Gender Specialist

Technical Assistance (TA)/recruitment of staff
For the development of a Gender action plan as part of the 5 year PSME plan of SocTrang province.

I. INTRODUCTION
The province of SocTrang with the aid of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is developing and will implement a 5 year plan to help SMEs.
As a contribution to the provincial planning and goals the SME project will ultimately contribute to “expanded economic opportunities for poor rural men and women (including ethnic groups) in SocTrang province”. A stable and sustainable economic development in SocTrang province, whereby SMEs are thought to play a key role, with activities that can accommodate people looking for employment in terms of stability and better pay.

Gender issues in SME development:
- Proportion, representation and position of women in SMEs;
- Business’ services and support delivery enabling women’ equality in SME development;
- Access to finance;
- Role, participation in enhancing private sector (business associations, public/private partnerships);
- Gender friendly SSI investments;
- Public management of SME development includes gender sensitivity and approaches.

II. OBJECTIVE(s)
One important activity for 2012 is the development of a 5 year provincial SME plan for 2012-2016, the development of a Gender action plan that has to be mainstreamed into the overall 5 year SME development plan of the province.
The Gender specialist is to assure that planning and measures concerning the effects for men and women are properly considered and followed.

III. SCOPE OF THE GENDER SPECIALIST INTERVENTION

Period of assignment: March-April – May 2012
TASK 1:     Plan development and implementation

Pro active measures to maximize gender equality impacts:

The following measures will be performed:
- Supporting PMU (through technical assistance) to integrate the content and mechanisms related to gender (and Khmer ethnic minority) issues into strategies for SME development.
- Performing analysis of value chains of products, goods and services in aspects which may be beneficial to women.
- The capacity of the provincial government in collecting gender-disaggregated data needs to be supported. Collecting and analyzing information about formal/non formal sector.
- Researching and understanding the inadequacies of gender in accessing resources and economic opportunities (such as credit and collateral) and integrating various operating programs to provide credit and/or resolve ownership issues of land use.
- Reviewing training needs, and based on recorded comments of women entrepreneurs in Vietnam, women have a desire to be trained in management fields of finance and engineering (including international marketing approach) as well as training opportunities for women that could support information sharing and networking.
- Reviewing expectations of female entrepreneurs in a formal channel of communication with policy makers.
- Ensuring relevant departments to participate in developing and implementing project strategy of SMEs which meet world demand.

TASK 2:    Training and preparation of local staff
The TA/Gender specialist is to train and prepare a local (Women’s Union (WU) staff in following up the gender actions and mainstreaming in the 5 year program.
The TA will prepare a JD for the gender officer for the implementation phase.

IV. ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TA
1. The technical assistance will be supervised by and collaborate with the PMU.
2. The PMU wants the technical assistance to be carried out in close collaboration with Women’s Union.
3. The PMU needs the technical assistance to be carried out in March, April, 2012 with a final presentations and submission of the report(s) both in English and Vietnamese no later than Friday April 13 for the Gender Action Plan.
4. As the project follows the Program Based Approach (PBA) the technical assistance is obliged when and where possible to collaborate and make use of present and existing skills and experience of provincial staff and offices, in particular members of the project’s Task Force.

V. REPORTING
- Report and Action Plan have to be submitted both in English and Vietnamese.
- In collaboration with the PMU, the TA will assist in organizing the consultation and feedback workshops for presentation and validation of the GAP done.
- The TA is expected to produce a comprehensive Action Plan that highlights the findings, recommendations for integration into the 5y SME planning.
- The Action plan has to be done according to the agreed format with the PMUand the PMF in use.
The report includes a description on the actions and contributions of the TA for
- Plan development and the integration of gender cross cutting theme;
- Development of the GAP;
- Training and preparation of the Gender Officer

VI.    QUALIFIED APPLICANTS:
- 5 years relevant SME/Gender consultancy experience in/with SocTrang or Mekong delta area;
- Relevant University degree in related topics;
- Good communication and intercultural skills for collaboration with different stakeholders
- Proficiency in Vietnamese and English for the core consultancy team;
- Familiarity in addressing/incorporating Environment and Ethnic minorities);
- Knowledge of RBM
- Demonstrated analytical and reporting skills

V. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their application documents (in English and Vietnamese) consisting of:
1. CV
2. Application letter
3. Detailed proposal for Action Plan development:
Methodology
Action Plan structure
Fees and expenses
Timing (within set duration);

Applications submit on/before 9 March 2012 to: SocTrang SME Project Management Unit <[email protected]>