Agri-Business Advisor

Terms of Reference

With more than 30 years of experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development. We have managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe for clients such as DFID, DFAT Australia, the World Bank and Global Affairs Canada. We work with governments, partner organizations, 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 in 2017 and 2018.

Cowater International is seeking to recruit a highly qualified Agri-Business Advisor to support the Aus4Equality|Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Program. The GREAT Program is a flagship initiative of the Australian aid program in Vietnam – it commenced in November 2017 and will run for five years (2017 to 2021). The Program seeks to promote women’s economic empowerment (WEE) in the ethnically diverse north-west region of Vietnam. The primary beneficiaries are women living in the provinces of Son La and Lao Cai with a focus on economic inclusion for of women from ethnic minority communities.

• Manage partner projects and provide guidance and support to ensure partners in Son La and Lao Cai to deliver sustainable results in a cost-effective manner.
• Identify capacity gaps and provide coaching/facilitate capacity building for partners to improve engagement with ethnic minority women that also achieves their business objectives.
• Conduct quarterly and annual partner performance assessments to identify opportunities for partners to adapt and innovate.
• Support partners in preparing and updating annual workplans and progress reports.
• Guide and coach partners to adopt new approaches such as market systems development and document lessons learnt.
• Work with GREAT’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MERL) team to implement monitoring and evaluation activities and maximise active learning.
• Provide input into GREAT Program communications activities.

• University degree in business management, finance/economics, agriculture.
• Minimum 7 years of result-based project management experience, facilitation and coordination skills
• At least 5 years of project experience in agriculture value chain development or inclusive business/market-based approaches.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge and experience with formal access to finance via commercial banks is an advantage.
• Experience with women’s economic empowerment and supporting ethnic minority groups is an advantage.
• Good computer skills.
• Able to communicate fluently and effectively in Vietnamese and English (oral and written).

• Entrepreneurial and results focussed attitude.
• Able to travel regularly to provincial project areas.
• Able to manage multiple demands, prioritise tasks, be flexible and willing to perform other duties and work irregular hours when required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen and show respect for colleagues.
• Able to work individually and as part of a team and show initiative when required.