Short time Consultant for Establishing Vietnam-Laos Transboundary Action Plan for Controlling Illegal Timber Trade

WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF Vietnam Country Programme is one country component of the WWF Greater Mekong and is the implementing arm for projects in Vietnam mainly in Central Annamites, Southern Annamites and the Mekong Delta. Our major activities focus on Freshwater, Forestry, Marine and Aquaculture, Agriculture and Agroforestry, Policy and Advocacy.

They are currently seeking for an well-qualified and experienced candidate to work as short time consultant for establishing Vietnam-Laos (limiting to the 4 province of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Sekong and Salavane) transboundary action plan for controlling illegal timber trade.

Main responsibilities:

The consultant has to draft a document on the trans-boundary cooperation action plan (AP) for controlling illegal timber trade between Laos and Vietnam, restricted to the four provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Sekong and Salavane, and also including facilitation progress to related partners for the multi-agency approval of the final action plan.

Consultant’s duties
- Study secondary related documents on cooperation mechenism between Vietnam and Laos, specifically in timber trade, transportation, custom, and cooperative policies of  bordering districts/provinces;
- Working with multi-agency managers/staff at border gates to understand current cooperative documents and practices on the ground: how have they been applied, possitiveness, issues and limits found;
- Drafting the action plan with consultation from Vietnam and Laos delegates (Border Custom, Border Army, FPD/DoFI, Police, DFA, A Luoi-Nam Giang-Tay Giang-Samouay-Taoy-Kaleum districts; and the 4 mentioned provinces)
- Play the role as a technical facilitator for the meeting/workshop on consultation by partners of the two countries to review the AP;
- As a facilitator, hold a meeting for all related partners including provincial leaders to review the AP face-to-face and confirm it as the final document;

Qualifications and Experience:
o Bachelor's degree in agriculture, social sciences, economic/ business management or in relevant fields
o Minimum of at least 15 years working in the above mentioned aspects
o Experience in aspects of custom/trading, forest/timber trade management and environment
o Full experience working with national levels of Vietnam and/or Lao Governments
o Knowledge in establishing multi-agency cooperation mechanisms, specially among custom, FPD, police, border army
o Knowlege in English or Laotian/Vietnames is preferable
o Consultant must be Vietnamese or Laotian only.

Consultancy fee: To be negotiated

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, CV and available degrees and qualifications in English to Ms. Thai Minh Bao, Timber Trade Officer, WWF Vietnam at : [email protected].

Closing date for applications: Friday, 15 June 2012 with interviews afterward.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. No telephone contact

Detailed JD of the position is posted on www.panda.org/greatermekong