Climate change adaptation initiative (CCAI) field coordinator

Background:

The Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (Mekong ARCC) project is a five- year program funded by USAID. 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 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 impact rural poor and the ecologically sensitive areas of the Mekong River Basin. The project is headquartered in Thailand.

Mekong ARCC will work with international and local firms, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, universities and other organizations to provide technical assistance and support to local communities to carry out Ecosystem and Community-based Climate Adaptation and Resilience Building Initiatives at 5 to 6 field-sites within the Lower Mekong Countries of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The design of these initiatives will build the capacity of local communities while assisting them to combine their knowledge with Mekong ARCC generated climate science information to: a) understand climate risks, b) identify and prioritize adaptive responses to those risks, c) implement adaptation activities (technical and behavioral), and d) monitor, measure, and recalibrate adaptive responses based on experience gained and the best available weather and climate information. The Climate Change Adaptation Initiative (CCAI) Field Coordinator will lead in on-the-ground technical coordination and monitoring of Implementing Partner’s initiatives with communities. Travel to field sites will be required. This is a National Staff position.

Tasks

Field implementation

• Provide technical analysis of proposed field activities through review of all workplans and reports from implementing partners and monitoring progress against planned activities;
• In coordination with other Mekong ARCC technical staff, assist in monitoring and evaluating progress of implementing partner field activities by conducting regular site visits;
• Identify potential implementation problems with the implementing partners and help devise plans to address them;
• Work with Field and Logistics coordinator to help organize workshops and/or conferences involving representatives from implementing partner organizations, communities and/or other local stakeholders;
• Provide technical support to field partners and communities arising from identification of implementation needs;
• Liaise and facilitate linkages between partner organizations in target sites, including leading of cross site visits;
• Collaborate closely with Mekong ARCC’s M&E Specialist to ensure that field-level initiatives meet project indicator targets; and
• Other activities as requested by the Chief of Party.

Reporting

• Coordinate and regularly update Mekong ARCC Chief of Party and technical teams on progress and challenges at the field sites;
• Liaise with implementing partners and communicate priority technical assistance needs to the Mekong ARCC project management team; and
• Provide contributions to reports, workplans and deliverables to USAID and government counterparts and others as requested by the Chief of Party.

Qualifications

The CCAI Field Coordinator must have:

• Master’s degree in rural development, natural resource management or related field, or at least 7 years relevant work experience;
• At least 5 years of progressively increasing responsibility implementing donor-funded community development activities in Thailand, Laos and/or Vietnam, with preference given to candidates who have worked in more than one of these countries;
• Solid understanding of technical approaches to sustainable rural development for communities in Thailand, Laos, and/or Vietnam, particularly as related to management of agriculture, fisheries, livestock, or natural resources;
• Familiarity with analysis of benefits and costs associated with implementation of community derived approaches to strengthening resilience;
• Previous field experience carrying out climate change adaptation or related interventions;
• Demonstrated competence in coordinating with partner organizations and managing a variety of concurrent activities effectively;
• Ability to meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality;
• Team-oriented and a strong communicator in English, both verbal and written;
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently on short-term assignments to remote areas and work under challenging conditions.