TERMS OF REFERENCE

Project Assistant

Context

Background of DID and STEP project

Développement International Desjardins (DID) is a non-government-organization which belongs to Desjardins Group in Canada. It was established with a mission to support the cooperative credit model in the world in general and in Vietnam in particular. It has implemented several projects in Vietnam since 1993 to assist the People's Credit Fund network in its establishment and development.

In 2015, DID in collaboration with the Cooperative Bank of Vietnam proposed a project to support strengthening the People's Credit Fund network in Vietnam to Global Affairs Canada (GAC).The project was approved for a five year period.The project name is "STrEngthening the People's Credit Funds network (STEP)".

STEP is jointly managed by the Cooperative Bank of Vietnam (Co-opBank) and Développement International Desjardins (DID), and funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

The project goal is to strengthen the capacity of Co-opBank and its network of financial cooperatives, the People's Credit Funds (PCFs). The overall mandate is to support and advise the Co-opBank and PCFs network in their process of transformation and modernization in order to increase their level of integration and performance. 

The Project has the following objectives:

• Develop tools and competencies with Co-opBank enabling it to better support the People's Credit Funds (PCF) in their efforts to improve their competencies and raise their performance.
• Enable the PCF to deliver a range of safe and sustainable products and services that meet the needs of the rural population.

Cooperative Credit Model in Vietnam

The People's Credit Fund in Vietnam was originated from a cooperative credit union, which was formed by farmers and small entrepreneurs. Its mission is to provide mutual benefits for its members by seeking capital for their enterprises and farming efforts in order to improve their livelihood, reduce poverty and eliminate famine.

The Co-opBank, formerly Central Credit Fund, was established to serve as an apex institution for this the PCF system. Its mission is to assist the PCFs to contribute to implement the policy of the government for rural and agricultural development. The PCF system has a two-tier structure, first, the Co-op Bank and its branches acting as an apex institution, the second tier comprises of 1162 PCFs to date.

Objectives

STEP is currently seeking a project assistant. S/he will also act asInterpreter/Translator. The position will work with international advisors and will report directly to the Project Director and ensure the realization of project deliverables. The position will assist technical advisors and other project team on a daily basis.

Scope of service

The Project Assistant will:

• Provide direct translation to the project team on a daily basis which include preparing/translating documents and correspondences from English to Vietnamese and vice versa; the translated version must be in the same format of the original documents or in different formats if required/approved by the Project Director;
• Provide direct interpretation in meetings/workshops with various stakeholders in Vietnam from English to Vietnamese and vice versa;
• Prepare logistics and meeting arrangements for DID missions and accompany DID personnel during these missions;
• Prepare logistics for training/workshop/meetings as required;
• Encode data and statistics and validate if necessary to ensure quality assurance as required;
• Prepare summary of data and statistics in tabular formats and/or graphic formats;
• Prepare/type documents in Excel, Words, PowerPoint as required and format the documents to meet the needs for presentation and validation.
• Provide other admin. supports as required;
• Undertake any other tasks as required by the Project Director.

Deliverables

• Translated documents to be produced in the same format or other if approved by Project Director;
• Other documents to be produced and adopted by the technical advisors and/or the Project Director;
• Meeting arrangements and logistics for missions to be prepared and adopted by the technical advisors and/or the Project Director;
• Interpretation completion for meeting/workshops/training events and brief reports (written form and verbal) to be produced for such events attendedas required by Project Director.

Assignment

The initial contract term is 1 year with possibility to extend to 4 years. This is a project staff contract on a full time basis. The employer is Développement International Desjardins. The anticipated start date of the contract is mm/dd/yyyy.

The Project Assistant will base in the office of the STEP project in Hanoi with office facilities and administrative support provided by the STEP team. The Project Assistant will be available to travel within Vietnam as required.

Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum university graduated in banking and finance or in business management is a must;

Languages:

• Written and Spoken fluency in English and Vietnamese;
• Ability to interprete English-Vietnamese or vice versa with accuracy.

Experiences/skills:

• Minimum two (2) years of experienceas interpreter/translator with an international organization;
• Very good skills in office applications/suites such as Words, Excel, PowerPoint;
• Very good in data compilation and statistics is a plus;
• Experience working in microfinance or banking institutions in Vietnam or the Coop bank and the PCF network in Vietnam is a plus;
• Teamwork, organized, patient, dedicated, tactful, understanding, disciplined and mature.
• Strong skills in verbal and written communication;
• Autonomy, professional creativity and attention to detail;
• Availability to travel within the country for durations varying from 3 to 5 consecutive days.

How to apply and Selection Criteria:

• Applicants (women and men have a similar opportunity) are invited to submit application which include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae and scanned copy of relevant education/training certificates in English via email: jobs.for.ngo.hanoi@gmail.com
• Applications which are received after this date and time will not be considered.

We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected will be contacted.

Deadline: Tuesday, 11/7/2017

Any questions, please contact 043.8265118 (Ms.Trâm)