TEAM LEADER AND LEAD PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERT

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK PRIVATE SECTOR STRATEGY 
Founded in 1966, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) aims to alleviate poverty in Asia and the Pacific by fostering sustained and inclusive growth. ADB in partnership with member governments and other stakeholders is focused on delivering projects that create economic and development impact.

Identifying the private sector as the key to sustainable, rapid growth, the ADB’s corporate strategy aims to help expand and strengthen private sector participation in Asia-Pacific developing member countries (DMCs). To spur market-led growth, ADB invests in infrastructure and advises governments on the basics of a business-friendly environment, including reliable rules, regulations, and policies that do not disadvantage private sector enterprise. Reforms that spur entrepreneurial development, improve the business environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and stimulate foreign and domestic private investment are designed to enlarge the private sector’s role in the economy. 

ADB also provides direct financial assistance to private sector projects, and acts as a catalyst for investments that the private sector might not otherwise be willing to make. Through direct financing, credit enhancements, risk mitigation guarantees, and innovative new financial instruments, ADB helps create value by attracting private capital to DMCs and deploying business management or technical expertise to specific sectors and transactions. ADB promotes public–private partnerships in all of its core operational areas.

ADB provided $21.02 billion in approved financing in 2013. The main devices for assistance are loans, grants, policy dialogue, technical assistance and equity investments. The bank counts 67 member nations and has more than 3,000 employees. It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

MEKONG BUSINESS INITIATIVE
The Mekong Business Initiative (MBI), a new project of the ADB, will be a policy advisory and advocacy technical assistance facility to promote Private Sector Development (PSD) in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), with a focus on Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV). It will support business-enabling reforms and not be used to prepare non-sovereign transactions. The MBI will “think regionally and act nationally” in that it is a regional initiative focusing on common regional issues, but offering national solutions.

The MBI will initially focus on stakeholder consultations, diagnostic work, and advocacy activities with the intention of spurring demand for reforms. It will look to gradually build up a reform program in response to demand from CLMV private sector entities and governments, and will work to support reform implementation. The MBI will also support capacity building at implementing institutions to ensure sustainability of activities.

This MBI is co-financed by the Government of Australia and the ADB. The project will initially be implemented from 2015 to 2017. If successful then the TA may be extended.

The project will be based in Hanoi, Viet Nam, although there will be some flexibility for outstanding regionally based experts.

For more details go to the following link:

http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-document/150263/48270-001-tar.pdf

POSITION: TEAM LEADER AND LEAD PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERT
Expert will manage all long-term consultants recruited under the MBI. The expert will have a strategic leadership role in the MBI team to ensure effective implementation of the MBI's complex work program to achieve the initiative's goals.

He or she will advise and guide the consulting team across the MBI's three strategic focus areas: 

1. Reforms to business regulation environment 
2. Access to financial services, especially for SMEs
3. Knowledge management services

The expert will report to the ADB staff responsible for project managing the MBI and be responsible for:

1. Ensuring that the project outputs are innovative, reflect the PSD priorities and needs of CLMV and meet the objectives of the MBI’s design and monitoring framework (DMF). 
2. Developing, directing, and supervising delivery of a comprehensive program of analytical work to identify and prioritize reform activities.
3. Providing intellectual and administrative leadership and guidance to the communications specialist on developing the MBI's knowledge management and outreach or dissemination strategies across digital, print, and social media platforms. 
4. Liaising closely with regional and national business associations, including women’s business associations, and supporting their advocacy activities, and where appropriate, developing strategic knowledge networks with relevant technical and/or policy think tanks or other partners to support MBI advocacy with CLMV governments. 
5. Initiating events and engaging in business roundtable meetings with senior private sector stakeholders in CLMV. The expert will also advise senior officials in CLMV governments on developing and implementing business environment reforms. 
6. Responding to requests to prepare ad hoc policy briefing notes on private sector development (PSD) policy issues for the private sector and government in MBI’s strategic focus areas. 
7. Designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation surveys to assess the impact of selected MBI project activities. 
8. Liaising with the MBI's development funding partners. He or she will take the lead in preparing the progress reports, strategy discussions, and bilateral and regional reform. 
9. Making presentations on the MBI's work program and achievements at high-level conferences in the region and elsewhere. 

The expert must possess the following qualities:

1. At least 15 years of experience working on topics associated with the focus areas of the Mekong Business Initiative
2. At least 6 years of experience working in the Greater Mekong Sub-region
3. The expert will have analyzed and written extensively on problems of PSD in the GMS region as well as other regions and countries.
4. He or she must be capable of entering into advocacy and policy discussions at the highest levels of government, and with senior representatives and associations of the private sector.
5. The position will require demonstrated leadership skills and ability to inspire team members to deliver under demanding time frames.
6. The expert should have a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, public policy and/or a related subject.
7. The expert should be prepared to travel frequently.

LOCATION AND DURATION OF POSITION
The expert will be expected to relocate to Ha Noi, Viet Nam; however, there will be some flexibility for outstanding candidates to have the option of being based in Bangkok or other regional locations.

The MBI will initially be implemented from 2015 to 2017. This position has a duration of 35 person-months. If the TA is successful then there are possibilities for extension.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To apply please send an up to date curriculum vitae (including comprehensive details of key achievements and responsibilities) along with a covering letter of application tombijob@adb.org, quoting position title, e.g. “Mekong Business Initiative team leader”. The closing date for applications is midday GMT 31 December 2014.

Applications should consist of:

• full CV detailing professional qualifications
• a statement (maximum two pages) showing how the candidate meets the criteria listed above for the appointment and offering evidence of skills and experience.

Longlisted candidates will be screened by the Asian Development Bank during December 2014. Shortlist candidates will be contacted for an initial phone interview. Outstanding candidates will then be formally interviewed by a selection panel before final recruitment decision is made.