The Associate will contribute to the delivery of the NATURA project and the mainstreaming GESI GGGI standards into the project. Given the high level of community outreach and associated MEL activities in NATURA, the MEL function in the project requires respective level of knowledge and experience in safeguarding and GESI. The position is expected to deliver on safe, GESI-sensitive results monitoring, in order to be able to inform GESI-responsive programming.

The Associate will report to the Water Unit Lead (Senior Officer, Water Resources) and will ensure the alignment of NATURA project with IFC safeguards as stated in project narrative. This will be done in cooperation with project stakeholders, with a strong focus on beneficiaries and the community mobilization project partner. In addition, the Associate plays a pivotal role as the country’s MEL focal point and in operationalizing GGGI’s new MEL framework at the project level and specifically implements MEL Plan for NATURA project. The Associate will also report and technically engage with the Regional MEL Senior Officer, receiving guidance from project managers and frequently engaging with the GGGI Impact and Evaluation Unit (IEU) and Climate Action and Inclusive Development Unit (CAID) in headquarters, particularly during the inception phase of the project.

Finally, the Associate will support capacity building and training on GGGI GESI standards and MEL framework in coordination with the GGGI-HQ.

RESPONSIBILITIES

PURPOSE

• Ensure that IFC standards are respected in NATURA project implementation, in line with the results of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).
• Ensure that the rights, interests and needs of community members and vulnerable groups are integrated into the ongoing design and delivery of NATURA activities, and that project activities are inclusive.
• Coordinate with main stakeholders involved in the implementation of ESMP activities, reviewing and refining activities, workplan and supervising risks evolution.
• In cooperation with selected CSO/organization, ensure that communities are mobilized and supported during project implementation.
• Faciliate the implementation of the NATURA project MEL plan with the guidance of the project manager and support from regional and HQ IEU focal points.
• Assists with internal and external reporting focusing on ESMP and MEL indicators.
• Supports Communication Team to develop beneficiaries impact stories.
• Supports NATURA project team in particular and country operations in general to mainstream GGGI GESI standards all over country operations with guidance from HQ CAID GESI focal points.

ENGAGEMENT

• Liaises between communities, village local authorities and GGGI teams (focal point).
• Organizes community consultations and data collection (qualitative and quantitative) to feed both ESMP and MEL indicators.
• Develops detailed workplans to implement ESMP and MEL plan.
• Conceptualizes community awareness and engagement plans in line with project activities and ensures their implementation.
• Reports about any issues related to community engagement and proactively supports good communication between project team and communities, ensuring the engagement of all community groups.
• Vehicles community feedback to project implementation team.
• In cooperation with Climate Action and Inclusive Development Unit (CAID) and IEU organizes GESI and MEL trainings to build capacity of in country team.

DELIVERY

• Apply IFC safeguards principles through NATURA project activities delivery.
• Promote GGGI GESI mainstreaming through country operations.
• Support the IEU in implementing and supervising core and earmarked evaluations.
• Close cooperation with village authorities and implementing partners in leading community engagement activities related to ESMP and MEL. In particular the coordination and organization of capacity building workshops and focus group discussions (FGDs) for ESMP and MEL plans with relevant counterparts, including preparation of budgets, terms of reference (ToR), etc. This includes regular field visits and exchanges with stakeholders.
• Advise and support senior management team members about GGGI GESI approaches and GGGI MEL frameworks.
• Facilitate the implementation of NATURA MEL plan including the frequent monitoring activities, data collection, respecting budget & timeline, etc.
• Analyze data collected through surveys or interviews and report to IEU and project stakeholders.
• Engage and understand the MEL frameworks of NATURA project donor to align MEL activities with their expectations and requirements.
• Support the organization and facilitation of training workshops for project staff and stakeholders on various aspects of NATURA MEL plan, including tool usage, data collection methods, and data analysis, in coordination with the IEU.
• Support the training of relevant stakeholders and project staff about effective form building and design for data collection, ensuring forms are user-friendly and capture necessary data accurately.
• Support Water Unit project reporting tasks.
• Provide communication materials in support to Communication Team when required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Keen understanding and experience in the role and application of safeguards in Lao PDR.
• An undergraduate degree in a social science field, economics, environmental policy and/or science, development studies, public management, monitoring & evaluation, climate change, sustainable development or any discipline related to the assignment.
• A graduate degree (masters) in one of the above fields will be a strong advantage.
• Proven knowledge in M&E/MEL/MEAL/GESI fields will be an asset.
• Preferred 3-5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong knowledge of resilience and climate change adaptation in sectors such as urban planning / development, integrated water resources management, ecosystem services management will be an advantage.
• Previous experience executing stakeholder engagement activities, across communities and local authorities with international development agencies and/or private sector.
• Working fluency in English and Lao and ability to translate between the two languages as needed.

FUNCTIONAL

• Ability to apply related concepts in the adaptation contexts of Lao PDR.
• Ability to communicate substantive issues to engage technical staff and leaders.
• Ability to build and manage complex multi-stakeholder relationships at the technical level.
• Ability to engage with community leaders, local authorities, implementing stakeholders and government counterparts at relevant levels in a polite, professional and effective manner.
• Ability to work in an organized, systematic manner, with degree of innovations and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to write concise and clear minutes supplemented with effective filing and database system development and maintenance.
• Able to communicate, listen to others, and contribute to an environment for open communication across cultures.
• Maintain a high degree of professional integrity at all times, both internally within GGGI and externally to GGGI’s partners and clients.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision and values.
• Promote the optimum use of public resources.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
• Process and share information easily.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.
• Promote creativity and innovation among staff.
• Be able to lead where needed and provide solutions to project-level challenge.

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