Consultant Position Description: Integrated Landscape & Climate Change Planner
1.BACKGROUND
Winrock International, an international not for profit organization, is seeking national applications for a consultant position of Integrated Landscape & Climate Change Planner in a multi-year USAID-funded Vietnam Forests and Deltas (VFD) program. The program supports the acceleration of Vietnam’s transition to climate-resilient, low emission, sustainable development by strengthening adaptation practices in vulnerable communities and by improving forest and natural resource management.
VFD is a five-year project with a total value of approximately $26.5 million USD. The project comprises of 3 technical components as Sustainable Landscapes, Adaptation and Coordination & Policy Support at National Level.
2.POSITION DESCRIPTION
Activities for building resilience to climate change will focus not only on local level disaster risk reduction and improved livelihood approaches, but also on strengthened planning practices at district, provincial and national levels. In addition, in order to manage risk from existing and future climate-related challenges, the planner must have a sound understanding of natural hazards and how land-use planning integrates a range of socio-environmental variables to minimize future threats. The planner will also convene diverse stakeholders to meet these climate risks collaboratively and sustainably.
3.RESPONSIBILITIES
Using the Nam Dinh Province in the Red River Delta of Vietnam as a case-study, the consultant will have the following tasks:
- Support an international expert to develop a set of comprehensive guidelines and a program of activities designed to promote mainstreaming of climate change (CC) into Vietnamese Government land-use planning practices as well as direct new development away from areas exposed to high climate risk.
- Design and conduct an assessment with government staff and other stakeholders in the Nam Dinh Province of current practice for land use planning and of any CC considerations
- Design and conduct a capacity needs assessment of planners in the principle land-use planning departments of the Nam Dinh Province.
- Support the development of training modules and program for land use planners and for the financial investment/banking and insurance sectors.
- Facilitate two workshops and two training sessions for advocacy, awareness raising and capacity building on CC and spatial planning issues.
- Support the development of a monitoring tool to measure mainstreaming of CC considerations into land use planning.
4.SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES
- Assessment report of current land use planning practice in the Nam Dinh Province with recommendations for mainstreaming of CC considerations and coherent cross-sector planning from departments;
- Capacity needs assessment report of the technical planners in the principal land use planning departments;
- Technical translations of comprehensive guidelines, developed by international expert, for mainstreaming CC into provincial land-use planning processes;
- Technical translations of training materials, developed by international expert, on climate considerations in land-use planning as well as investment/insurance sectors and;
- A follow-up work plan for a the VFD project for the remainder of 2015 and 2016;
5.REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Master’s level qualifications from a recognized university in land use planning
- At least 10 years relevant experience, including ODA projects involving spatial planning, land use planning, natural resource management or strategic environmental assessment
- Demonstrated experience with planning systems, land administration and land management, coastal zone management, master planning, regional planning
- Direct relevant experience in Vietnam is considered desirable
- Experience working in deltas, riparian areas, coastal landscapes and adjacent communities
- Knowledge and experience with climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation and natural disaster risk management
- Strong technical skills in spatial planning, and familiarity with GIS presentation tools is highly regarded
- Demonstrated ability to work with the private sector as well as with different levels of government and other stakeholders
- Knowledge and experience with developing and delivering training sessions as well as participatory workshops
- Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills in English
- Proven record working under fluid and complex circumstances
- Strong environmental and sustainable development ethic
- Commitment to learning from and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team
6.LOCATION AND DURATION OF CONTRACT
The duty station will be the Vietnam Forests and Deltas project office in Hanoi, Vietnam. Excursions to the target provinces, Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa in northern Vietnam as well as Long An in the Mekong River delta, are expected
The assignment is expected to be over the following 6 to 8 months in total, for a total of approximately 80 days, tentatively divided into three 2 - 6 week intervals. The first input would be a minimum of 4 weeks in the first quarter of 2015 to conduct the current land use planning assessment and capacity needs assessment. Additional inputs of 4 to 6 weeks in duration are to be scheduled to align with key stages in the program until the end of August 2015.
7.HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should send an Expression of Interest letter and a current resume and the names and contact details of 3 references to [email protected] [1] by January 5, 2015. Please place “Integrated Landscape & Climate Change Planner” in the subject line.
Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.