The Lower Mekong Sustainable Energy and Governance Advisor will coordinate the implementation of a USD 500k project grant operating under the following vision*: By 2030, the Lower Mekong, one the world’s most critical free-flowing rivers is valued and protected, through identification of alternative pathways for development that leads to siting infrastructure in ways that minimize impacts on nature and people while boosting sustainable development and securing policy protections for rivers.* The advisor will work in partnership with the Laos and Thailand Program Offices, APAC regional HUB and WWF International to jointly manage WWF’s efforts toward promoting a free flowing Mekong River. With that in mind, the advisor will also support de co-creation of a multi-country governance strategy, manage and coordinate its implementation; including outreach, and promotion of alternative non-hydro renewable energy and sustainable income generating solutions in Laos and Thailand.
WWF’s Core Values are Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration. It is expected that all WWF staff uphold these values in their professional role and interactions with all stakeholders.
Major duties and responsibilities:
Project design and implementation
- Lead and coordinate the everyday process of co-creation of the Lower Mekong Free Flowing River with the goal to promote a transformational shift in economic and energy decision making towards sustainable activities that keep the Lower Mekong River free flowing in close partnership with WWF Laos and WWF Thailand country teams, APAC Hub and WWF’s Freshwater Practice and other relevant WWF country offices (Cambodia, China, and Viet Nam).
- Assess viable RE options, propose financing models, research on grid connectivity and power storage demand and management in selected sectors and initiate a dialogue with key actors and relevant Government Departments in Lao PDR and Thailand.
- Support and coordinate with WWF global Freshwater Practice’s Iconic Free Flowing Initiative and WWF’s Climate & Energy teams towards promoting Free Flowing Rivers and Sustainable Non-Hydro Based Energy Strategy.
- Apply rigorous creative thinking to analyse and promote governance models suitable in the Mekong region context in a way that engages and leads to changes in decision making and behaviour.
- Deliver agreed strategy outputs and work towards achieving strategy goals.
- Undertake or where appropriate commission and manage project related research and products (e.g. visual materials, technical & policy analysis, newspaper articles).
- Act as WWF focal point, coordinate meetings & actions and collate inputs from other members of the project team and provide regular updates to all colleagues involved in the project.**
- In coordination with the APAC Freshwater Lead, provide hub functions to the APAC programme for the Free Flowing River and centralize all information.
Project management & reporting
- Every day management of the project including the short term consultancies under the project portfolio in accordance with WWF’s operation policies
- Produce technical reporting against the project objectives to WWF Laos, WWF Thailand, WWF APAC and to the donor
- Oversee project’s financial status and manage budgets relating to activities in close collaboration with the Finance Unit
- Seek opportunities to raise fund for additional activities as required
Communication and outreach
- Co-design, plan and execute communication strategies in coordination with communication teams in WWF Laos, WWF Thailand, WWF APCA and WWF Global Freshwater practice to ensure continued coverage on promoting sustainable energy and income generation solutions in the Mekong region.
- Support the identification and implementation of ideas and activities to support the awareness and dissemination of the project’s results
- Deliver timely, concise and powerful communications for the WWF network and external audiences
Develop, edit & format communication materials with support from communication officers, including dedicated website, fact sheets, newsletter, social media contents, flyers, briefings and videos.**Relationship management**
Act as the secretary to/and receive guidance from WWF Advisory group for the Free Flowing Lower Mekong advocacy.
In close collaboration with country programmes manage relationships with key stakeholders within Laos and Thailand, including government agencies, businesses, development partners, and provincial and local communities.
Work in close cooperation with other key members of the team both within Laos and Thailand and in the broader network.
Work synergistically with the Chief of Party, Mekong for the Future program, to achieve the objectives of a free-flowing Lower Mekong.
II.Profile:**
Required Qualifications:
- A graduate degree in a related sustainable development field.
- At least seven years’ working experience on similar interventions in developing countries, ideally in the greater Mekong context
Required Skills and Competencies:
- Ability to think strategically and creatively.
- Experience in managing governance projects in a politically complex context.
- Sound knowledge of sustainable energy and natural resources management.
- Experience in multi-stakeholder partnership and relationship development.
- Excellent communication skills in both written and spoken English, good understanding of Lao and/or Thai language is a bonus.
- Strong problem solving skills needed to produce results in a challenging environment.
- Ability to work proactively and effectively with various stakeholders and mobilize their active participation towards the project goals.
- Ability to operate independently and with limited supervision.
- Ability to react swiftly and in a timely fashion to opportunities to advance the project objectives.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and diplomatic skills with the ability to manage and interact at all levels of an international, multicultural and multilingual organization.
- Sound knowledge of Greater Mekong political, economic and social contexts.
- Prior working experience in Laos or Thailand is a bonus.
- Adhere to WWF’s values: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.
How to apply:
WWF Laos can offer you:
Contract duration: 3 year fixed term contract with possible extension
Please note the compensation package will be aligned with local salary and benefits conditions, in line with our reward policy.
For more information on our work in Laos please visit: http://www.wwf.org.la/
How to apply:
If you have the skills and experience and are interested in this exciting role, please email your cover letter and CV in English to AsiaPacificRecruitment@wwfint.org citing in the subject line ‘LMSEGA [YOUR FIRST NAME][YOUR LAST NAME]’
Deadline for applications: April 11, 2021.
Thank you in advance for your interest in this position. Please also note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not been contacted within six weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful for this role.
Female and Asian national applicants are encouraged to apply for this position. Work permit restrictions may apply.
WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce