Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development. It provides a collaborative platform among the many different agencies, sectors and countries who are addressing challenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues, to work towards a common goal.

MFF builds on a history of coastal management interventions before and after the 2004 tsunami, especially the call to continue the momentum and partnerships generated by the immediate post-tsunami response. It initially focused on the countries worst-affected by the tsunami; India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Thailand and expanded to include Bangladesh, Pakistan and Viet Nam. MFF will continue to reach out other countries of the region that face similar issues, with an overall aim to promote an integrated ocean wide approach to coastal zone management.

The initiative uses mangroves as a flagship ecosystem in recognition of the destruction caused to mangroves by the tsunami, but MFF is inclusive of all coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, sandy beaches, sea grasses and wetlands. Its long-term management strategy is based on identified needs and priorities for long-term sustainable coastal ecosystem management. These priorities emerged from extensive consultations with over 200 individuals and 160 institutions involved in coastal management in the Indian Ocean Region.

MFF seeks to achieve demonstrable results in influencing regional cooperation, national programme support, private sector engagement and community action. This will be achieved using a strategy of generating knowledge, empowering institutions and individuals to promote good

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The Executive Secretary will provide secretarial and administrative support to the MFF Secretariat and facilitate the smooth-running of day-to-day operations as well as provide administrative and logistic support to national and international events.

More specifically, the Executive Secretary will assist with the following tasks as part of general secretarial support and day to day management of operations, information and networking:

1. Maintain appointment diaries, schedule meetings and make appointments.

2. Deal with and record telephone calls, email messages, visitors and queries on the programme/project and IUCN with appropriate actions and responses particularly in the absence of the Line Manager;

3. Organize national and international travel arrangements for project staff (including travel bookings, cash advances, travel approval forms, local pick-ups and transport, visa, accommodation requirements); as well as travel advance reconciliations/reimbursements

4. Provide secretarial and logistical support to national and international training events, workshops, conferences and meetings (including travel arrangements, booking of venue and accommodation, facilitation during events, reporting)

5. Provide secretarial and logistic support to visitors and consultants for MFF (including travel arrangements, accommodation, payments)

6. Support with submitting and tracking of staff time payments, invoices, travel expenses and other payments as appropriate.

7. Develop and maintain a computerized mailing list, as well as an information database on principal contacts and email addresses, telephone and fax numbers as relevant for MFF;

8. Maintain and support the organisational filing and data management systems, in hard copy as well as computerized form as appropriate including monitoring start dates and durations, due dates for related payments,and reminding all parties about pending issues and deadlines accordingly.

9. Ensure that admin / finance / personnel forms are available and used as and when required.

10. Be informed about the movements of and keep in touch with the MFFS staff members with RPD & other secretariat offices.

11. Through regular liaison with office administration and the other Asia Regional Office secretaries, ensure that:
• programme office space is well maintained, neat and secure
• equipment is well maintained
• stationery is supplied and accounted for

12. Maintain the 'corporate' identity of IUCN/MFF by ensuring that all letters, memos, faxes, proposals and reports of the programme and project adhere to the IUCN style;

13. Assist in the preparation of programme documents including helping with the layout and publication of reports.

14. Provide secretarial support to other parts of the office in times of particular stress.

15. Carry out any other relevant tasks as required by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager(s).