Senior Technical Advisor

General:
The Asia Regional Biodiversity Conservation Program (ARBCP) is a USAID-funded project implemented by Winrock International in the Greater Mekong Subregion and headquartered in HCM City, Vietnam. ARBCP has been active since 2005. ARBCP will increase its activities during Fiscal Year 2010 focusing on four broad objectives: (a) consolidate policy and field activities in Vietnam, in anticipation of scaling up across the nation and a formally-legislated policy in the post-2010 period; (b) support Cambodia and Lao PDR’s requests for technical assistance and policy advice to develop their own national Payment for Environmental Services (PES) policies, and work with partners to initiate pilot activities on the ground in those countries; (c) build capacities to implement reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) programs in Mekong countries; and (d) strengthen cooperation and exchange of lessons learned with key regional platforms, including the Asian Development Banks’ Biodiversity Corridors Initiative, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, UNESCAP, and regional REDD efforts.

Position Title: Senior Technical Advisor
Position Description
The Sr. Technical Advisor will support current ARBCP staff, the Chief of Party, and the HQ team in the implementation new ARBCP activities and on-going program activities for Fiscal Year 2010. The Sr. Technical Advisor will provide field technical and capacity building support needed to complete the assessments needed to develop a successful pilot policy; support Winrock REDD activities and training in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand; and develop a successful capacity building approach there in partnership with the ADB-EOC. Specific activities include:
Consolidate PES in Vietnam
- Support the Da Te District to further consolidate the ARBCP bamboo agroforestry sustainable livelihoods model
- Assist Lam Dong province to purchase, install, operate, and analyze data from 3 gauging stations to measure water and soil runoff in three additional land-use/land cover types
- Provide support for development of a Payment for Forest Environmental Services Decree for Vietnam
Strengthen cooperation with key regional platforms to support pilot PES policy development in support of regional NRM and biodiversity conservation targets, including the Asian Development Banks’ Biodiversity Corridors Initiative, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, UNESCAP, and regional REDD efforts.
- Support development of a pilot PES policy in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand
- Expand and support regional technical capacity to implement PES in the CLTV countries in partnership with the USFS, ADB-EOC and WGE
Improve and build capacity needed for the successful planning and implementation of national REDD strategies and programs within countries in the Greater Mekong Sub region.
- Improve national and regional capacity to engage all stakeholders in the planning process for the design and implementation of the REDD strategy
- Improve the capacity for regional coordination between Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam and Thailand

Responsibilities
- Contribute to the technical planning and logistics of workshops and events.
- Liaise with national and provincial government, private sector, and local household stakeholders.
- Work with all stakeholders to review the overall development of the bamboo sector and the sector strategy and raise awareness of the sector development strategy and the private sector investment opportunities embedded within it.
- Support the development of the 4-5 water regulation and sediment transport gauging stations in Lam Dong Province.
- Support the development of voluntary carbon offset PES mechanisms in Lam Dong Province and in Central Vietnam.
- Identify and assist in the hiring of consultants (to conduct assessments, install gauging stations, conduct trainings, etc).
- Provide technical support to the MARD to produce the PFES decree for Vietnam.
- Provide technical support for Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand to develop pilot PES policies.
 - Support capacity building activities will focus on establishment of scientific baselines for selected environmental services through planning and meeting with partners.
- Support the logistics of regional REDD program trainings.
- Contribute to the identification of existing entities within universities or relevant government organizations in the Mekong countries that can be supported to become ‘centers of national REDD expertise’.
- Design and conduct a series of national and local level consultations designed to raise awareness of REDD and the implications of REDD for the country.
- Design and implement a series of consultations and seminars for outreach and input into the REDD process from all stakeholders, including government, civil society, indigenous people, and forest dwellers.

Required Skills
- Excellent English skills (speaking and writing).
- Excellent coordination, communication and interpersonal skills.
- Environmental Economics, Natural Resources Management, Forestry, or Biodiversity Conservation —Master’s Degree or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge of payment for environmental services, carbon markets, climate change, or REDD is preferred. Strong background in economics is desirable.
- Five years experience providing technical and/or management support for international donor projects preferably in South East Asia.

Location
This position will be based in HCM City, Vietnam, but will require extensive travel to other Southeastn Asian countries.

Duration
This position is for one year (October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2010).
Reporting Lines
The Sr. Technical Advisor will report to the Chief of Party of ARBCP.
Salary:
Annual salaries will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applications: Applicants should send current resume and cover letter by September 22 to:
[email protected]. Please indicate in your letter (in English) the position of applying and why you are interested in the position. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Job Details
Organisation Name: 
Winrock
Location: 
HCMC
Application Deadline: 
Wed, 2009-09-30