National Gender and financial inclusion specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. With presently 194 member states, FAO works in more than 130 countries worldwide, including Vietnam where the Organization has operated since 1978. The current Country Programming Framework (CPF) for the period of 2022‑2025 has four priority areas: (1) One Health (OH); (2) Climate change response, environment and natural resources management; (3) Food safety, sustainable production and consumption, and equitable livelihoods for all; and (4) Governance, Gender and PWDs. The incumbent’s tasks will mainly contribute to the fourth priority area.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Viet Nam, the direct supervision of ECTAD Senior Technical Coordinator of the Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Disease (ECTAD) in Viet Nam and in close collaboration with FAO Viet Nam and relevant government colleagues.

Technical Focus:

The incumbent will build on previous research conducted by FAO ECTAD on the challenges and opportunities faced by women livestock owners in Viet Nam. To foster economic and social benefits for women’s livestock owners in Asia, FAO is planning to conduct research to address current knowledge gaps regarding returns on investment (ROI) towards women livestock owners. The research will seek to identify ROI levels for women livestock owners in Viet Nam and the relationship between ROI and animal health status and practices.

Tasks and responsibilities

In close consultation with the Private Sector Engagement Coordinator and ECTAD Gender Focal Point and relevant ECTAD team members in regional and Viet Nam offices, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

• Conduct desk research on relevant financial solutions for women livestock owners.
• Suggest a methodology to estimate ROI towards women livestock owners and assess the relationship between ROI and animal health status and practices.
• Conduct interviews among relevant financial solutions providers for women livestock owners in Viet Nam to:
  • Collect existing data regarding financial solutions currently provided to women livestock owners.
  • Assess investment opportunities towards women in the agricultural and/or livestock sector data sharing from financial solutions providers towards FAO ECTAD and under what conditions the data can be collected and/or used for.

Ideally, a wide range of stakeholders should be consulted, including but not limited to:

• • Banks (e.g. agricultural banks).
  • Impact investors (with a focus on the agricultural sector and/or women).
  • Micro-credit institutions.
  • Large global and regional companies purchasing livestock from smallholders.
  • Livestock conglomerates hosting contract farm.
• Interviews will also be conducted with women livestock owners in Viet Nam to increase the understanding of animal health practices and its relationship with ROI among women livestock owners.
• Development of a database with all the data collected from financial institutions and women livestock owners.
• Development of standard operating procedures (SOP) for financial institutions to share data on a long-term basis with FAO on financial solutions towards women in the livestock sector.
• Undertake other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited university or similar institution of higher education in social sciences especially gender studies, economics, finance, development studies or related field.
• Proven experience in working on gender related issues and/or initiatives to support economic empowerment of vulnerable communities.
• Proficiency in English with excellent writing and presentation skills
• Proficiency in standard MS Office software, especially Word and Excel.
• National of Viet Nam.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proficiency in gender theories.
• Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders, preferably from the private sector and from rural communities.
• Experience delivering reports and analysis on international development challenges.
• Knowledge and experience in financial analysis would be an asset.
• Relevant advanced degree and knowledge of the agricultural sector are advantages.