Thailand: Regional Climate Change Specialist

Plan is an international, child-focused development organization, without religious, political or governmental affiliation. We work with and for poor children and communities in 50 developing countries around the world, 14 of which are in Asia. Our vision is of a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity. Plan policies and procedures ensure that the welfare of children comes first.

Plan Asia Regional Office is looking for the following position to join our team. This is a local recruitment. The successful candidate will be offer package competitive to the local market. Please note that Plan will not be able to provide residential, visa and work permit.

Job Description:

Department : Regional Climate Change Specialist

& Location based in Indonesia, Thailand or Philippines

Reports to : Regional DRM Manager

Duration to hire : 3 years contract

Purpose : The job holder will coordinate the regional Child Centred Climate Change

Adaption (4CA) projects, working closely with the national project

Managers in at least 5 countries (Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia,

Vietnam, and Myanmar) and is directly responsible for the

implementation of the regional components for the projects. In addition,

the post holder will provide supervision and technical support a regional

Child Centred Recovery and Resilience project. Moreover, the post holder

will provide regional leadership and coherence in Climate related

programs in the Asia region, providing as necessary, technical

guidance related to climate change programming and policy to the

DRM/DRR specialists across 14 Plan Country Offices in Asia. This

involves supporting in the design, development, monitoring and

evaluation of plan’s climate related programs whist advocating for

policies in the region and raising Plan’s profiles as a key player in this

area.

Dimensions of Role:

Financial measures or statistics relevant to post such as budget; list of direct and indirect reports

• As an expert in the area, the Regional Climate Change Specialist influences Plan’s decision makers e.g. the regional management team, country management teams, and country program teams on quality climate related and community based DRR (CBDRR) programming, with a specific focus on Child Centred Climate Change Adaptation (4CA) program with a total budget of $3.5 million.

• Support to Country Programmes in designing and funding climate related programmes.

• Providing technical advice to and supporting a network of Climate Change / DRR counterparts in the countries.

• The total regional budget for climate change programmes in the region is approx. USD 1.4 million per year, including a budget of on average $200K per year for initiatives implemented directly by the Plan Asia Regional Office. Each country is accountable for its own budget, however the Coordinator will provide oversight and quality assurance.

• The Regional Climate Change Specialist is expected to be accountable to the ARO regional budget and identify potential funding sources for regional, multi-country and country initiatives to expand climate change programming in Asia.

• The post holder will have direct line management responsibilities for the regional Child Centered Recovery and Resilience Project Coordinator

• The post holder will be expected to report regularly to the Regional DRM Manager, formally during the regular DRM Team meetings, and informally as and when required.

  Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

  “What” is done and “why”, but not “how”; include indicators for success

  Coordinate the current multi-country Child Centred Climate Change Adaptation projects, working with Program managers in at least 5 countries (Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar) and provide oversight to the regional Child Centered Recovery and Resilience project (Philippines, Bangladesh and Asia region)

• Providing individual project monitoring and management support to each CO when necessary (including Ensuring projects do not exceed budget, and that remedial action is taken where there are problems with the financial status of projects

• Provide technical support and guidance as part of the project development process to each CO when necessary, in particular supporting the integration of CCA into general program work

• Consolidating timely bi-annual and annual reports from project countries and the region to be submitted to Plan International Germany and Plan International Australia Office and compliant with donor requirements;

• Act as focal point for the project with National Offices (NO), ensuring regular and timely updates and communication;

• Provide supervision and technical support for the regional Child Centered Recovery and Resilience Project coordinator, especially in the area of regional resilience research

• Leadership of Plan Asia’s region wide activities in climate change and resilience related programming.

• Leading annual regional project related events and workshops, selecting the subsequent themes and setting the agendas;

• Leading the planning and implementation of regional level activities (e.g. research, consolidation of guidelines, evaluations, studies and media projects and case study publication);

• Leading and facilitating the cross-country learning and sharing of DRR/CCA project related experiences, resources and tools;

• Develop strategic partnerships and identify funding opportunities to support NO CCA work.

• Representation of Plan Asia’s Climate related programming at relevant global, regional and national level events and fora

• In coordination with the Plan International German National offices, liaising with the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry of Environment (BMUB) Liaise as necessary with other donors (internal and external; institutional and non-institutional) to promote Plan Asia’s climate related work and identify possible funding sources

• Coordinate the work of the project with other international, regional, national, institutions and agencies, clusters, donors at the regional level related to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience projects, specifically the Children in a Changing Climate Coalition (UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan International, World Vision, Child Fund)

• Act as the focal point of Climate Change Adaptation and DRR for South East Asia in the ARO DRM Team, and together with the Regional DRM Manager, liaise with the RO, IH, NOs and external agencies.

• Plan is known as a key player in Climate Change Adaptation.

• Key actors are identified.

• Partnerships with the key actors including donors are established and/or strengthened.

• Plan’s representation is ensured in important national and international forums; the knowledge management mechanisms are utilized to enhance representation and networking.

• Key interventions are identified, packaged and represented to different audiences.

  Dealing with Problems:

  Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required solving them

  • The Regional Climate Change Specialist is responsible for providing technical support across a range of country operating environments throughout the Asia region, with varying degrees of experience in climate related programming
  • He/she will establish common standards that are appropriate to the operating contexts in Asia while still meeting donor requirements; and,
  • He/she will encourage all program sectors to consider climate related hazards in the communities in which they work in order to increase community resilience

  Communications and Working Relationships:

  Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact

  Internal

• The post holder will report directly to the ARO DRM Manager and coordinate with members of the ARO DRM team. The post holder will supervise the Regional Coordinator for the Child Centered Recovery and Resilience Project, funded by USA based M.A. Cargill Foundation

• The post holder will need to work closely with Regional Advisors to provide a joined-up and coherent development approach, and particularly with the Regional DRM Manager; the Regional Safe Schools Coordinator; and the Regional Youth Empowerment Specialist related to the issue of “Green Jobs”

• The post holder will have a close horizontal working relationship with NO DRM teams, especially NO child centred climate change adaptation focal points for Asia

• Country Program Teams on the formulation and implementation of climate related programs and resource mobilization to support them.

• Country Office Management Teams to ensure that climate related issues are considered during the development of CSPs.

• Regional Management Teams to support the development of a regional presence in relation to climate issues.

  External

• Network with regional level key players in the field of climate change to increase Plan’s visibility in the area.

• Foster exchange platforms related to Child Centered and Community based Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience for the DRM/DRR network in the region.

• Identify opportunities for further Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience funding

  Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours, Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

  Gained through education, training, & experience

• Knowledge

• Proven knowledge of latest debates, issues, research and practice in climate change and resilience programming and program implementation in a range of contexts.

• Relevant relegated degree level education preferred.

• Knowledge of child-centered programming approach desirable.

• Knowledge of the wider Asian climate change and development context would be desirable with relevant field experience.

• Skills

• Previous level technical advisory expertise in the design, implementation and evaluation of climate change adaptation or disaster risk reduction programs.

• Experience in the development of workable guidelines and standards

• Demonstrated facilitation and training experience

• Influencing, representational and advocacy skills

• Excellent communication skills operating at a distance and across a wide variation in cultures

• Excellent command of English, both speaking and writing

• Behaviors

• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour

• Involves others in setting and achieving goals

• Makes a strong contribution to wider strategy

• Sees contribution of own part of the organisation in wider Plan and external context

• Balances future vision with practical delivery

• Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations

• Effective communicator: supporting learning in diverse teams

• Cross culturally adept

• Can reach out and influence large groups of people at different levels of the organisation

• Sets a strong learning culture in their part of the organisation

• Aware of impact on others and adjusting own behaviour accordingly

• Has a positive impact on those around them

Physical Environment and Demands:

May be “typical office environment”; note if heavy lifting, climbing, excess travel, etc.

• Frequent travel within and outside the region, sometimes to remote areas. (40-%)

  Level of Contact with Children:

  *Low contact: Low frequency of interaction*

Application Process :

Please send your CV and a covering letter explain why you should be offered this job to PlanAsia.JobVacancies@plan-international.org by 5.00 pm local time Bangkok on Wednesday

6^th January 2016. Please state clearly in the subject title of the E-mail the job you are applying for.

All applications are kept as a strictly confidential matter

For more information : Please contact

Plan International Inc. Asia Regional Office

14^th Floor, 253 Sukhumvit 21 Road ( Asoke)

Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110

Tel : +66 (02) 204-2630-4 Ext. 107

Fax : +66 (02) 204-2629

E-mail : hiranya.chantapong@plan-international.org

Skype : Hiranya.Chantapong