GESI and Inclusive Business Specialist

As a gender-responsive, inclusive, and climate-resilient initiative, VN-ADAPT recognizes the differentiated vulnerabilities and capacities of women and men, and ethnic minority groups in agriculture and natural resource management. Women are key agents of change in promoting NbS, leading agribusinesses, and driving local climate adaptation. The GESI and Inclusive Business Specialist (GESI Specialist) will provide technical leadership to ensure that gender and social inclusion (including women’s empowerment) and inclusive business principles are fully integrated into VN-ADAPT’s interventions and value chains. The Specialist will focus on:

• Embedding gender equality, women’s leadership, and inclusion across all project components, with a particular focus on Component 3 (Inclusive NbS Value Chains and Private Sector Engagement).
• Building GESI capacity and technical advisory to agribusinesses, cooperatives, and SMEs to be inclusive, to apply women’s economic empowerment, GESI, and environmental & social safeguards principles.
• Supporting design and scaling of inclusive NbS business models that enhance livelihood resilience and equitable benefit sharing among smallholder farmers, women, and ethnic minorities.

Responsibilities

Economic Empowerment of Women and Ethnic Minorities

• Design and oversee implementation of the project’s GESI strategy, emphasizing capacity-building for SNV and the Consortium team, and project stakeholders. 
• Facilitate interventions that enhance women’s leadership, decision-making power, and control over productive resources in NbS value chains. 
• Support the establishment and strengthening of women-led cooperatives and producer groups as champions of NbS and climate adaptation practices. 
• Promote women’s and ethnic minorities’ participation and voice in local planning, community-based natural resource management, and value chain governance. 
• Develop and deliver training, mentorship, and peer-learning programmes to enhance women entrepreneurs’ technical, managerial, and financial skills. 

 Integration of GESI and Safeguards

• Lead the implementation and monitoring of the project’s Gender and Social Inclusion Action Plan (GAP), ensuring alignment with VN-ADAPT’s Environmental and Social (E&S) Framework. 
• Conduct or supervise gender and inclusion assessments for NbS interventions and private sector partnerships. 
• Support project teams and partners to apply gender-responsive budgeting, monitoring, and reporting tools. 
• Work closely with component/activities leads to ensure that GESI principles are effectively integrated into activity design, implementation, and results reporting. 

 Inclusive NbS Business Development

• Identify and promote inclusive NbS business models that combine climate adaptation, gender equality, inclusion of ethnic minority groups, and market innovation across target commodities and landscapes. 
• Provide technical support and advisory services to agribusinesses, cooperatives, and SMEs to implement inclusive business practices, improve women’s and vulnerable group participation, and access green or climate finance opportunities. 
• Support the design and piloting of blended finance, incentive, or co-investment mechanisms that enhance women’s, minorities’ and smallholders’ access to NbS-related investments. 

 Monitoring, Learning, and Knowledge Sharing

• In liaison with SNV’s Global Technical Adviser (GTA) on GESI ensure alignment with SNV approaches and tools for GESI 
• In collaboration with the MEL Advisor develop and monitor gender and inclusion indicators 
• Document and disseminate good practices, success stories, and lessons learned on inclusive NbS business models and women’s leadership in climate adaptation. 
• Contribute to communications and knowledge products that showcase gender-responsive NbS approaches and women-led innovations. 
• Contribute to the IKI Interface community of practice on Gender in Vietnam
• Contribute to MEL pause and reflect, learning and evaluation reviews 
• Support integration of gender and inclusion perspectives into new business development, proposals, and concept notes. 

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Vietnamese citizen
• Bachelor’s degree in social/development studies, gender, inclusive business, agricultural economics, rural development, or other related disciplines required. A Master’s in a similar discipline is desirable. 
• Minimum 6 years of relevant professional experience, including demonstrated expertise in GESI or women’s economic empowerment, inclusive agribusiness, and/or GESI responsive value chain development. 
• Proven experience in private sector engagement and facilitating inclusive business partnerships in agriculture, climate adaptation, or NbS sectors. 
• Experience in designing and implementing GESI action plans, especially in donor-funded programs. 
• Familiarity with environmental and social safeguards and gender and social inclusion frameworks (e.g. IFC, WB, or UN). 
• Experience in providing technical advisory and or capacity building support to a range of stakeholders such as MSMEs and development actors 
• Strong understanding of gender-responsive climate adaptation, financial inclusion, and market systems development approaches. 

Competencies:

• Ability to maintain a high level of attention to detail, ensuring efficient handling of sensitive information.
• Capability to manage logistics and finances related to project events and meetings.
• Ability to work independently and ensure that tasks are completed in a timely manner.
• Willingness to travel within Vietnam, especially to the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta region.

Additional Information

Contract Duration: SNV Vietnam offers a one-year contract with the possibility of extension.

Report Line: VN – ADAPT Deputy Project Manager (DPM)

Desired start date: 01 April 2026

Location: Based in Hanoi or HCMC, with frequent travel to Mekong Delta and Central Highlands

Working at SNV:

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org/careers.

How to Apply:

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and letter of motivation before 5.00pm on 27 February 2026.

SNV reserves the right to close the vacancy before the indicated deadline if the appropriate candidate is identified.

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