WWF-Greater-Mekong-Laos-Country-Programme-Rattan-Project-Manager

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position title: Rattan Project Manager, WWF Laos

Grade: TBD

Directly reports to: Landscape Manager, WWF Laos

Technically reports to: Regional Rattan Project Manager

Supervises: Project Officer and Consultants when required

Technically supervises: Project Officer and Consultants when required Project

Validity: TBD

Location: Vientiane, with frequent travel to field sites within Laos

Background

The IKEA-WWF Rattan Project (Phase 1 and 2) (2006-2011) set-up best practices, which were applied to the rattan supply chain in 3 countries, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia. More than 30,000 ha of forest ecosystems in the region were inventoried to identify appropriate rattan species, sustainable rattan management plans were developed to enable the managed areas to provide approximately 200 to 500 Ton by end of 2011 of sustainably sourced rattan.

Threats to the rattan resource are still high with less and less rattan resource from Vietnam, and Cambodia but also from countries like Malaysia and Philippine. It’s crucial that the sustainable practices put in place during the first phases will be embedded in to private and public intervention in the rattan industry. Market links and more transparent trade have been established between the 3 countries; however more support is needed for local communities and the private sector to ensure that the rattan trade will follow up on sustainable and transparent manner. Capacities of rattan suppliers still need to be developed in order to fulfil all the stringent requirements from European and US markets. Market links with IKEA suppliers in Vietnam need to be strengthened, as well as continuing advisory support to national and local government institutions to support a more efficient and transparent rattan supply chain. Policies and regulations have been put in place but will require additional time to support the government in enforcing these regulations. It’s crucial now to get clarity on the legal demand and policy gaps to assist Government to implement more efficient and supportive policy package and enforced it. Focus to be made on establishing sustainable forest management system as well as shortening the supply flow, reduction of the “non value” cost along the supply chain. The project will be working with businesses to utilise existing developed cleaner production techniques and results from these activities will be built upon to develop clean rattan processing by IKEA Vietnam suppliers. Links with the Acacia WWF-IKEA project in Vietnam will be made to support the plantation models and knowledge on rattan growth and species diversity for supply to the rattan industry in the region will be improved.

I. Major Function

The Project Manager is responsible for the planning, management and implementation of the project in charge and ensures the compliance with the Project Document and WWF’s contractual obligations. This includes responsibilities for technical, financial and administrative aspects of the Project. He/she will oversee the development of management systems, operational procedures and capacity building for key project counterparts.

II. Major Responsibilities

A. Action Plan Development and Implementation
· Provide inputs to conservation action plan at country level
· Implement and monitor the activities as defined in the action plan
B. Workplan Development and Implementation
· Confer with the Programme/Landscape Manager, Project Technical Advisor, and counterparts and to develop annual and quarter/six month work plans based on the project budget and project workplan
· Monitor progress against activity workplan to ensure that the project attains its objectives as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible
C. Overall Management
· Effectively supervise the management of all project resources
· Work with financial staff for budget preparation for the activities of the project in charge, monitoring, and reporting activities; guarantees the financial integrity and accountability of project budgets
· Monitor the timely implementation and financial management of sub-contracts to government departments
· Monitor conservation activities conducted by selected service providers and partners
· Coordinate closely with all key stakeholders (national and international organisations) to ensure the smooth implementation of project activities and create synergy and cooperation between projects
· Meet regularly with Government counterpart, establish and convene regular meetings of the project steering committee
· Coordinate linkages and work programmes with Government counterparts and seek cooperation with other relevant projects: provincial, national and NGO-supported
· Promote and set up mechanism for information sharing with Government and other organisations
· Oversee the development and maintenance of database of all technical reports, presentation, maps, data and information, pictures produced by the project
· Facilitate donors and VIP visit to project sites and coordinate and organize in-country and international study tours and field visits
· Frequently travel to existing project areas
· Support consultants or counterpart staff in organizing training courses, workshops and seminars
· Act as trainer, facilitator, interpreter if required
· Review and provide technical comments to technical studies
· Maintain an awareness of staff comments and any complaints to identify any areas that may need development of improvement
D. Partnership Development and Networking
· Work closely with WWF-International and the Greater Mekong office to formalize and develop partnerships with key private sector players in Laos
· Establish relations and keep regular contact with key partners (multi-sectoral, government and non-government) at local, national and regional levels (for implementation and networking/lessons sharing
· Meet regularly with Government counterparts, establish and convene regular meetings of the project steering committee
· Ensure good and close liaison in collaboration with project network, stakeholders and other WWF projects
· Develop and maintain effective contacts with a wide range of external contacts with organisations and individuals who can assist in the conservation activities
· Develop network of project collaborators and agents for implementation, from local sources and provincial/district offices
· Represent the project in meetings, workshops, conferences, and symposium to present project activities and achievements
E. Communications
· Liaise and introduce activities to the donor and other interested groups, both public and private sector, inside and outside WWF
· Raise awareness among public sector institutions and regulatory bodies concerning the project and its objectives
· In collaboration with the Communications Manager / Officer, develop press release/conference on results of project and expansion possibilities
· Provide inputs to communications products/campaigns to ensure accurate information will be published to promote the image of the organisation and project activities
F. People Management
· Involve in the recruitment and selection of staff under supervision
· Responsible as direct line manager of Project Officers, Project Technical Advisors and Project Support Officers by reviewing individual work plan, managing performance, providing induction, training, coaching and advice to ensure that they are appropriately motivated and that staff deliver the performance objectives
· Work with HR Manager to identify training needs and development opportunities for supervised staff
· Provide training to staff to help them understand the project when required
· Identify counterpart staff to assist the project as well as suitable candidates for national consultant posts and developed TORs
· Develop TORs for consultants and monitor the work of the consultants to make sure that the expected outputs are delivered
· Oversee the capacity building of key counterparts
G. Issue Resolutions
· Provide advisory and technical guidance to managers, staff, counterparts, and consultants on all aspects related to the project when required
· Write bi-monthly project brief and review and provide technical comments to technical studies · Compile all project related documentation and communication material and provide brief
H. Monitoring and Evaluation, Reporting
· Maintain a project monitoring and evaluation system in cooperation with the Project Technical Advisor and provide support to the evaluation of the project
· Monitor project activities with Government project counterparts and Provincial and District staff, thus requiring supervision and control inputs
· Prepare six-monthly progress reports to monitor all technical, financial and administrative aspects on the utilization and impact of all resources made available to the project and ensure all report requirements are met
· Review and edit reports made by consultants if required
· Disseminate the technical report among the public sector institutions and regulatory bodies
· Provide regular reports and analysis on the project to the Country Director, Programme / Landscape Manager to facilitate continuous improvement

III. Working Relationships

1. Internal

· WWF GMPO: Interact on a regular basis with Programme Manager, Landscape Manager, Project Technical Advisors, project staff, finance staff and Project Managers of similar projects in other GMP Country Programmes. Engage with and support WWF Laos staff

· WWF Network: Coordinate and consult with related project focal person

2. External

· Interact with donors, Government agencies at the central, provincial, district, and commune levels, as well as NGO partners, communities, and other stakeholders

IV. Requirements

1. Education and Qualification

· Bachelor’s degree in conservation, natural resource management, bioregional planning, environmental, or in relevant fields

· Qualification in Project Management

2. Knowledge

· Knowledge of conservation and natural resource management issues in Laos

· Proven understanding of issues in related fields and working knowledge of policy/institutional context in NTPF marketing and forest management in Laos

· Knowledge of the realities of government agencies, development partners, donor institutions, and the not-for-profit sector in the project

· Knowledge of WWF structure, priorities and procedures as well as WWF's ecoregional approach to conservation

· Knowledge of M&E methodology, quality assurance

· Knowledge of WWF’s Programe and Project Management Standards is an advantage

3. Experience

· 5 years of practical experience in managing project in either NGOs or the United Nations or bilateral development agencies, 2 years of which should be in related fields

· Experience of working in Laos, especially in the project areas, is an advantage

· Experience of working in multi-cultural environment and working with key regional and international institutions e.g. ADB, ASEAN, and the Mekong River Commission​

· Experience in conducting studies and coordinating research activities

· Experience of working with Government officials, local communities and/or donors at all levels

4. General Skill

· People management, coaching and capacity building/development

· Financial management

· Presentation, communications, and negotiation

· Networking

· Teamwork

· Planning, organisation, time management, facilitation, and coordination

· Fluency in written and spoken English and local language

· Proficiency in MS Office

· Influencing is preferred

5. Technical Skill

· Leadership and management

· Analysis

· Report writing

· Problem solving

· Monitoring and evaluation is preferred

6. Ability

· Willing to stay in remote areas

· Working on own initiative with minimum supervision and staying on task

· Travelling extensively, nationally and to a lesser extent internationally

7. Personality

· Enthusiastic

· Outgoing

· Resourceful