Sustainable Landscapes/Climate Change Lead (SLCCL)

ECODIT is seeking Sustainable Landscapes/Climate Change Lead (SLCCL) candidates for its USAID-funded Green Annamites Activity implemented in Quang Nam (QN) and Thua Thien Hue (TTH) provinces in Central Vietnam.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

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:

1. 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.

2. 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)

3. 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.

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 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

WORK BACKGROUND

The SLCCL is responsible for leading the implementation of activities under Tasks 1 and 3, including technical direction and liaison with the Government of Vietnam (GVN).

The SLCCL for the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) reports to the Chief of Party (COP) or his/her designee. He/She will supervise Tasks 1 and 3 project staff, consultants, subcontractors and grantees to ensure that project outputs meet the highest applicable professional standards of quality and comply with contractual requirements. The SLCCL will also work closely with other Key Personnel to identify appropriate opportunities for Activity Fund use and implementation. S/he will perform and support other tasks, activities, and project reporting requirements as requested by the COP.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Project’s COP, the SLCCL shall lead the development and implementation of activities under Tasks 1 and 3. The SLCCL will be responsible for liaising with international and national private sector entities to facilitate sustainable financing project requirements. The SLCCL will supervise activities under Tasks 1 and 3 implemented by project staff, consultants, subcontractors and grantees to ensure that their work, including field activities, meet the highest professional standards for quality and excellence, and comply with the project’s contractual requirements including environmental compliance, as well as GVN requirements.  The SLCCL’s key roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead the design, supervision, implementation, management of, and reporting on Task 1 and Task 3 activities in the areas of sustainable livelihoods, value chains, carbon monitoring, environmental financing and resilience to climate change.

• Develop Statements of Work (SOWs) and/or Requests for Quotations (RFQs) for consultants, subcontractors, and grantees to implement project activities, and review and participate in the evaluation of quotations and/or applications received.

• Coordinate with the Deputy COP, and other Project team members including the Activity Fund Manager (AFM) and Task 2 Lead to identify  appropriate interventions under Tasks 1 and 3 pertaining to low-emission land use, financing for sustainable landscapes, and resilient livelihoods, and facilitate their linkages to related activities under Task 2- Biodiversity Conservation.

• Work closely with the COP, Project team members and ECODIT Home Office (HO) personnel as needed to prepare deliverables, develop work plans and project approval documents, and foster a rapid and smooth implementation of work plan activities, including the facilitation of technical workshops and stakeholder consultations.  

• Support other team members in their liaison with the GVN.

• Assist the COP and other staff to anticipate, identify and address risks, issues and gaps in the implementation of activities, in a timely and compliant fashion and reports these to the COP, and the ECODIT HO as needed.

• Support the monitoring and evaluation process of Task 1 and 3 activities, and provide inputs for the successful implementation of the Project’s communication strategy and the gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) action plan.

• Contribute to and lead other tasks or activities as may be requested by the COP.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in activities in the forestry or land use sectors, with 3-5 years in carbon financing, REDD+, payment for ecosystem services, private sector engagement, value chain development, and/or related fields.

• Master’s level degree in climate change, forestry, natural resource economics, environmental economics, carbon financing or other related fields.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English and Vietnamese, sound project management experience and experience working with governmental institutions, NGOs, private sector and communities.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit:

• A cover letter

• An updated CV, and

• Three references.

By December 15th, 2017 to the following address: [email protected]

Only select candidates will be contacted; no phone calls please.