Mekong Delta Biodiversity Conservation Specialist

BACKGROUND

USAID Climate Resilient Agriculture in the Mekong Delta Project (CRM) works with the government of Vietnam to enhance the resilience of the Mekong Delta’s communities, ecosystems, and livelihoods. The overall goal of CRM is to advance low-emissions, climate-resilient, agricultural livelihoods combined with biodiversity conservation to support carbon sequestration, healthy ecosystems, and resilience of vulnerable communities in the delta.

CRM will be implemented in 2023-2028 by a consortium led by Winrock International with partners IUCN, SNV, and IRRI. Government counterparts are the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Management Board of Forest Projects (MBFP).

CRM works across five provinces of Dong Thap, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Soc Trang, and Tra Vinh on three inter-connected objectives and one cross-cutting theme:

• Objective 1: Strengthen climate change resilience of the most vulnerable populations. CRM will engage stakeholders to assess and address vulnerability through enhanced climate information services, resilient livelihood, and safety net models, improved provincial plans, and increased access to finance.
• Objective 2: Strengthen management and restoration of natural ecosystems to provide ecosystem goods and services. CRM will take an inclusive participatory approach to identify entry points to support evidence-based transformation of legal and governance frameworks, improve management capacity, and incentivize natural resource conservation.
• Objective 3: Reduce methane emissions through low-emission and sustainable agriculture practices. CRM will work with stakeholders across value chains to assess gaps and opportunities and harness payment for environmental services schemes and other results-based finance mechanisms to reduce intensive rice farming and GHG emissions and drive transformation through a market systems approach.
• Cross-cutting: Develop and implement policies to advance climate actions and biodiversity conservation. CRM will also work with stakeholders to enhance development, harmonization, and implementation of policies, as well as to strengthen national and sub-national coordination. CRM will engage key stakeholders to influence and incentivize policy, practice, and behavior in favor of transformation.

IUCN will play a technical leadership role for Objective 2. Under Objective 2, CRM works with provincial government departments to enhance protected area (PA) management and coverage and to improve ecosystem management outside PAs. Since PAs cover only 7% of the Vietnam’s land area (and only 3% of the delta), improving conservation outside of PAs is essential to achieving the effective protection and management, and to contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 3 of protecting 30% of its terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by 2030.

Objective 2 indicators include:

• 250,000 hectares of natural ecosystems in the delta are conserved, restored, and managed
• 100,000 people receiving livelihood co-benefits (monetary or non-monetary)
• 10,000 people trained in sustainable natural resource management and/or biodiversity conservation
• 2,100,00 tons of CO2 reduced, sequestered, and stored

IUCN will recruit a biodiversity conservation specialist to lead and coordinate all IUCN activities under Objective 2.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Biodiversity Conservation Specialist (BCS), under the guidance of Deputy Head of Lower, will be responsible for the design and implementation of activities to improve biodiversity and natural resource management inside and outside PAs. These include existing and planned PAs, future OECMs, the transition of the second or third rice crops in flood-based crops in the upper delta and the restoration of mangroves in coastal provinces. This will require data collection and analysis, government engagement, and working with farmers to test and scale up solutions.

The position will be based at the CRM office in Can Tho with frequent travel to the five focal provinces. CRM applies a “One Team” approach, where staff hired by different consortium members are fully embedded within the CRM office and staffing structure.

The position’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• In close coordination with consortium partners, oversee Objective 2 field implementation on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.
• Contribute to the design of Objective 2 activities, annual and quarterly work planning, and reporting.
• Provide technical assistance to consortium partners, provincial governments, and other stakeholders on the application of methods and tools.
• Write terms of reference and assist recruitment of consultants as needed to implement project activities.
• Work closely with other CRM technical specialists, e.g., climate vulnerability and adaptation, to strengthen CRM coherence and impact.
• Based on pilots, scale up interventions to be delivered through CRM or other projects and programs to achieve CRM indicators.
• Facilitate training workshops, farmer-to-farmer learning, and business engagement to scale up and sustain improved biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.
• Work as a proactive team member on CRM’s cross-cutting activities, including policy advocacy, public communications, gender equity and social inclusion (GESI).
• Contribute to CRM monitoring, evaluating and reporting and ensure that good practices and lessons learned are widely distributed. Ensure data can be easily disaggregated by gender and ethnicity.
• Contribute to the development of CRM knowledge and communications products, including success stories, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and factsheets.
• Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager.

REQUIREMENTS

• A degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, or a related field (Advance degree is a plus).
• Proven experience in biodiversity conservation projects (at least 6 years).
• Familiarity with ecological assessments and biodiversity monitoring techniques.
• Knowledge of conservation biology principles and practices.
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical software (e.g: GIS).
• Experience in habitat restoration and management
• Ability to design, implement, and manage conservation programs.
• Strong organizational skills for handling multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in preparing reports, grant applications, and public presentations.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including governmental agencies, NGOs, and local communities.
• Ability to lead and mentor project teams.
• Comfort in conducting fieldwork.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

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