Gulf of Mottama (GOM) Ecosystem Management Specialist

The remuneration and benefits package for this position is established with reference to the local labour market and in line with the IUCN conditions of service for Myanmar.

The Gulf of Mottama Project (GoMP) is a multi-sectoral project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by a consortium led by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation (HELVETAS) and including Network Activities Group (NAG) and IUCN. Phase 1 of the project ran from April 2015 to April 2018; the current phase, Phase 2, began in April 2018 and runs until the end of 2021. In Phase 2, the focus is on working with institutions and stakeholders to implement the Gulf of Mottama (GoM) Management Plan, developed in Phase 1 based on stakeholder consultations. The GoM Management Plan and the GoMP goals are perfectly aligned. For both, the vision is that “The unique biodiversity of the Gulf of Mottama is conserved and sustainably developed in order to benefit human communities that depend on it.” This vision is based on the three major outcome areas: 1) Livelihoods are secured and diversified to build communities’ resilience; 2) Coastal natural resource use is sustainable and well-managed, and biodiversity is secured; and 3) Coastal natural resource governance is coordinated and effective, and awareness of the value of the GoM is raised.

IUCN leads activities for Outcome 2 related to conservation- and management-relevant research, strengthening local skills for such research, and connecting research to stakeholders, while playing a key role in Outcome 3, including coordinating with various institutions for the implementation of the Gulf of Mottama Management Plan. This includes close coordination with the recently formed Coastal Resource Management Committees (CRMCs) of Mon State and Bago Region, as well as communication with the national CRMC and facilitating formation of more local-level institutions. The CRMCs represent multiple government departments, and the Mon and Bago CRMCs are the main implementers of the GoM Management Plan.

Key areas of coordination include working with the Helvetas Chief Technical Advisor, Project Manager, Management Plan Coordinator (MPC) on work with the Mon and Bago CRMCs and township-level institutions, the Helvetas Conservation Officer on village-level conservation plans, and with the non-profit Point B Design + Training. Point B has established the Myanmar Coastal Conservation Lab (MCCL), which works closely with this position to develop and implement research skills trainings, research on marine mammals and project communities, and the GoMP Research & Conservation Training Program, an internship program training youth and students from Bago and Mawlamyine Universities.

Specific outputs include: annually updated research strategy based on stakeholder consultation; annual information-sharing meeting to communicate research findings to diverse stakeholders, including the Coastal Resource Management Committees of Mon State and Bago Region; implementation of the GoMP Research and Conservation Training Program with Bago and Mawlamyine Universities, with Point B Design + Training Myanmar Coastal Conservation Lab (MCCL); supervising diverse research projects carried out by the universities, Point B MCCL, and other contractors; initial implementation of the GOM Management Plan based on the Ramsar wise use principles; and linking GoMP research and management activities to national-level platforms and initiatives where appropriate.