Project Assistant

BACKGROUND
The Co-Management Learning Network (CMLN) Project began in Dec 2005 after a period of more than a year planning, fundraising, identifying site partners. The project largely stems from policy discussions regarding a collaborative approach in protected areas management which promotes equity and benefit-sharing and the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities in the establishment and management of protected areas.
As a result of the discussion at a workshop held in Chaing Mai in August 2004 with representatives from 5 possible project sites in 5 countries (Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines) to look at implementation of these policy developments, a project was formulated to focus on collaborative management with indigenous peoples living in and around protected areas in SEAsia. Sites in Vietnam and Laos were added afterward.
 The goal of the CMLN Project has been to create win-win situations for conservation agencies and indigenous communities in protected areas to conserve Southeast Asia’s rich biodiversity while safeguarding the rights and concerns of the indigenous peoples.

Over the period from Dec 2005 to Sept 2010 the project has been focusing on the following objectives:
Long-term: to promote and strengthen collaborative approaches to the management of protected areas in Southeast Asia where indigenous peoples live.

Immediate:
1. Supporting Co-Management (CM) practice in relevant field-based initiatives in the selected sites;
2. Enhancing capabilities to develop and maintain collaborative management practices (policies, processes, agreements and institutions) among field-based practitioners in the selected sites;
3. Enhancing understanding, awareness and recognition of CM practices in the selected sites and beyond.
In Vietnam: this project is implementing by Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and focuses on establishing community representation and voice in protected area management at Mu Cang Chai Species and Habitat Conservation Area of Yen Bai province.

Mu Cang Chai became a member of CMLN in 2006. Activities in Mu Cang Chai have been developing a model of Forest Protection Councils (FPC) to allow for community input into national park decisions making. The process of developing FPCs has started at the District level before developing these at the commune level. In general there is limited understanding of CM amongst stakeholders. Activities have been easy to manage, due to the long term relationship that FFI has with the Forest Protection Department (FPD), but the limited understanding of CM has meant that activities have been difficult to implement. A key issue is to strengthen the local (community) organizations to be able to implement co-management in Vietnam.

Based on previous work, in 2010 three sites (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) together developed a project to strengthen collaborative management practices that enhance biodiversity conservation and livelihood support for local resource users. This one-year project will focus on two key areas:
1. Evaluation of the impacts of the program over the last 5 years in order to serve as a basis for a new strategy in the future.
2. Continuation of site activities in order to maintain the momentum of the collaborative management process.

Evaluation mission will be carried out by an external evaluator. Site activities in Vietnam will focus on building capacity and motivation for co-management of protected areas among local communities, protected area managers, and local authorities. This effort will raise awareness among local communities, protected area managers, and local authorities on the current policy and the legal context, and the benefits of co-management in terms of local livelihoods, the effectiveness of protected area management, and the rights and responsibilities that are needed to make co-management work in practice. 
 
Fauna & Flora International - Vietnam Programme is recruiting a Project Assistant

To provide administrative, logistical and technical support to the CMLN project for effective implementation and development of the collaborative management programme.
The positions will be based in Hanoi with frequent travel to Mu Cang Chai Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Yen Bai province.

Starting date: As soon as possible
Duration: One year with expectation for renewal depending upon performance

Detailed requirements:
- Demonstrated commitment to nature conservation.
- University education in forestry, biology or similar subjects.
- At least 01 year experience in conservation/community-based natural resource management or similarly related fields.
- Self-motivated and confident to work independently in remote mountainous areas.
- Good relationship-building and facilitation skills.
- Good organisational and planning skills.
- Vietnamese national.
- Good English language.
- Experienced working with international organizations will be an advantage.

Main Tasks
Under the supervision of the Head of Protected Areas Programme and as requested, the project assistant will:
1. Liaise with project partners on behalf of the Head of Protected Areas Programme
2. Support and together with assigned partners implement project field activities
3. Provide logistical support to consultants, preparing and clearing budget advances, ensuring they have sufficient equipment
4. Ensure high quality of project outputs in Vietnamese
5. Support the development of project workplans and monitoring project progress
6. Carry out tasks as required to meet the objective of this position and the objectives of the Protected Areas Programme

Interested applicants are invited to send a cover letter and CV in English by 21 January 2011 to: Ms. Le Thi Hong Viet, Administration Assistant; E-mail: [email protected]  or FFI Vietnam Programme Office at: 340 Nghi Tam, Tay Ho, Ha Noi; Tel: 04.37194117.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviewing.
For more information about FFI visit: www.fauna-flora.org