Team Leader/Senior Biodiversity Conservation Specialist

LONG-TERM CONSULTING OPPORTUNITYTEAM LEADER & BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION SPECIALISTVIETNAM (HANOI-BASED)

Application Deadline:  14 December 2008  

SUMMARY

FRR is recruiting a Team Leader and Biodiversity Conservation Specialist for a 22 month period to September 2010.   The post will be full-time, starting as soon as possible, based in Hanoi, Vietnam, and requiring extensive travel in northern Vietnam. 

The role is as Team Leader of the Northern Region Technical Assistance (NRTA) team, under the World Bank financed Vietnam Conservation Fund (VCF).   The VCF is part of Vietnam’s Forest Sector Development Project (FSDP), Protected Area (Special Use Forest) Planning and Implementation Component.   The Team Leader will take responsibility for the delivery of support to the management boards in designated SUF areas; including the preparation of training, capacity building, grant application, and technical assistance “packages” for the management boards.  The Team Leader will report to VCF Secretariat at the Forest Protection Department.    The project has been running for just over a year, the NTRA team is effective and established, and includes four national and international specialists, plus support staff.  So far 10 “packages” for protected area sites have been developed and approved, and a further 8 are in preparation.  The next phases of the NRTA’s work are more likely to focus on capacity building for the SUF management boards to implement improved management.  Our current Team Leader is now leaving the project for personal reasons, and we are seeking a replacement, starting as soon as possible.

FRR is part of theIDLgroup Ltd, an established international development consultancy providing project management, policy research and advisory services to governments, international development agencies and developing country partners.   We have been working in Vietnam since 1997. 

BACKGROUND TO THE ADVERTISED POSITION

This advertisement refers to the VCF Northern Region Technical Assistance (NRTA) team, for which we are seeking a replacement Team Leader and Senior Biodiversity Conservation Specialist.  This is a long-term, full-time, position until the end of the prime contract in October 2010 (i.e. approximately 22 months depending on start date). 

Policy Background

Information on the overall national strategy and framework for development of the forest sector in Vietnam is available on the web site of the Forest Sector Support Partnership (FSSP) at www.vietnamforestry.org.vn   The site provides details of national forest strategies, programmes and projects, as well as partnership and funding arrangements. 

Forest Sector Development Project

The objective of the Forest Sector Development Project (FSDP) is to achieve sustainable management of (plantation) forests and the conservation of biodiversity in protected areas to enhance the contribution of forestry to rural poverty reduction and global environmental protection. 

This objective is to be attained by improving the enabling environment for sustainable forestry development and biodiversity conservation; providing attractive packages to mainly poor farming households to plant trees on a sustainable basis for generating additional income and employment; providing small competitive grants for managing priority special use forests of international importance effectively; and enhancing capacity in regional, provincial, district-levels, and site-levels to provide needed support services and to monitor and evaluate impact and outcomes.  The Forest Sector Development Project has four components:

Component 1 – Institutional DevelopmentComponent

2 – Smallholder Plantation Forestry

Component 3 – Special Use Forest (SUF) Planning and Implementation

Component 4 – Project management, Monitoring & Evaluation

This vacancy relates to Component 3 of the Forest Sector Development Project, which is now known as, and being implemented as the Vietnam Conservation Fund (VCF).   

Vietnam Conservation Fund

The VCF is a new financing mechanism that provides small grants to initiate and improve management of protected areas (SUFs) in Vietnam.  The NRTA assists the protected area management boards in the northern region of the country by building the capacity needed within the management boards and local communities to access VCF funds, and the capacity required to use the grants effectively.  Key priorities for engagement include strengthening capacity for conservation management planning, forest protection and law enforcement as well as in developing innovative solutions to conflict resolution and benefit sharing for remote and often ethnic minority communities residing within or on the periphery of protected areas.

FRR has been providing technical assistance to the VCF / SUF Planning and Implementation component to the Forest Protection Department (FPD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development since October 2007.  We have provided the Northern Region Technical Assistance (NRTA) team for FPD.  However, our current Team Leader is now leaving the project for personal reasons, and we are seeking a replacement, starting as soon as possible.  

THE ROLE

The Team Leader will be based in the NRTA office in Hanoi, but will be required to undertake extensive travel within northern Vietnam (including remote mountainous areas).  The Team Leader will be responsible for performance of the tasks outlined below (taken from the prime contract with our client):

·     Coordinate and oversee the Technical Assistance team, in order to harmonize the implementation for the Northern Region Technical Assistance (NRTA)

·     Responsible for the logistical arrangements required for the effective deployment of the NRTA team

·     Prepare monthly, quarterly and semi-annual reports, with assistance of the TA team, for submission to the VCF Secretariat

·     Prepare necessary team work plans

·     Prepare annual work plans and budgets for submission to the VCF Secretariat

·     Conduct Rapid Assessment of the SUFs as necessary, in regards to ecological/ conservation/ biodiversity status and management capabilities of management boards

·     Familiarize Protected Area (Special Use Forest) management boards and other relevant stakeholders (such as the Provincial People’s Committees and Forest Protection Branches) with the overall operation, opportunities and procedural requirements of the VCF; and also provide information about the role of the TA

·     Conduct rapid training needs assessments of SUF management boards

·     Coordinate all training activities, especially with regard to protected areas planning and management

·     Advise SUF Management Boards on procurement of services (and goods)

·     Contribute to curricula development, facilitate and carry out training especially in the field of protected area planning, ecological and biodiversity issues

·     Identify needs for additional TA and facilitate procurement of expertise and services

·     Monitor VCF grant implementation procedures

·     Facilitate the preparation of Conservation Needs Assessments (CNA), Social Screening Reports (SSR) and VCF grant applications; facilitate periodic application of METT assessment (Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool).

·     Ensure quality of CNA, SSR, and VCF grant applications

·     Monitor administration and disbursement of VCF grants and execution of priority conservation measures, and endorse requests for subsequent tranche payments

·     Liaise with VCF Secretariat and central TA component to contribute to the design of the VCF M&E system

·     Carry out a stakeholder analysis

·     Identify and liaise with potential collaboration partners, including donor organisations, relevant civil society groups, academic institutions and private sector stakeholders

·     Analyse and document lessons learnt for dissemination and adaptation of the approach and work plan

There are two other similar regional teams in place: a Central Region Technical Assistance Team and a Southern Region Technical Assistance Team.  The Team Leader will be expected to liaise with his or her counterparts within those teams, and with the staff and advisers in the VCF Secretariat, in the Forest Protection Department. 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The Team Leader is required to possess a MSc degree (or equivalent) in natural science with specialization in biodiversity/ecology.  He/she should have at least 10 years’ experience with protected area management, including monitoring, and at least 2 years of working in Vietnam or South East Asia.  The expert should have extensive experience with applied conservation work and it is an advantage if he/she has exposure to participatory aspects of PA management.  He/she should further have proven personal skills in team-leadership and ability to work effectively in multicultural situations and show sensitivity to local cultural values.  The expert shall be fluent in Vietnamese and/or English. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested in applying for this position, please email a covering letter and CV, outlining your relevant skills and experience to our East Asia office at  EArecruitment@theIDLgroup.com by 14 December 2008.The appointment and remuneration will be dependant on the skills, experience and track record of the successful applicant, and subject to approval by the VCF Secretariat.     

FRR AND THEIDLGROUP

Further information about FRR and theIDLgroup can be found at: www.theIDLgroup.com/FRRWe provide clients with five main services:

       The design, review and evaluation of policies  and strategies; country, sector and organisational programmes; and projects

       Bespoke advisory services to international development agencies, including commissioned policy analyses and research studies, consultancies, and surveys

       Delivery of specialised training and professional development programmes

       Facilitation of organisational and institutional change processes; and

       Project and programme management.

       Natural resource management, environment and biodiversity conservation;

       Governance and institutional development;

       Rural livelihoods and food security;

       Social development; and

       Development of strategies for fragile and post-conflict states.