Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Specialist

*** PROJECT OVERVIEW
ECODIT is implementing the USAID-funded Green Annamites Project (the Project) in Quang Nam (QN) and Thua Thien Hue (TTH) provinces in Central Vietnam. The purpose of the USAID Green Annamites Project 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. Increase application of low emission land-use;
2. Strengthen biodiversity conservation; and
3. Increase resilience for vulnerable communities.
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 US$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 Task 2 of the USAID Green Annamites Project is to strengthen biodiversity conservation a/o by reducing threats to the globally significant biodiversity in the natural forests of the Central Annamites focusing on protected areas and biodiversity corridors in QN and TTH. Task 2 has five sub-tasks (i) Strengthen Capacity for Biodiversity Conservation (ii) Enhance Conservation Planning; (iii) Reduce Poaching in and around PAs (iv) Promote Biodiversity Corridor Approach in Conservation and (v) Promote Climate Smart and Biodiversity - Friendly Livelihoods for Communities. To ensure effectiveness of management and implementation of the Project’s activities through subcontracts, grants as well as direct implementation, the Project is will recruit a Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Specialist (BCLS). The BCLS will work closely with subcontractors, grantees as well as local government partners and other stakeholders-including local communities-in implementation of the activities under Task 2.

*** DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the overall supervision of the Project’s Chief of Party (COP)/Deputy COP, and the direct supervision of the Biodiversity Conservation Lead (BCL), the BCLS shall support the BCL with the design and implementation of activities under Task 2: Biodiversity Conservation and facilitate the coordination of this work. The BCLS’s key roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Consult and liaise with counterparts including sub-contractors and grantees on forest restoration, protected area including development of sustainable forest management plan and awareness raising activities targeting to local communities with focus on ethnic a/o forest-dependent people; and biodiversity corridors management, biodiversity monitoring activities and livelihood activities for biodiversity conservation
• Support the income-generating activities under Task 2 and document the evidence on their impact on biodiversity conservation in the target communities and Project areas.
• Support the design of activities and help BCL on activity implementation and assessments. This includes oversight in the field by coordinating with the Community Development Facilitators, conducting field surveys and preparing reports
• Provide technical input to develop Scopes of Work and/or Requests for Quotations to implement Project activities under Task 2, and review and participate in the assessment of quotations/applications
• Manage grants and sub-contracts as required by the COP/DCOP
• Work closely with the Project’ staff, consultants, sub-contractors and grantees to build capacity for communities and local partners including PA’s staff, rangers and forest guards (specialized forest guards) on livelihoods, community forest management, forest restoration and biodiversity conservation, specifically on forest protection/patrol, SMART application, biodiversity monitoring and communication/awareness raising knowledge and skills
• Proactively support the preparation of communication and knowledge sharing products highlighting Project’s impacts on biodiversity conservation as well as provide inputs to quarterly/annual reports. This includes field records, communication materials, success stories, short videos, photos and interviews with beneficiaries and local partners
• Other tasks as requested by the COP/DCOP

*** QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
• University degree in Forestry, Conservation, Natural Resource Management, or related field
• At least 7 years of experience in biodiversity conservation related to protected area management, biodiversity conservation corridor, biodiversity monitoring, forest restoration, community forestry, biodiversity-based livelihoods
• Local knowledge and experience in Central Vietnam and of working with local authority and communities are advantages
• Knowledge and skills in develop and implement integrated awareness raising/education/outreach activities/campaigns on forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods
• Thorough understanding and active knowledge base of the legal framework and institutional setting of Special Use Forest (SUF), protected areas, biodiversity conservation, and environmental and forest protection law enforcement in Vietnam
• Ability to plan strategically and creatively to meet specified objectives
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills including ability to prioritize and multi-task
• Excellent communication skills in English and Vietnamese (oral and written) to be able to clearly communicate ideas/plans as well as the ability to identify greatest impacts of interventions under Task 2 and to document them on an ongoing basis
• Willingness and ability to travel to field sites to document project and partner progress.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work cooperatively with team members and partners.
• Fully computer literate with advanced skills in standard office software packages; proficiency in GIS software and SMART software is an advantage

Duty station: This position will be based either in Tam Ky or in Hue City and might request travel to Da Nang City and other provinces.
Starting date: As soon as possible
Probation period: 2 months

*** HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should send application including:
• A cover letter and latest
• Curriculum vitae (CV) in either English or Vietnamese, and
• Three references in either English or Vietnamese
• Samples of published articles, scientific features/reports/essays etc. in English and Vietnamese (Optional and if available)

*** DEADLINE:
By September 3rd, 2019, applying via VietnamWorks.
No phone contact please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview

- Salary and bonus in accordance with the company
- Insurance policy in accordance with the company
- Paid leave policy in accordance with the company

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