Community Institutions Specialist

TERMS OF REFERENCE: Community-based Institutions

Position Title: Community Institutions Specialist
                      Support and Facilitation - Community-based Institutions (national)
Location: Lam Binh and Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang province
Timeframe: 40 days effective within a two to four-monthtime-window working on minimum five-day blocks as per pre-defined workplans
Probation period: Five days (one five-day block assignment)
Direction: PRCF Vietnam Chief Technical Officer/ Country Manager

Position objectives

The objective of this consultant/ specialistposition is to provide support to the People Resources and Conservation Foundation (PRCF) Vietnam Country Program and target stakeholder communities in the establishment and strengthening of local institutions in the Francois Langur Conservation landscape of Lam Binh and Na Hang districts, Tuyen Quang province.Sought village institutions will constitute a vital component of the ongoing and proposed community-based species and habitat conservation initiatives at the site, under the PRCF Francois Langur Conservation Program (FLCP).  The consultant will look at institutions under development and in place, and at all related workings under the FLCP, inclusive Village Co-Management Committees, Village Self-help Groups, Community Conservation Teams, and Francois Langur Conservation Fund, to define how these fit into and operate through a proposed Community Based Organization.

Direct line management

The consultant will report directly to the PRCF Vietnam Chief Technical Officer/ Country Manager, and liaise directly with the PRCF field staff and involved community representatives. Additional liaison and coordination may be needed with other specialists to the FLCA. On issues relating to financial management, the consultantwill follow directives from the PRCF Financial Officer.   

Main tasks

The specialist will be responsible for the following tasks:

General

Produce a detailed workplan for the mission in which clear schedules and outputs are shown for each of the items below.  This workplan must be approved by PRCF prior to other work.

Village Co-Management Committees (VMCs)

• Examine the institutional setup of VMCs and define a program of activities for their participation in work related to the FLCP, establishing an Action Plan for their involvement with CCTs and VSHGs.
• With VMC key representatives, define workings to establish a network of cooperation between villages in the FLCA landscape, which should look at conservation and development opportunities.
• Facilitate initial VMC meetings with VSHGs to define operations, agendas, and to discuss the VSHG support to the village.  Define with VMCs and VSHGs village needs for possible funding under FLCF.

Village Self Help Groups (VSHGs)

• Examine the institutional setup of VSHGs and define a program of activities (Action Plan) for their networking to share experiences, define solutions to problems, and discuss opportunities VSHGs.
• Examine the setup and operations of VSHGs and through their participation define improvement opportunities and needs into the program, presented through an Action Plan.

Community Based Organization (CBO)

• Examine all institutional setups under the FLCP and define a matrix of interrelations, producing a SWOT analysis for each institution and their relationship with other.
• Based on the SWOT analysis, clarify the functions of each institution and define a plan of action to strengthen their interrelations in support of landscape conservation and development objectives.
• Define the function and place of the proposed Community Base Organization (CBO) to support village development and biodiversity conservation in the Lam Binh/ Sinh Long target landscape.
• Define needs into establishment of a legal Community Based Organization, and a workplan for its establishment/ registration, including institutional, technical,financial aspects, and legal aspects.
• In liaison with the appointed CBO Board Members, facilitate production of the initial set of Operational By-Laws for the CBO, in line with its objective and following legal requirements.
• In liaison with the appointed CBO Board Members, define Terms or Reference for, and facilitate the selection of a CBO Director, CBO Vice-Director, and CBO Treasurer.
• In participation with the appointed CBO Board Members and appointed Executive Board, define a two-year program of operations for conservation and development objectives in the landscape.
• Participate in the facilitation and development of other institutional aspects related to the proposed CBO, as needed and relevant to the purpose of these terms of reference and as requested by PRCF.

Reporting and work planning

The Specialist will produce all reports in English language, and include:

• Monthly work plan (max. one page) and progress report (max. two pages), with annex containing field documentation images and technical aspects as needed/ requested.
• Back-to-Office and technical reports for each field mission - report format provided by PRCF.
• Minutes of project meetings with local communities - minutes format provided by PRCF.
• Final specialist consultancy mission report - report format providedPRCF.

Skills and experience

The specialist must meet the following criteria

• High education qualifications (Masters) in subjects relevant to the subject matter.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge on working into the establishment of community-based institutions and knowledge of Vietnamese regulations on the subject.
• At least five years of experience working with an international organization in a similar position, and with similar responsibilities to the above.
• Strong coordination skills, particularly for activities where local communities are involved.
• Ability to work and travel often to rural areas and to remain field-based for extended periods.
• Strong capacity to communicate and to work with local communities.
• Excellent facilitation skills, particularly for working with local communities.
• Excellent organization, coordination, and time-management skills.
• Good written and spoken English with strong computer skills.

Applications to: Interested applicants should send an application letter together with a CV in English to the following address with the subject title “Community Institutions Specialist”, no later than 15th June 2017. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. The application will not be returned. Electronic application is acceptable.

Send applications by email to: Ms Nguyen Phuong Thuy: [email protected]