Message-ID: <9810229091.AA909100404@asiafound.org> Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 00:53:15 -0800 From: Michael Rea <mailto:mrea@ASIAFOUND.ORG> Subject: Mongolia economic development opportunity To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
I would like to post the following announcement, though it will likely come across without formatting. For more information please contact me as soon as possible.Regards, Mike Rea
Program Officer The Asia Foundation Tel: 415.982.4640 mailto:mrea@asiafound.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Chief of Party, Rural Civil Society Program The Asia Foundation/Mongolia
The Asia Foundation is seeking candidates for the Chief of Party for the Rural Civil Society Program (RCSP) in Mongolia. RCSP is a five-year project intended to stimulate private sector-led economic growth in rural areas and smaller cities of Mongolia.
PROJECT BACKGROUND Mongolia's dual transition from centralized political control and a socialist command economy to democracy and a market-oriented economy has resulted in rapid development and increased prosperity in and around the national capital of Ulaanbaatar. However, provincial cities and rural towns are facing great difficulties in making the transition. RCSP is therefore designed to help remove constraints to rural development by focusing on several key problem areas: a) provision of information including basic business training and advice for new and existing SMEs, and provision of technical assistance in selected areas of manufacturing, trade, and services; b) development of business associations; c) development of credit facilities in rural areas; d) training local government officials in market principles; and e) improving channels for local business to influence national level policies related to rural markets. Activities will be concentrated in the two most promising regions for economic development in Mongolia outside the capital. The RCSP will be funded primarily under a USAID cooperative agreement, and will be implemented by The Asia Foundation in partnership with Winrock International and Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI).
RESPONSIBILITIES The Chief of Party (COP) will be responsible for managing all aspects of the RCSP, including oversight of the wide range of activities outlined above, interacting with USAID and Mongolian officials, supervising expatriate staff, local staff, and subcontractors, monitoring sub-grantees, and managing financial and administrative aspects of the project. The COP will report to The Asia Foundation's in-country Representative in Mongolia and will work closely with expert staff in the Foundation, Winrock, and DAI in the implementation of the project. The COP will need to spend a high proportion of his/her time in rural areas where most RCSP activities will be implemented.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS < PhD, MBA, or similar relevant degree; < Extensive experience with small and medium enterprise development; < Work experience in Mongolia and/or similar transition economies; < Ability to manage a multimillion dollar development program; < Strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and supervisory skills; and < Mongolian and/or Russian language skill desired.
Funding for RCSP is currently under negotiation with USAID, with funding subject to performance based extensions and availability of funds for up to five years. This position is anticipated to begin in January or February, 1999, and is renewable annually for up to five years. For more information, please contact: Dr. Vera Young (mailto:vyoung@asiafound.org) or Mr. Michael Rea (mrea@asiafound.org).