and opportunities and women’s economic empowerment (WEE) in agricultural value chains.

Globally, SNV has committed to mainstreaming Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and where possible promoting WEE across our Agrifood portfolio. SNV Viet Nam is implementing and developing a number of new Agrifood sector projects funded by various clients and donors. Therefore, we are seeking a dynamic, experienced and highly motivated GESI/WEE Adviser to provide technical advice and lead our efforts to integrate GESI across our agriculture programme and help build our institutional capacity to design and deliver high-quality gender-responsive and socially inclusive projects in the Agrifood sector in Viet Nam.

The GESI / WEE Adviser will report to the SNV Viet Nam Agrifood Sector Leader and is expected to perform the following key tasks and responsibilities:

Project Design & Development:

• Conduct or manage/oversee GESI assessments and analyses to inform the design and development of gender-responsive projects or investments in the Agrifood sector, or projects that specifically support WEE in agricultural value chains.
• Identification of practical activities to ensure gender and social inequalities are addressed in design of new projects.
• Elaboration of GESI Action Plans (GAPs) where appropriate or required according to donor safeguard requirements.

Project Implementation:

• Review existing projects and develop pragmatic strategies and actions to improve the integration of GESI in implementation.
• Lead the technical assistance (applying and adapting SNV approaches and tools), or oversee the management of consultants, for key project activities promoting GESI/WEE such as conducting GESI audits and/or GESI self-assessments with agribusinesses that SNV works with; development and delivery of training on GESI/WEE for different types of project stakeholders including public and private sector partners, Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), agricultural cooperatives and smallholder farmers; facilitation of intra-household/community dialogues and behaviour change activities.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Assist the team to integrate GESI into the design of baseline assessments that collect age- and sex-disaggregated data and identify appropriate GESI targets and related indicators as well as GESI-related monitoring methods for project M&E
• Work with project teams to ensure the regular collection of data and other information for monitoring performance against GESI/WEE objectives
• Work with independent evaluators during mid-term and endline project evaluations on GESI-related aspects of project performance

Capacity-building:

• In liaison with SNV’s Global Technical Adviser (GTA) on GESI for the Agrifood Sector in The Netherlands contribute to the design and roll out of capacity-building and training for SNV staff on GESI/WEE in SNV’s Agrifood sector in Viet Nam.

Learning, Knowledge Management and Communications:

• Review project experiences and through reflective practices, identify lessons learned on and refine/improve SNV’s GESI and WEE approaches and tools and develop knowledge products as appropriate for internal and external learning, knowledge management and communications.

Business Development:

• Identify and track potential business opportunities for SNV, advise on positioning with competitors/partners, and contribute to and support the development of project proposals (or sections thereof) relating to GESI/WEE in the agriculture sector.

Networking and Representation:

• As a senior staff member proactively develop and maintain relationships with development partners, donors, local organisations (e.g. women’s organisations) and relevant government agencies
• Actively participate in and contribute to national policy dialogues, platforms and working groups pertaining to climate change and sustainable agriculture (e.g. the Climate Change Working Group), acting as a knowledgeable face of the SNV organisation with partners particularly on topics related to GESI and WEE.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Master’s degree in gender studies, sociology, anthropology, international development, or related fields; or alternatively agricultural economics/science (but with substantive practical experience of GESI/WEE and advanced understanding of concepts and methodologies).

Experience:

• At least 7 years direct GESI/WEE experience, including specific knowledge and experience in the agriculture sector.
• Experience in conducting gender analysis/assessments and development of gender-sensitive or responsive projects with strong private sector engagement.
• Familiarity with and demonstrable experience of environmental and social safeguards frameworks (especially gender-related requirements) of major development banks and development agencies (e.g. World Bank, ADB, IFC, GCF, DFAT, USAID etc) would be desirable.

Contract duration:

• The position is offered as a full-time national staff contract for a term of 1 year with possible extension.

Working at SNV:

• SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment.
• This position is ideally based out of the Country head office in Ha Noi (but Ho Chi Minh City can also be considered)

HOW TO APPLY:

Please apply by clicking on the I'M INTERESTED button and complete your application in our in-house recruitment system on or before 28th April 2023. 

Please indicate the position of the title in your application letter

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Female Candidates are highly encouraged to apply.