Inclusive Value Chain Specialist – Mekong Delta

SNV (www.snv.org) is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance. Together with our team of over 1,600 people, our mission is to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

 

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995 and currently has over 50 national and international staff. SNV Vietnam operates from a head office in Hanoi and projects in over 20 provinces in the country, including in the poorest and most remote areas.  

 

Vietnam Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture through Private Sector Transformation (VN–ADAPT) Project

 

Vietnam has become an agricultural powerhouse – a leading global producer and exporter of many major agricultural commodity crops, e.g. rice, coffee, shrimps, rubber, pepper as well as increasingly venturing into fruit-production and exports. Vietnam’s agriculture sector was and is of critical importance to socio-economic development, rural employment, and livelihoods. Recent successes in the uplands are, in addition to coffee, durian (high demand in China), avocado. Despite the emergence of more industrialised forms of agricultural production, smallholder farms still dominate. These enterprises operate often in buyers’ markets and are extremely vulnerable to commodity price shocks, market fluctuations and supply-chain disruptions. Vietnam’s emerging private sector is also heavily invested in agriculture, be it in production, processing, distributing or exporting.

 

Due to Vietnam’s geographical location, the country is considered one of the countries most affected by climate change. Along the long coastline with the low-lying coastal and delta regions lives a large part of the population, which earns its livelihood from agriculture and aquaculture. Both in the Mekong Delta and in the provinces of the Central Highlands, the effects of global climate change have already made themselves felt, endangering production and incomes.

 

SNV is strongly committed to supporting the Government of Vietnam in promoting a more holistic approach that goes beyond agricultural production alone and aims to facilitate systemic change towards sustainable agrifood systems that strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers to both climate and economic shocks and trends.

 

Vietnam Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture through Private Sector Transformation (VN-ADAPT) is a 5-year, €15m national programme in Vietnam to be implemented from 2023 to 2028. The programme is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for – the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). SNV Vietnam is the prime recipient of the funding, leads the preparation and implementation of the programme in consortium with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Centre for Environmental Management ICEM) Vietnam. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) is the primary political partner for this undertaking. The Programme has recently secured a final review and approval, led by MAE, to secure support by relevant ministries and provinces. SNV will work with the related ministries and provinces on full implementation of activities on the ground.

 

The project’s focus areas are two key climate vulnerable landscapes – the Mekong Delta (MD) and Central Highland regions. Here, VN-ADAPT aims to improve institutional capacity, to strengthen partnerships to channel private innovations and investment towards accelerated adoption of nature-based solutions in the agriculture sector. This shall be realised through four inter-related work packages, namely: i) Building multi-stakeholder consensus for Nature-based solutions for adaptation in Agriculture (NbSA); ii) Strengthening the enabling legal and policy framework for NbSA and the conservation of biodiversity in production landscapes (including the development of legal guidance for the establishment and implementation of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs); iii) Mobilising public and private innovation and investment in NbSA; iv) Communications, knowledge management and monitoring and evaluation.

 

The VCS is a senior staff member and as such expected to proactively develop and maintain relationships with relevant government agencies / officials, development and private sector partners, donors, local organisations (e.g. microfinance institutions, agri/rural finance institutions)

Under the guidance of the assigned by Deputy Project Managers (DPM) the National Inclusive Value Chain Specialist for the Mekong Delta will during project implementation take the lead in the technical assistance. He/she will apply, adapt and further develop SNV approaches, methodologies and tools. He/She will work closely with the Value Chain Specialist based in the Central Highlands (who supports work across (CH and Mekong Delta Landscapes)

 

Responsibilities

 

Project Implementation:

 

• Design appropriate project interventions and approaches, aligned with key government policies and programmes to develop and strengthen value-chains for key products of key Nature-based Solutions (NbS) models (e.g. integrated rice-shrimp, mangrove-aquaculture) that benefit smallholders and agricultural cooperatives.
• Develop detailed work plans and lead/manage key inclusive value-chain development project activities such as raising the awareness of all value-chain actors on the benefits and opportunities associated with diversified production systems in response to climate and market risks;  
• Identify areas of work for consultants, develop respective ToR, partake in selection processes, oversee the delivery of agreed services, and assess quality and completeness of deliverables;
• Conduct or manage/oversee Inclusive value-chain and market assessments and analyses to inform the design and development of agriculture/aquaculture projects or investments
• Develop and delivery training on inclusive value chain development for different types of project stakeholders including public and private sector partners, Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), agricultural cooperatives and smallholder farmers;  
• Establish/strengthen farmer organisation and cooperatives; capacity-building and training on farm business planning;
• Develop and strengthen market linkages among value chain actors; improving access to finance for smallholders, cooperatives and MSMEs
• Provide overall support to the Project Manager, and the project team to ensure the project operates smoothly and effectively;
• Contribute to other SNV activities as assigned by the PM or DPM.

 

Monitoring & Evaluation, Reporting:

 

In the field of her/his expertise, the VCS will:

• Contribute to developing VN-ADAPT’s M&E framework and monitoring plan;
• Collaborate with MEL Advisor to identify/verify appropriate targets and related indicators as well as monitoring methods for project M&E and assessment of impact on smallholders and markets;
• Lead/assist in the design of related baseline assessments;
• Facilitate, in close cooperation with the assigned MEL specialist and the consortium, the regular collection of information for monitoring performance against project outcomes and outputs;
• Contribute in writing to all SNV’s reporting obligations,
• Upon the request of the SNV Vietnam and/or the PM write subject matter reports;
• Support and organise, in close with the Project Coordinator, works during mid-term and endline project evaluations.

 

Learning, Knowledge Management and Communications:

 

• Review project experience and through reflective practices, identify lessons learned on and refine/improve SNV’s inclusive value chain development approaches;
• Will actively identify potential learning products and tools;
• Will participate in the development of knowledge products for internal and external learning, knowledge management and communications;
• Will represent SNV in, and contribute to, national policy dialogues, platforms and working groups pertaining to climate change and sustainable agriculture (e.g. the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Viet Nam, Food system transformation partnership),
• Will represent, on behalf of SNV, the knowledgeable face of the organisation with partners particularly on topics related to inclusive value chains in MD region.
• Will, in close cooperation with the Project Coordinator, update VN-ADAPT’s data repositories on SharePoint and elsewhere

 

Business Development:

 

• Identify and track potential business opportunities for SNV, advise on positioning with competitors/partners,
• Contribute to and support the development of project proposals relating to inclusive value chain development for relevant agricultural commodities and products;

 

• Master’s degree in agricultural economics, business management, international development, or related fields. A Bachelor’s degree in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional three years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• At least 7 years of proven experience in developing value chains for relevant agricultural and aquaculture products in MD region of Vietnam, e.g. rice, shrimp, fish, lotus, coconut/fruit crops
• At least 4 years of relevant working experience at international organizations years and a similar structured project located in the Mekong Delta;
• Experience supporting climate-smart agriculture, Nature-based Solutions programming, knowledge of international VC best practices are assets.
• Proven experience in conducting value-chain and market analysis/assessments and development of agriculture and rural development projects with strong private sector engagement;
• Independent user of IT, good computer skills in MS-applications (Word, Excel, Internet, Email);

 

Competencies

 

• Good oral and written communication skills (English and Vietnamese);
• Strong report writing skills;
• Ability to work independently and within a team;
• Good organisational and interpersonal skills; Creativity in solving problems

 

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: ideally in April or May 2026

Location: Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with travel within the project area in the Mekong Delta and beyond (ca. up to 40%)

 

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 06 February 2026.

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

– We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement –