Livelihoods and Community Support Coordinator

The Project “Workplace-Based Prevention & Employment & Supportive Services for High-Risk Individuals in Vietnam”

Chemonics International, a global development firm based in Washington, DC, seeks a Micro-Finance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Coordinator for the USAID HIV Workplace Project in Vietnam to help to provide employment opportunities and services for people living with HIV/AIDS and other high-risk individuals.

Position: Livelihoods and Community Support Coordinator
Estimated Level of Effort: full-time
Estimated Dates: November 2011 – September 2013

Background:
USAID’s Workplace-based Prevention and Employment and Supportive Services for High-Risk Individuals in Vietnam Project (USAID HIV Workplace), is a five-year, $3 million project implemented through September 2013 by Chemonics International, Inc. under the U.S. President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The objective of the Project is to prevent HIV infection among high-risk individuals and to provide employment opportunities and economic rehabilitation services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and other high risk individuals to help reduce discrimination and increase the possibility of prevention. To meet this objective, the Project operates within the three broad areas of workplace policies, vocational counseling and training, and microfinance. The project works with government organizations, enterprises, and communities to promote the integration of effective prevention and support activities for workers in high risk working environments.

One of the key components of the Project is to expand access to employment services to HRIs in order to accelerate their economic rehabilitation. Micro-finance is a key element of the economic rehabilitation strategy. Developing microfinance as a viable and sustainable mechanism for economic strengthening of PLHIV/HRIs by mainstreaming HIV into microfinance institutes and banks is a key microfinance strategy of the project in its fiscal year 2011 (starting from October 2010). This focuses on improving access of PLHIV and HRIs to integrated services of HIV/AIDS and microfinance through mainstream HIV in two professional and financially viable microfinance institutions and link them with HIV-focused organizations in order to complement microfinance services with other social support services for PLHIV and HRIs clients of these institutions.

This position will work in close collaboration with other staff of the project team and project partners in microfinance components to ensure the smooth and effective identification of those PLHIV and HRIs who are in need and eligible for microfinance services for self-employment. The position is also required to collaborate with project partners and sub-contractors to coordinate and ensure timely provision of non-financial support for the loan beneficiaries during their loans utilization.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic responsibilities:
1. Work with concerned organizations based on a participatory approach, and coordinate activities among organizations related to the project.
2. Support the project partners in ensuring effective communication about the available microfinance services and identification of potential clients for microfinance services
3. Provide technical support to local partners in referring the microfinance clients to relevant social and health services available at selected community
4. Provide technical support to local partners and end-beneficiaries on micro-finance capacity building in order to implement project activities.
5. Collaborate with local partners to provide increased resources for HIV/AIDS programs for current and new HRI clients.
6. To implementation of the project in compliance with provision of the Project Contract.

Technical responsibilities in the area of Micro-Finance:
1. Work in both Vietnamese and international organizations based on a participatory approach, and coordinate activities among organizations related to the project.
2. Study and master information on the existing microfinance services and procedures of the Project’s partner for effective support to local partners in working with different self-help groups and other channel to communicate and identify potential clients for microfinance services.
3. Collaborate closely with the project partners and microfinance clients to identify needs for business development and coordinate with sub-contractors for support.
4. Do the follow-up and coordinate with local subcontractors and partners to ensure effective provision of relevant business development support and loan utilization monitoring to microfinance clients
5. Prepare terms of reference and budget estimates for related workshops and trainings based on proposals and on discussion with counterparts using participatory methods.
6. Monitor consultancies to ensure project activities are effective implemented and are in accordance with Project goals and USAID regulations.
7. Write documents on the progress of the Project’s micro-finance activities, including success stories, assessment reports, and quarterly progress reports for internal and external use.
8. Review, edit, and provide comments on consultancy reports.
9. Follow up on micro-finance activities to conduct data collection for assessments, studies, surveys and the monitoring and evaluation of these activities.
10. Estimate budgets for activities based on proposals and on discussions with counterparts using a participatory methods.
11. Travel outside Hanoi when needed

Operational Responsibilities:
1. Maintain the organization of plans and reports related to projects and programs, keeping program and project administration in order
2. Visit technical meetings and workshops related to the responsible areas.
3. Translate and/or supervise translation and distribution of documents
Share experience, knowledge and skills with other staff members and support a university level intern who will give administrative support to the program
4. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
- University degree in economics or health or other relevant area.
- At least five years experience working with self-help groups and/or projects and program on economic strengthening for PLHIV/HRIs.
- Advanced computer skills.
- Experience in working with health organizations and mass organizations at community level are preferred.
- Ability or willingness to communicate and work with people from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
- Excellent and demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail.
- Ability to perform well with minimal supervision.
- Present a professional demeanor and exercise professional judgment.
- Ability to prioritize work assignments; capable of making decisions which will foster timely work completion.
- Willing and ability to travel domestically

Reporting
The Livelihoods and Community Support Coordinator will report to the Chief of Party and the Deputy Chief of Party.

Application Instructions:
Send CVs and expressions of interest to [email protected] by 28th October 10, 2011. Please visit www.chemonics.com for more information about our company.