Livelihoods Development Specialist (LDS)

Job Description   

Project:    USAID Green Annamites
Office:    ECODIT, 5th Green Plaza, Da Nang, Vietnam
Position:    Livelihoods Development Specialist (LDS)
Duty station:    Da Nang, Vietnam
Work area:    This position will be based in Danang, Vietnam and will be expected to travel to other locations in Vietnam to implement this Scope of Work.
Starting date:    January 20, 2019
Probation period:    2 months

PROJECT OVERVIEW

ECODIT is implementing the USAID-funded Green Annamites activity (GA Project) in Quang Nam (QN) and Thua Thien Hue (TTH) provinces in central Vietnam. The purpose of the Green Annamites activity is to assist Vietnam’s transition to climate-smart, low emission, and resilient development that protects people, landscapes, and biodiversity in Vietnam’s priority forested provinces. The project’s overall period of performance is September 26, 2016 to December 16, 2020, subject to the availability of funding, and includes three main Tasks:

• Increased application of low emission land use: conserve the existing carbon sink; stop emission from small scale deforestation and degradation, and unsustainable agricultural practices; and increase carbon sequestration from restoration of degraded landscapes. A key component of Green Annamites’ intervention strategy is the focus on livelihood improvement and value chains, aiming at generating sustainable revenue streams for communities living in forested areas and in or around protected areas.
• Strengthen biodiversity conservation: mitigate threats to the globally significant biodiversity in central Vietnam, including poaching and activities that destroy habitats for wildlife and cause habitat fragmentation (e.g., deforestation, forest degradation, and conversion of natural forest into plantation)
• Increase resilience for vulnerable communities: ensure that results of activities supported under the two other components are not affected by climate change impacts. In addition, under this Task the Program conducts standalone activities to build resilience for vulnerable communities. Much of these activities reflect findings and recommendations from the climate vulnerability assessment findings.

A central component of Green Annamites’ intervention strategy is the focus on livelihood improvement and value chains, aiming at generating sustainable revenue streams for communities living in forested areas and in or around protected areas. Experience shows that with adequate level of support, forest communities reduce their impact on forested ecosystems when other income-generating alternatives to deforestation and forest degradation are available.

Key program results include improving the livelihoods of 20,000 forest dependent people; improving biodiversity of over 400,000 hectares of natural forest, mobilizing at least $20 million in public and private resources for sustainable livelihoods and forest conservation; and avoiding and/or removing the equivalent of at least 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

WORK BACKGROUND

The Livelihoods Development Specialist (LDS) is responsible for: (1) Support the design and implementation of the sustainable livelihood activities of the program, and (2), The successful implementation of the private sector engagement strategy to attract additional finance to support implementation of the Project livelihood activities and contribute to mobilize USD $20 million, a key result of the USAID Green Annamites Project.

The LDS will provide technical support for the successful implementation of Tasks 1 and 2 and report directly to the Sustainable Landscapes and Climate Change (SLCCL) Lead and indirectly to the Biodiversity Conservation Lead (BCL) and provide support for the implementation of Tasks 1 and 2. This position will supervise consultants, subcontractors and grantees, to ensure that project outputs meet the highest applicable professional standards of quality and comply with contractual requirements. The LDS will also work closely with other project staff to identify appropriate opportunities for Activity Fund use and implementation.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Party and direct supervision of the SLCCL S/he will support the design and implementation livelihood activities with a value chain and market driven approach. S/he will also be responsible for the design and implementation of the private sector engagement strategy to bring in additional financial support for the implementation and scale up of value chains supported by the USAID Green Annamites Project. The LDS has key roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Support the design, supervision, implementation and monitoring of livelihoods activities implemented by the Program under Tasks 1 and 2. Sustainable livelihoods, value chains and private sector engagement are the key areas of activities.
• Develop Statements of Work (SOWs) and/or Requests for Quotations (RFQs) for consultants, subcontractors, and grantees to implement project activities; review and participate in the assessment of quotations or applications received when asked to do so.
• Manage the assigned grants/sub-contracts of livelihood development activities under Tasks 1 and 2. 
• Work closely with the other project staff to support the design and implementation of other activities under Task 1 and 2.
• Support the implementation of the new financial mobilization plan for the Project and facilitate the channeling of additional funds into livelihood activities. 
• Provide high quality and timely inputs for the preparation of Project deliverables (such as work plans, quarterly and annual reports, monitoring and evaluation reports, communication products, fact sheets, etc) to USAID and Government counterparts; 
• Work closely with Project staff at the provincial offices in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue to provide timely supports on implementation of livelihood activities in the field.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation process of livelihood activities under Task 1 and 2, as well as provide inputs for the successful implementation of the Project’s communication strategy.
• Integrate gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) issues into all livelihoods activities, where applicable.
• Undertake other duties as requested by the direct supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor or higher degree on agronomy, forestry, agricultural economics, rural development, business development or other discipline relevant to the objectives of this position.
• Demonstrate at least 7 years of experiences in implementation of livelihood/income generating activities, agribusiness, social enterprises, corporate social responsibility, etc. 
• Demonstrate experience and network in the private sector.
• Experience in establishing public private partnerships and raising funds from a variety of sources
• Have a solid knowledge and understanding of Vietnam’s institutional environment for agricultural development and engagement of private sector in livelihood activity development.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English, sound project management experience and experience working with governmental institutions, NGOs, private sector and local communities.

Interested candidates should send application including:

• A cover letter
• Latest CV, and
• Three references.

By December 31, 2018 to the following address: [email protected]