Internship at RECOFTC

Application Deadline – December 25, 2013

RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests holds a unique and important place in the world of forestry. It is the only international not-for-profit organization that specializes in developing capacity for community forestry and devolved forest management. With over 20 years of international experience and a dynamic approach to capacity development—involving research and analysis, demonstration sites, and training products and services—RECOFTC delivers innovative solutions for people and forests.

For its strategic program for 2013-18, RECOFTC has identified eight focal countries. Whilst headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, in recent years, the Center has established Country Programs and offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, with project presence in Lao PDR and Nepal, and a developing country program in China. The Center’s work focuses on the four thematic areas of: securing community forestry; enhancing livelihoods and markets; people, forests and climate change; and transforming forest conflict; for developing capacities for community forestry at all levels.

RECOFTC in Vietnam

RECOFTC has been working in Vietnam for more than 10 years, playing a major role in developing in-country capacity for community forestry. RECOFTC training curricula are used in the country's forestry universities, and the Center has directly trained hundreds of the country's forestry professionals. RECOFTC has carried out numerous studies and independent evaluations of Vietnam's forestry policies and programs, including a review of its Community Forest Management pilot program and a national capacity-building needs assessment. RECOFTC’s Country Program in Vietnam is working to help ensure continuing community forestry efforts work for both its people and its forests.

Regional Internship Program

RECOFTC’s 2013-18 Strategic Plan states that the Center will develop a new cross-cutting initiative to develop leadership opportunities for regional talent. The Regional Internship Program is a key component of this initiative. Each year RECOFTC will take on interns from each of its eight focal countries to work on country programs for the country. Additionally, RECOFTC will take up to four regional interns to support its work in the four thematic areas listed above.

An internship is a method of on-the-job training, and consists of an exchange of services for experience between the student and an organization. RECOFTC’s Regional Internship Program is  therefore targeted towards young professionals and staff from forest agencies and other relevant organizations who are motivated by a desire to learn more in the field of community forestry, or to gain some professional experience and at the same time to support the work of RECOFTC.

Internships at RECOFTC are structured to enable a broad learning experience relating to community forestry and capacity development, both in the office and in the field. Interns will be expected to engage in a variety of activities as a member of diverse project teams in order to gain experience in different topical and functional areas. Interns will also be expected to take the lead and overall responsibility for at least one mini-project.

Interns will be assigned a supervisor who guide the day-to-day work as well as acting as a mentor. Formal monthly learning review sessions will take place, as well as a final review at the end of internship.

POSITION SUMMARY

RECOFTC is looking to place an intern with its Vietnam Country Program (VCP). As well as the general experiences of working with the Vietnam Country Program team, the Intern will specifically focus on supporting the implementation of one of RECOFTC’s flagship projects in the country—the Grassroots Capacity Building for REDD+ project.

In light of this, the assigned supervisor will be the VCP Training Coordinator, who is the National Project Coordinator for the Grassroots project in Vietnam. However, additional mentoring and direction on broader program activities will come from the Country Program Coordinator.

The position of Intern is for Vietnamese national and will be based in Hanoi with frequent travel to project areas and in the region. The contract duration is for one year .

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Key responsibilities will be, but not limit to the following:

• Support to Training Coordinator for coordinating with partner organizations and National REDD Taskforce/Working groups and other climate change networks in the country;
• Assist the Training Coordinator in the facilitation of the review and update of training and resource material on REDD+;
• Together with Training Coordinator take part in ongoing training and awareness program on REDD+
• Document and disseminate project experiences, lessons learned from the grassroots project, and disseminate them through different channels;
• Coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of the project activities in the country comply data from all training events and share them with regional project team;
• Prepare the annual plan of action for the grassroots project together with the Training Coordinator;  
• Perform other tasks as are assigned from time to time by the Country Program Coordinator.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

The Intern will have the following essential and desirable qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Bachelor degree in Natural Resource Management or related field
• Good written and verbal Vietnamese and English
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including MS Excel.
• Vietnamese National Only
• Available for regular travel to the field
• Organized, efficient and able to meet deadlines and manage events
• Proven interest in environmental and/or social development issues
• Excellent interpersonal skills (individually and in-groups) and ability to interact with people at all levels in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment. This implies flexibility and open-mindedness.
• Value the sharing of information and continuous improvement in a co-operative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning

Desirable

• Some working experience, particularly in project coordination and training, and knowledge on Climate change issues, especially REDD+
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally.
• Output and outcome oriented
• Experience in working with international organizations

General

• In addition to job specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics (including attitudes and skills):
• Posses leadership personality, and able to take on and solve problems quickly and efficiently;
• Initiative and ability to make informed independent judgments (which is not inconsistent with an overall team approach)
• Ability to work in a variety of cultural and institutional contexts.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV and a cover letter indicating why they are suitable for this position along with salary requirements and current contact details of three referees to [email protected]. Please quote the position title in the subject line of the email. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

To learn more about RECOFTC, please visit our website www.recoftc.org

Women are strongly encouraged to apply. RECOFTC is an equal opportunity employer and the successful candidate will be selected based on merit.

*RECOFTC reserves the right to offer the position at a lower grade.