Chief Technical Advisor, GEF IW Fostering Water and Environmental Security in the Ma and Neun/Ca Transboundary River Basins and Related Coastal Areas in Viet Nam and Lao PDR (SP)

Chief Technical Advisor, GEF IW Fostering Water and Environmental Security in the Ma and Neun/Ca Transboundary River Basins and Related Coastal Areas in Viet Nam and Lao PDR

BACKGROUND

The Ma and Neun/Ca are two adjacent transboundary rivers with similar-sized basins with similar characteristics and water and environmental management challenges. Key challenges include hydropower reservoirs causing significant changes to flows in tributaries of both basins; deforestation and changes to forest cover impacting flows and sediment loads; agricultural expansion; increasing water withdrawals associated with demographic growth and rapid economic development affecting environmental flows; and emergency releases from dams during extreme water events contributing to flooding.

Continuing development in the two basins, combined with climate change, is affecting the coastal areas due to the degradation of surface and shallow marine waters quality, increasing frequency and magnitude of floods and droughts, seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers caused by groundwater over-extraction and sea-level rise. The emerging situation is posing serious threats to water supply for the rapidly expanding coastal populations. and to coastal habitats, such as mangroves, wetlands, fish refugia, and livelihoods (e.g. fisheries).

The project objective is to enable Viet Nam and Lao PDR to address freshwater resource management and ecosystem health in the transboundary Ma and the Neun/Ca river basins and coastal zones by creating an enabling environment for transboundary cooperation and action. Specific outcomes are:

• Outcome 1. Consensus among countries on key transboundary concerns, including climate change and variability strengthens transboundary cooperation and opens the way to coordinated remedial actions.
• Outcome 2. Enhanced water security, environmental sustainability and forecasting capabilities in both basins and their coastal areas achieved through the establishment of transboundary cooperation and information exchange frameworks and mechanisms.
• Outcome 3. Countries resolve to joint actions reinforced by testing on the ground environmentally sound land/water management approaches, policies, practices and technologies, and share results and experiences.
• Outcome 4. The process of reversing of degradation trends in the two basins galvanized as countries commit to sustain joint cooperation mechanisms and to undertake priority reforms and investments.
• Outcome 5.1. The sustainability of project outcomes enhanced by the reinforcement of capacities of relevant national entities and of the interim transboundary cooperation body established as part of the project.
• Outcome 5.2. Benefits from the global to the local levels accrue through the sharing and dissemination of project experiences and lessons learned.

Central to the project is the preparation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis/Strategic Action Programme (TDA/SAP). The purpose of a TDA is to identify, quantify, and set priorities for environmental problems that are transboundary in nature. In particular, the TDA aims to:

• Identify and prioritise the transboundary problems.
• Gather and interpret information on the environmental impacts and socio-economic consequences of each problem.
• Analyse the immediate, underlying, and root causes for each problem, and in particular identify specific practices, sources, locations, and human activity sectors from which environmental degradation arises or threatens to arise.

Ultimately, a TDA provides the factual basis for the formulation of an SAP but the TDA is also part of a larger facilitative process of engagement and consultation with all the key stakeholders from the initial TDA steps through to the subsequent development of alternative solutions during the formulation of the SAP.

FAO is the GEF Implementing Agency. As the Lead Operational Partner (LOP), IUCN will support the Departments of Water Resources (DWR) in both countries to execute the project. The total budget is $8 million over 5 years, of which $3 million will be disbursed directly from FAO to DWR in Viet Nam and Lao PDR to support pilot project implementation.

The project will be delivered through a Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU) and National Project Management Units (NPMU) in Hanoi and Vientiane. The CTA will manage the RPMU on a day-to-day basis in cooperation with two National Coordinators (NCs) and two National Project Directors (NPDs) assigned (on a part-time basis) by the two executing agencies.

The CTA and RPMU will operate under the guidance of the Regional Project Steering Committee (RPSC), with members appointed by the two governments, and with the support of dedicated Finance and Admin Officers.

The remuneration and benefits package for this position is established with reference to the local labour market and in line with the IUCN conditions of service for Viet Nam.

This position is open for expatriates only.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Under the guidance of the Head, Lower Mekong Subregion (LMS), the CTA will manage human and non-human resources to ensure the smooth delivery of the GEF International Waters (IW) Fostering Water and Environmental Security in the Ma and Neun/Ca Transboundary River Basins and Related Coastal Areas, which will operate in Viet Nam and Lao PDR.

The Ma and Neun/Ca are two adjacent transboundary rivers with similar-sized basins with similar characteristics and water and environmental management challenges. Key challenges include hydropower reservoirs causing significant changes to flows in tributaries of both basins; deforestation and changes to forest cover impacting flows and sediment loads; agricultural expansion; increasing water withdrawals associated with demographic growth and rapid economic development affecting environmental flows; and emergency releases from dams during extreme water events contributing to flooding.

Continuing development in the two basins, combined with climate change, is affecting the coastal areas due to the degradation of surface and shallow marine waters quality, increasing frequency and magnitude of floods and droughts, seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers caused by groundwater over-extraction and sea-level rise. The emerging situation is posing serious threats to water supply for the rapidly expanding coastal populations. and to coastal habitats, such as mangroves, wetlands, fish refugia, and livelihoods (e.g. fisheries).

The project objective is to enable Viet Nam and Lao PDR to address freshwater resource management and ecosystem health in the transboundary Ma and the Neun/Ca river basins and coastal zones by creating an enabling environment for transboundary cooperation and action. Specific outcomes are:

• Outcome 1. Consensus among countries on key transboundary concerns, including climate change and variability strengthens transboundary cooperation and opens the way to coordinated remedial actions.
• Outcome 2. Enhanced water security, environmental sustainability and forecasting capabilities in both basins and their coastal areas achieved through the establishment of transboundary cooperation and information exchange frameworks and mechanisms.
• Outcome 3. Countries resolve to joint actions reinforced by testing on the ground environmentally sound land/water management approaches, policies, practices and technologies, and share results and experiences.
• Outcome 4. The process of reversing of degradation trends in the two basins galvanized as countries commit to sustain joint cooperation mechanisms and to undertake priority reforms and investments.
• Outcome 5.1. The sustainability of project outcomes enhanced by the reinforcement of capacities of relevant national entities and of the interim transboundary cooperation body established as part of the project.
• Outcome 5.2. Benefits from the global to the local levels accrue through the sharing and dissemination of project experiences and lessons learned.

Central to the project is the preparation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis/Strategic Action Programme (TDA/SAP). The purpose of a TDA is to identify, quantify, and set priorities for environmental problems that are transboundary in nature. In particular, the TDA aims to:

• Identify and prioritise the transboundary problems.
• Gather and interpret information on the environmental impacts and socio-economic consequences of each problem.
• Analyse the immediate, underlying, and root causes for each problem, and in particular identify specific practices, sources, locations, and human activity sectors from which environmental degradation arises or threatens to arise.

Ultimately, a TDA provides the factual basis for the formulation of an SAP but the TDA is also part of a larger facilitative process of engagement and consultation with all the key stakeholders from the initial TDA steps through to the subsequent development of alternative solutions during the formulation of the SAP.

FAO is the GEF Implementing Agency. As the Lead Operational Partner (LOP), IUCN will support the Department of Water Resources Management in Vietnam (DWRM) and Department of Water Resources in Lao PDR (DWR) to execute the project. The total budget is $8 million over 5 years, of which $3 million will be disbursed directly from FAO to DWRM in Viet Nam and DWR in Lao PDR to support pilot project implementation.

The project will be delivered through a Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU) and National Project Management Units (NPMU) in Hanoi and Vientiane. The CTA will manage the RPMU on a day-to-day basis in cooperation with two National Coordinators (NCs) and two National Project Directors (NPDs) assigned (on a part-time basis) by the two executing agencies.

The CTA and RPMU will operate under the guidance of the Regional Project Steering Committee (RPSC), with members appointed by the two governments, and with the support of dedicated Finance and Admin Officers.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

• Manage performance of all RPMU staff and supervise project implementation with the NPMUs and NCs in Lao PDR and Viet Nam.
• Maintain the relationship between IUCN NCs and DWR/DWRM to ensure efficient delivery all project activities.
• Provide technical oversight of all project activities, specifically the TDA/SAP to ensure that it meets GEF standards and integrates the latest knowledge and expertise, including from the pilot projects so that they are mutually reinforcing, provide direct technical expertise on water governance and nature-based solutions including, and design and lead training programs.
• Work closely with IUCN NCs, DWRM and DWR to ensure all project activities follow the laws and regulations of the respective countries for such activities.
• Oversee the sub-contracting of project activities and consultancy outputs.
• Working closely with Finance Officer, support project spending that aligns with the agreed project budget, including preparation of funding calls, financial and narrative reports as set forth in IUCN’s agreement with FAO.
• Develop M&E plans following FAO guidance and regularly report on the progress of the project against annual work plans, project M&E indicators, GEF core indicators and identify issues that need urgent attention by the RPSC.
• Provide 6-monthly and annual written reports on the overall project delivery, including by country, covering issues such as project activities, outputs and outcome delivery, project budget and staffing.
• Prepare project Terminal Report for FAO.
• Maintain linkages with other related regional and national projects and identify opportunities for partnership, technical collaboration and knowledge exchange with other agencies, organizations and donors.
• Represent the project in external and internal IUCN meetings, at national, regional and international levels, as needed.
• Undertake any other tasks as may be assigned by, and mutually agreed with the line manager.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of Masters in natural resources management or equivalent discipline, with PhD a distinct advantage;
• At least 10 years of progressive IWRM work experience, water-related hazard/risk reduction, governance as well as climate change adaptation and resilience, out of which at least 5 years in a project leadership role; experience in project implementation and execution is essential. Previous work experience in Viet Nam and Lao PDR an advantage.
• Experience establishing and maintaining high-level government relations;
• Experience managing multi-million dollar budgets;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to respond flexibly and exercise judgment involving analysis and interpretation of facts and circumstances in order to identify the correct solution or course of action;
• Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines to meet donor reporting or proposal deadlines;
• Experience of managing diverse teams essential;
• Demonstrated ability in dealing with water or related environment/development issues will be an added advantage;
• Understanding of political complexities in the Asian and especially Laos and Vietnam;
• Capacity to interact effectively with, and ability to influence a wide range of people at different levels including donors, the private sector, NGOs, government officials;
• Strong presentation skills and exceptional written and spoken communication skills in English essential.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/

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