POSITION TITLE: Managing Co-Director, VUFO-NGO Resource Centre
LOCATION: La Thanh Hotel, 218 Doi Can, Hanoi, Vietnam
RESPONSIBLE TO: The Steering Committee of the VUFO-NGO Resource Centre
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Three permanent full-time staff, two long-term international volunteers, part-time contractors (accountant, interns, etc.); and Vietnamese volunteers
PROBATION: This position is subject to a standard probation period of 3 months
APPRAISAL: An initial performance appraisal and review will be carried out on completion of the three month probationary period by an Appraisal Sub-Committee or individual Steering Committee members appointed by the Steering Committee, followed by annual performance and appraisal review thereafter
DURATION: Two years with possible extension
SALARY: Based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: NOVEMBER 21, 2008
Email: eddy@ngocentre.org.vn
Background
International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs) have been providing assistance to Vietnam for many years. The number of INGOs supporting Vietnam has steadily increased since the adoption of the Doi Moi (Renovation) policy in the mid-1980s. As of 2007, more than 600 INGOs have established relations with Vietnam, with more than 400 of these currently supporting programs and projects with specific partners under current permits.
As the number of INGOs based in country increased, from around year 1990 INGOs began meeting together regularly on the last Friday of each month to promote coordination through sharing program and operational experiences and resources. Also around this time, the first INGO Directory was also published, as a way to share information about the contact details and activities of INGOs working in Vietnam. Both the INGO Forum meeting and the INGO Directory have continued until the present time.
Building on this coordination, in 1993 the NGO Resource Centre was initiated by INGOs in Vietnam with the support of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) 1. With currently more than 130 fee-paying INGO members, the objectives of the Centre are to:
- Promote, facilitate and contribute to the sharing of information, resources and experiences within and between INGOs, their partners and local organisations, in order to improve the quality and impact of their work in Vietna; and
- Strengthen the relationship and enhance the dialogue between INGOs and other development ‘actors’ in Vietnam, including government agencies, donors and local organisations.
The Centre is governed by a Steering Committee (SC). In 1996 a strengthened partnership with VUFO was established in order to enhance the expansion of the Centre's activities. This included a name change to the VUFO-NGO Resource Centre (formerly NGO Resource Centre), the reinstatement of a co-directorship and an expanded Steering Committee. Since 1996 the Steering Committee has been composed of five INGO representatives, the two Co-Directors (one from PACCOM), 1 representative from VUFO, 1 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), 1 representative from the External Affairs Commission of the Communist Party, and 1 representative from the Ministry of Public Security.
The INGO representatives on the Steering Committee are all resident Country Directors or Representatives of their respective organisations, and are elected by the full membership of the Resource Centre. The Vietnamese Co-Director and Steering Committee members are appointed by their various agencies.
The role of the Resource Centre continues to change and develop in relation to the changing overall development context in Vietnam, presence of donors, and role of national civil society, and in response to this the changing strategies and needs of INGOs.
General Duties
With the support and direction of the Steering Committee of the Resource Centre, the Managing Co-Director provides a comprehensive service to the Resource Centre's membership, supports the work a broad range of users of the Centre, including Government agencies, donors, Vietnamese NGOs etc, and manages the work of the Resource Centre.
The responsibilities of the Managing Co-Director include:
- Overseeing the day-to-day activities of the Resource Centre
- Overseeing the Resource Centre’s staff, consultants and volunteers
- Coordinating with the PACCOM Co-Director on the Resource Centre’s activities
- Participating in setting and documenting Resource Centre policy
- Representing the Resource Centre/INGO membership in various arenas
- Disseminating information to and promoting networking among INGOs and with other stakeholders including, Government agencies, donors, Vietnamese NGOs
- Providing guidance and support to INGOs and others on the development context and operational regulations for INGOs in Vietnam
- Responding to membership requests for information, support and suggestions for Centre activities
Specific Job Tasks
1. Management of the Resource Centre
- Lead and oversee all activities of Resource Centre in cooperation with the PACCOM Co-Director
- Directly manage permanent and short-term staff, contractors and volunteers of the Resource Centre
- Oversee and supervise Resource Center financial management and accounting ensuring standard financial procedures are followed.
- Prepare annual work plan, budget and report
- Engage in strategic planning as the future of the Resource Centre is defined in the continually evolving development and INGO context in Vietnam
2. Steering Committee (SC) participation and reporting
- Plan and prepare SC meeting agenda and minutes
- Report to the SC on Resource Centre activities
- Coordinate with PACCOM on issues to be raised with or addressed by SC
- Bring policy issues to SC for resolution
3. Networking and representation
- Promote effective networking among INGOs and between INGOs and other development agencies in Vietnam, through the organisation of thematic meetings, support to sectoral working groups managed under the Resource Centre, promotion of information sharing via the Resource Centre website and email lists, and responding to meeting requests from agencies working in Vietnam and other visitors;
- Support new organisations interested in working in Vietnam with information about development issues, regulations and administration of INGO activities, and other INGOs working in Vietnam;
- Represent the Resource Centre and the INGO community with Vietnamese Government bodies, donors, and local organizations and/or coordinate/delegate this representation as appropriate;
- Liaise with and foster close contact with, bilateral and multi-lateral donor agencies to improve aid coordination and to advance issues of importance to INGOs;
- Plan, chair, and document the the monthly INGO Forum for Resource Centre members;
- To promote NGO RC's linkage and cooperation with regional and international campaigns, networks, and institutions.
4. Fundraising and Public Relations
- Lead Resource Centre public relations and fundraising initiatives including from membership fees and other contributions, cost recovery for services, donor fundraising and other sources;
- Develop and implement new initiatives, activities and procedures aimed at ensuring financial sustainability of the Resource Centre and enhancing INGO contributions and operations in Vietnam.
5. Local Organisations
- Seek involvement of local organizations in Resource Centre activities;
- Encourage dialogue and interaction between local organizations and INGOs;
- Encourage training and education programmes for local organizations by INGOs and others.
Position Requirements
- Broad understanding of development issues including work experience in a developing country, preferably in Vietnam
- Familiarity with the work of INGOs
- Excellent English language communications skills - written and spoken
- University degree in development-related studies
- Previous work in liaison, networking and coordination
- Understanding of and ability to apply information and communications technology in the Resource Centre 's activities
- Organisational skills with ability to prioritise
- Management experience, including financial management
- Fundraising experience
- Ability to interact with a wide range of individuals and institutions
- Diplomacy, patience and maturity
- Sensitivity to the nature of the Resource Centre as an organisation serving the needs of many different types of organisations
- Vietnamese language ability desirable
