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Regional Project Officer, MARPLASTICCs

Vacancy #:   2772
Unit:   Asia - Mangroves for the Future Initiative
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   Asia Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand
Reporting to:   Programme Manager, Knowledge and Sustainability
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   P2
Expected start date:   01 June 2018
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (24 months)
Closing date:   15 April 2018
BACKGROUND
IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,300 Member organisations and the input of more than 16,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

IUCN analysis shows that in order to control the release of plastic from different sources to stop plastic pollution, different sets of solutions are required with geographical specificities.

Africa and Asia share a common set of determinants on plastic pollution that relates to the mismanagement of waste. While waste management is a huge public health and economic issue that already attracts a large amount of public sector investments, approaches to how the plastic component of that waste is managed, particularly in terms of mitigating coastal and marine plastic pollution tend to be lost among other broader considerations and are therefore not dealt with directly.

In order to contribute to closing the plastic tap in two key regions of the world, IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme has launched a 4-year initiative funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) with the Marine Plastics & Coastal Communities hereafter MARPLASTICCs project.

The MARPLASTICCs’ medium-term outcome is that governments, industry and society in Eastern and Southern Africa and Asia regions are equipped with knowledge, capacity, policy options and plans of action to contain and reduce marine plastic pollution. While plastic pollution is only one element of a broader waste management agenda, there is nevertheless a unique opportunity to position this issue with governments, business and society in both regions and to enable dialogue and synergies. Central to such dialogue is greater and more precise knowledge including:
• The source, volume and nature of plastic waste – where are the main points of entry into the system and where does it end up?
• What are the environmental social and economic implications of unregulated and unmanaged plastic pollution on aquatic and other ecosystems and on the livelihoods and health of the people, both women and men, who depend on them?
• What are the most promising and socially and economically acceptable options to significantly reduce plastic pollution? What are the most promising options to enlist the local private sector as an ally in such measures?

The MARPLASTICCs project is executed by the IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme in collaboration with the IUCN Regional Office. It is seeking 4 main outputs:
• Understanding the state and impact of plastic pollution in the Eastern and Southern Africa and Asia regions;
• Local and regional capacity building to facilitate national action to control plastic pollution in the Eastern and Southern Africa and Asia regions.
• Supporting national and regional policy frameworks and legislative reform processes to address plastics in the Eastern and Southern Africa and Asia regions.
• Engaging and mobilising business actors in support of effective management and reduction of plastic pollution.
JOB DESCRIPTION
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The MARPLASTICCs Regional Officer, will play a key role in the daily management of the MARPLASTICCs project in the region. The position requires good communication as well as excellent organization skills to ensure that the programme is implemented and managed according to best practices.

The MARPLASTCCs Regional officer will perform under the supervision of the MFF programme Manager, Knowledge and Sustainability and the Senior Programme Coordinator, Regional Seas, GMPP. He/she will report regularly with the Central Coordination team based in IUCN HQ, providing updates on the implementation progresses of the project, and the other relevant IUCN Programmes staff at IUCN Headquarters and consultants.


SPECIFIC DUTIES
• Oversee implementation of the MARPLASTICCs in the region ensuring daily programme management and coordination of activities;
• Liaise regularly with the central coordination team and report on progress;
• Support the facilitation of the MARPLASTICCs Steering Committee with updates and detailed information on project implementation;
• Support the organization of regional meetings needed for the implementation of the project;
• Liaison with consultants and organise routine payments and expense claims;
• Support and provide inputs for the technical reporting to the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA);
• Coordinate with the IUCN Finance Unit to ensure reporting requirements are in compliance with the donor/project agreement;
• Assist the Communications Officer at IUCN HQ with communications materials, project webpages and event preparation;
• Assist in identifying potential funding sources for follow up IUCN’s activities on plastics in the region;
• Regularly update the project monitoring matrix for the activities in the region;
• Represent IUCN at relevant meetings in the region;
• Connect and liaise with other relevant projects in the region;
• Carry out other relevant tasks as may be assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
  • A Master’s degree in environmental sciences, sustainable development, project management or any other discipline that is relevant to nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources;

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in managing or coordinating environmental and conservation projects;

• Excellent written and spoken English skills (other languages are an asset);

• Excellent oral and written communication skills;

• Excellent organization skills to ensure that the programme is implemented and managed according to best practices;

• Good administrative, reporting and communication skills;

• Experience in office applications (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and web-based management tools and systems;

• A motivated self-starter with an ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs;

• A team player with a strong interest to work in an international environment;

• Proven knowledge and experience in marine conservation, marine ecosystem resilience, waste management or circular economy is considered a great asset.
APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/


About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

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