International Consultant: Integrated Landscape & Climate Change Planner

Consultant Position Description: Integrated Landscape & Climate Change Planner

1.BACKGROUND

Winrock International, an international not-for-profit organization, is seeking international applications for the position of Integrated Landscape & Climate Change Planner (international expert) in a multi-year USAID-funded Vietnam Forests and Deltas (VFD) program. The program supports the acceleration of Vietnam’s transition to climate-resilient, low emission, sustainable development by strengthening adaptation practices in vulnerable communities and by improving forest and natural resource management.

VFD is a five-year project with a total value of approximately $26.5 million USD. The project comprises of 3 technical components as Sustainable Landscapes, Adaptation and Coordination & Policy Support at National Level.

2.POSITION DESCRIPTION

Activities for building resilience to climate change will focus not only on local level disaster risk reduction and improved livelihood approaches, but also on strengthened planning practices at district, provincial and national levels. In addition, in order to manage risk from existing and future climate-related challenges, the planner must have a sound understanding of natural hazards and how land-use planning integrates a range of socio-environmental variables to minimize future threats. The planner will also convene diverse stakeholders to meet these climate risks collaboratively and sustainably.

3.RESPONSIBILITIES

Using the Nam Dinh Province in the Red River Delta of Vietnam as a case-study, the consultant will have the following tasks:

• Develop a process and set of activities designed to promote mainstreaming of climate change (CC) into government land-use planning practices as well as direct new development away from areas exposed to high climate risk.
• Work closely with national and local partners to develop processes and systems that can be applied and replicated to address CC risk with spatial planning.
• Based upon an assessment of current land-use planning processes and capacity development needs, develop capacity building activities for provincial officers on spatial planning as a tool to address CC risk.
• Supervise, guide and undertake work planning with a Vietnamese planner for ongoing program activities
• Design and develop terms of reference for technical investigations, including assessment of CC risks, analysis of trends in socio-economic development and the application of spatial planning methodologies.
• Prepare and facilitate two workshops for advocacy, awareness raising on CC and spatial planning issues and two training sessions (one for land-use planning technicians across sectors and one for the banking/insurance sectors).
• Work closely with the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) specialist to develop a monitoring tool for measuring the mainstreaming of CC considerations into land-use planning processes at the provincial level. 

4.SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES

• A set of comprehensive guidelines for mainstreaming CC into provincial land-use planning processes;
• Two workshop reports on climate considerations in land-use planning;
• A set of training materials/modules, developed for the Vietnamese context, for a 4 day training program for land-use planners across sectors on integration of CC considerations into spatial planning and a report from the training in the Nam Dinh Province;
• A 1 day and a 2 day training program developed for the investment/banking and insurance sectors on CC considerations for siting of new developments/infrastructures, complete with a report from one training event for this sector in Nam Dinh.
• A follow-up work plan for a Vietnamese land use planning working for the VFD project;
• Developed “Terms of Reference” for a further technical assessment of CC risks and;
• Development of a monitoring/measurement tool for accessing the quality of mainstreaming of CC considerations into land use planning in Vietnam.

5.REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s level qualifications from a recognized university in land use planning
• At least 10 years relevant experience, including ODA projects involving spatial planning, land use planning, natural resource management or strategic environmental assessment
• Demonstrated experience with planning systems, land administration and land management, coastal zone management, master planning, regional planning
• Direct relevant experience in Vietnam is considered desirable
• Experience working in deltas, riparian areas, coastal landscapes and adjacent communities
• Knowledge and experience with climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation and natural disaster risk management
• Strong technical skills in spatial planning, and familiarity with GIS presentation tools is highly regarded
• Demonstrated ability to work with the private sector as well as with different levels of government and other stakeholders
• Knowledge and experience with developing and delivering training sessions as well as participatory workshops
• Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills in English
• Proven record working under fluid and complex circumstances
• Strong environmental and sustainable development ethic
• Commitment to learning from and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team

6.LOCATION AND DURATION OF CONTRACT

The duty station will be the Vietnam Forests and Deltas project office in Hanoi, Vietnam. Excursions to the target provinces, Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa in northern Vietnam as well as Long An in the Mekong River delta, are expected

The assignment is expected to be over 6 to 8 months in total, for a total of approximately 80 days, tentatively divided into three 2-6 week intervals. The first input would be two weeks prior to February 10th, 2015.  Additional inputs of 4 to 6 weeks in duration are to be scheduled to align with key stages in the program until the end of August 2015.

7.HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should send an Expression of Interest letter and a current resume and the names and contact details of 3 references to [email protected]) by January 5, 2015. Please place “Integrated Landscape & Climate Change Planner” in the subject line.

Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.