Senior Project Officer – Forest Finance “SFM”

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

As a federal enterprise, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. On behalf of the German Government, GIZ currently provides advisory services to the Government of Viet Nam in three priority areas: Vocational training, Environmental policy and sustainable use of natural resources, and Energy. For further information, please visit www.giz.de/viet-nam.

The priority area “Environmental policy and sustainable use of natural resources“ is covered by the “GIZ Green Cluster”. The Green cluster currently comprises a total of five teams in the thematic areas of climate policy, coast and water, agriculture, biodiversity and forests as well as regional economic integration. The thematic area “biodiversity and forests” includes the project “Upscaling of sustainable forest management and certification” in Vietnam (SFM Project). The project is financed by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Climate and Technology Initiative (DKTI) with counter-part funds from the Vietnamese Government. It is jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Management Board of Forestry Projects (MBFP) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The project’s overall objective is: “Progress has been made in the transition to sustainable, climate-friendly forest management“. The project is expected to achieve its objectives at the end of the project lifetime in September 2024 through the implementation of the three following outputs:

• Output 1: The legal and institutional prerequisites for the transition to sustainable and climate-friendly forest management are established
• Output 2: The capacities of relevant actors in the forestry sector for the transition to sustainable, climate-friendly forest management are strengthened.
• Output 3: Information and instruments for financing the transition to sustainable, climate-friendly forest management are available to relevant actors in the forestry sector

With a focus on output 3, the SFM Project requires a qualified local candidate for the position of

Senior Project Officer – Forest Finance “SFM”
Duty station: Hanoi, Viet Nam
Duration: ASAP until 30. September 2024

Main responsibilities:

• Key expert in Vietnam for financing of the transition to sustainable forest management and operation of forest plantations
• Technical advice and on-the-job support to partnering forest companies and Protection Forest Management Boards (PFMBs) in identifying funding sources for the transition to sustainable forest management and operation of plantations as well as on application for funding
• Professional advisory services to national and local partners with regard to forest and climate finance
• Guiding the development of approach for monitoring of emission reduction (potentials) and carbon accounting of plantations in close cooperation with the service provider involved in the implementation of the project
• Identification, liaison, and coordination with relevant donors, private and state institutions that provide forest and climate finance and/or in-kind support such as banks, multilateral funds, climate financing mechanisms, development partners, state authorities
• Development of study designs and ToR for external experts, quality assurance of deliverables
• Coordination of project activities (planning and control of activities), including technical supervision and supervision of the procedures for contracting of consultants in close cooperation with other service providers involved in the implementation of the project 
• Capitalizing on best practices and key issues of forest finance for the development or amendment standards, guidelines and other relevant policies at national and provincial level
• Development of ready-to-use strategies and technical concepts, including guidelines, manuals and procedures related to the working area
• Conceptualisation and implementation of change processes related to forest finance
• Innovation and knowledge management for the working area
• Capitalizing potentials to make positive contributions to gender equality in working area in close coordination with gender focal points

Minimum requirements

• Master’s degree in forestry, economics, natural resources management or related fields;
• Good digital literacy including knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and willingness to work with digital tools such as MS teams for day-to-day work
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Vietnamese and English
• 10 years of experience in the forest and climate finance sector;
• 8 years of experience of working with public institutions; especially with MARD, MBFP, state forest companies and other forest owners
• 5 years of experience in international and technical development cooperation related to the forest and climate finance sector;
• 5 years of experience in managing international and national consultants;
• 2 years of experience in liaising with Vietnamese and international organisations
• 2 years of experience in monitoring of emission reduction (potentials) and carbon accounting in the forestry sector
• In-depth understanding of the Vietnamese context related to the forest and climate finance sector
• In-depth understanding of the Vietnamese and international actor landscape with regard to relevant donors, private and state institutions that provide forest and climate finance and/or in-kind support;
• Willing to take on responsibility, work independently, and motivate one-self;
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to balance multiple priorities and manage deadlines;
• Constructive team player in multi-cultural environment, 
• Willingness to travel to project sites for work within Vietnam and possibly for short trips abroad, if necessary;
• Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management;

Successful candidates will enjoy competitive benefits and compensation, a friendly and creative working environment, training and development.

Interested, qualified candidates are invited to send the application in English, including copies of relevant certificates and references, either by email (to [email protected]) or by post (to GIZ Office Hanoi, 6th Floor Hanoi Towers, 49 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam), before 30^th March 2022.

Note: Please state ‘Application for Senior Project Officer _SFM” in the subject line or on the envelope. The short-listed candidates will be contacted within 4 weeks after the deadline. Telephone contact is not encouraged.

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