Location - Vietnam

The internship will be based in Hanoi.

Partner

Microfinance and Community Development Institute (MACDI) is a research and development institute that provides technical assistance in microfinance management and Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) development. Through past and present projects and consultancies for clients including the Asian Development Bank, MACDI has developed strong linkages with the academic and business communities in Hanoi and the provinces near Hanoi. It also implements microfinance and business development programs that benefit 6,500 ethnic minority women in Hoa Binh province, one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam.

The Project

The Sustainable Livelihoods for Women in North Vietnam project contributes to the empowerment and increased wealth of Vietnamese women by improving access to a wider range of livelihood assets,
reinforcing participation in microinsurance programs and expanding their social and business networks. This integrated approach to sustainable livelihoods is made possible by CCA’s partnership with three rapidly growing community based microfinance institutions in Vietnam, TYM, CFRC/M7 and MACDI. The project strengthens the in-house capability of these institutions to provide entrepreneurship training and business development support services. The project directly trains 450 women and men to start their own businesses, and will train 60 trainers to continue the work.

Activities

The Agriculture and Climate Change Officer will be responsible for the
following activities:

1. Compile information on Vietnam’s current Climate-Smart Agriculture approach as well as international best practices through both theoretical and field based research
2. Assist with developing materials for publication and writing project proposals
3. Edit and develop content for the MACDI website to increase distribution of current research and materials
4. Document MACDI materials and methodology for holistic household farming practices

Qualifications

The Agriculture and Climate Change Officer will need to have the following:

Skills:

1. Degree (BSc or MSc) with focus on agroforestry, environmental science, or related field
2. Some experience in project management and a general understanding of the project management cycle, from development to implementation, review and recommendations
3. Experience in research methodology
4. Experience in quantitative and qualitative data dissemination, analysis, and monitoring and evaluation

Knowledge:

1. Knowledge in community participation methodologies
2. Causes, effects and consequences of Climate Change on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (or in developing nations)
3. Understanding of co-operatives or member-based business enterprises
4. Knowledge of the impacts of simple environmental technologies and practices that improve the income and livelihoods of smallholder farmers (e.g. Energy efficient rural cookstoves, conservation farming practices, weather network monitoring) is an asset

Successful candidate can exhibit many additional qualities:

1. Ability to communicate and effectively interact with people of different cultures
2. Can work in dynamic situations and is able to be flexible and adapt to change.
3. Takes initiative, set goals, and manage time independently, while seeking guidance and direction from your manager
4. Creative and innovative approach to project design and implementation
5. Works well individually and within a team environment
6. Motivated and driven to initiate and complete projects with appropriate follows up and monitoring
7. Organized and detail-oriented

IYIP Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the international Youth Internship Program, an intern must:

1. Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident legally entitled to work in Canada
2. Be a post-secondary graduate
3. Be out of school

Deadline for application: Thursday May 15, 2014. Only successful applicants will be contacted for an interview.