IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps find pragmatic solutions to the most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. The Union’s headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, in Switzerland.

In 1969, Lao PDR's Ministry of Foreign Affairs became a state member of IUCN and in 1992 the IUCN Lao PDR Country Office was established in Vientiane. IUCN Lao PDR falls within Lower Mekong Region Country Group, a management unit of IUCN in the Asia region, under the umbrella of the global IUCN. The IUCN Lao PDR country program is guided by its overarching program goal: To ensure that the ecosystems and natural resources of Lao PDR are effectively conserved and sustainably utilized in an equitable manner that contributes to the socio-economic development of the country.

The Biodiversity, Environment & Communities thematic area of the IUCN Lao PDR Country Program is currently being developed to streamline program activities related to (i) terrestrial species conservation, (ii) environmental education / awareness / capacity building (iii) climate change adaptation, and (iv) national protected areas. There are currently two projects within the IUCN Lao PDR Country Program that are under this thematic area: (i) the Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (Mekong ARCC) project, and (ii) the ARCUS Advancing Protection for Southern White-cheeked Gibbons in Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area, Lao PDR project. The field sites for these projects are within Khammouane and Champasak provinces of Southern Lao PDR.

The Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (Mekong ARCC) project is a five year program funded by USAID and implemented by Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI). The project addresses information and policy gaps to provide communities in the Mekong River basin with the guidance and support they need to develop sustainable integrated adaptation plans that will increase their ability to cope with the negative impacts of climate change. The Mekong Basin rural poor are among the most exposed and vulnerable populations in the Asia Pacific region to the negative impacts of climate change, which are affecting water resources, agriculture systems, ecosystems, biodiversity, and the livelihood opportunities upon which the they depend. The impetus for this program stems from the critical importance of addressing the impacts of global climate change (GCC), and in particular how these impacts will negatively impact rural poor and the ecologically sensitive areas of the Mekong River Basin (MRB). The project has subcontracted to IUCN- Lao PDR to work in Khammouane Province with potential expansion into other areas of Lao PDR. IUCN Lao is implementing Task 3 of Mekong ARCC, Ecosystem and Community-based Adaptation Initiatives to build the capacity of local communities while assisting them to combine their local knowledge with USAID-Mekong ARCC generated climate science information.

Gibbons (Family Hylobatidae) are frequently referred to as the most threatened primate Family globally. Gibbons of the genus Nomascus, containing seven species, are the most threatened of the four Hylobatidae genera with four classified as Critically Endangered, three as Endangered and one yet to be assessed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This genus occurs in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, specifically restricted to east of the Mekong River in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and southern China. Previously, the ARCUS Foundation funded IUCN’s implementation partner, Fauna & Flora International (FFI), for conservation of Nomascus taxa since 2008 which forms the foundation for activities under this grant request. This included status reviews for priority populations of gibbons and followed on with funding for those species protection through an ongoing grant which finished in February 2014. IUCN will continue to work with the Government of Lao PDR and FFI with ARCUS Foundation support to protect the Southern white-cheeked crested gibbon (Nomascus siki) in Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area (NPA), Khammouan Province.

1. The BECC is responsible for the Biodiversity, Environment & Communities core program area of IUCN Lao PDR. This includes all aspects of Project Cycle Management, i.e. planning & development, implementation, and monitoring & reporting.

1.1 The main responsibilities are:
1.1.1 Program and Project Planning, Monitoring and Reporting
1.1.2 Program and Project Development
1.1.3 Management of the Biodiversity, Environment & Communities thematic program / Project implementation in all program areas
1.1.4 Capacity Development in Planning, Monitoring/Evaluation and Reporting

2. SPECIFIC DUTIES:
The position’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

2.1 ARCC Project
2.1.1 Oversee all project implementation
2.1.2 Responsible for reporting to DAI/Mekong ARCC and submitting high quality project deliverables
2.1.3 Provide contractual and financial management
2.1.4 Serve as liaison between IUCN-Lao PDR and DAI
2.1.5 Attend regional workshops on behalf of Mekong ARCC
2.1.6 Promote Mekong ARCC with regional and national working groups and government officials with a particular focus on workshops/working groups related to policy on Climate Change in Lao PDR or regional initiatives (eg Climate Change adaptation initiative from the MRC…).
2.1.7 Oversee the communication strategy for the project (led by the communication officer) in accordance with USAID communication guidelines
2.1.8 Manages up to two (2) field officers to ensure timely completion of field work and deliverables in accordance with approved work plan
2.1.9 Contributes to methodology of adaptation decision making phase of project
2.1.10 Reviews project tools and methodology developed by M&E and Field Implementation Leads before field work commences
2.1.11 Participates in field work in Khammouane intermittently
2.1.12 Ensure internal workplan and staff time sheet are delivered by team members on time

2.2 ARCUS
2.2.1 Complete zoning activities within two districts, including participatory mapping, developing gibbon conservation zones and demarcation in Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area;
2.2.2 Expand community-based enforcement model to two additional districts to improve protection through increased patrol reach;
2.2.3 Implement improved adaptive management of enforcement work through the use of SMART software;
2.2.4 Determine a population baseline of the resident gibbon population using new approaches in spatially explicit capture and recapture (SECR);
2.2.5 Conduct a village needs assessment for sustainable use of natural resources to assess options for alternative livelihoods;
2.2.6 Create a village fund to support alternative livelihood initiatives to link and incentivize gibbon conservation activities.
2.2.7 Develop, equip and support a field office for community patrol activities.

2.3 Program and Project Development
2.3.1 Be part of the senior management team in the IUCN Lao PDR. This group will have the task of leading the development of IUCN Lao PDR program, including developing and maintaining relationships with the Government, IUCN members, Commissions and other partnerships in Lao PDR.
2.3.2 Assist the CM in mapping out strategic priorities for Lao PDR.
2.3.3 Support the IUCN Lao PDR Program team in delivering results under One Program approach and facilitating the necessary coordination with the Southeast Asia Group, Regional Thematic Programs under the Ecosystem and Livelihoods Group (ELG) and Global Thematic Program.
2.3.4 Provide program development support and advice to IUCN Lao PDR staff in the preparation of project concepts and proposals, including facilitating technical input and reviews by the larger Southeast Asia Group (SEAG) and the regional Ecosystems and Livelihoods Groups (ELGs);
2.3.5 Assist the CM in seeking new funding opportunities by developing innovative alliances with donors, members and partners and producing quality project proposals in close cooperation with both technical staff within IUCN Lao PDR and with the regional SEAG and ELGs;
2.3.6 Assist the CM and Finance on matters related to financing and sustainability of IUCN Lao PDR notably, updating and review of OABC list, preparation of project budget and donor contracts, definition of the core functions and costs of IUCN, integration of annual work planning and budgeting, and new financing mechanisms.

2.4 Program and Project Planning, Monitoring and Reporting
Support the Country Manager in effectively coordinating the IUCN Lao PDR Program to ensure coherence and integration across the program as well as with the Asia Region and globally, and to this end:
2.4.1 Coordinate the process of country program and project planning, monitoring and reporting in accordance with guidelines established for the Asia Region and globally;
2.4.2 Provide support to IUCN Lao PDR Program to operationalize the Asia Project Appraisal System (PAS) guidelines;
2.4.3 Assist with the development of good quality strategic, intercessional and annual plans for IUCN Lao PDR, including the development and regular monitoring of program and project work plans;
2.4.4 Work with the CM and Finance, IUCN Lao PDR on matters related to preparation of project budgets and donor contracts, definition of the core functions and costs of IUCN, integration of annual work planning and budgeting, and new financing mechanisms;
2.4.5 Liaise closely with thematic units and Projects to ensure outputs and commitments identified in work plans are delivered in a timely and effective manner and any resulting products are of high quality;
2.4.6 Integrate monitoring and evaluation in the work of all projects of IUCN Lao PDR including the development and use of performance indicators for quality management;
2.4.7 Support program and project evaluations and participate in related reviews, as necessary;
2.4.8 Ensure that lessons learnt in various projects and units of IUCN Lao PDR are documented and internalized in the current and future work of IUCN Lao PDR.
2.4.9 Ensure regular program reporting requirements by both donors and IUCN Asia Regional Office (ARO) are met (e.g. Quarterly Progress-Reports & Annual Report);
2.4.10 Ensure strong links between communications/knowledge management and program coordination and delivery.
2.4.11 Prepare and conduct project implementation at all levels of intervention from local (surveys, campaigns, workshops, study tours, etc.) to government (workshops, working group meetings, trainings conferences etc.)
2.4.12 Identify and carry out consultancies in Laos and other Asian countries, that fit to IUCN’s portfolio and strategies

2.5 Institutional tasks
2.5.1 Represent IUCN Lao PDR in external and internal IUCN meetings, at national, regional and international levels, as needed.

3. OTHER SPECIFIC DUTIES:
Undertake any other tasks as may be assigned by, and mutually agreed with the line manager