Contract

This is a Volunteer contract. More about Volunteer contracts.

Job description

Hin Nam No National Park is located in central Laos. It is part of a biodiversity hotspot in the Annamites and impresses with its unique landscape. Laos plans to nominate the national park to UNESCO as an extension of the existing World Heritage Site "Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng" in cooperation with Vietnam. The protected area is also expected to achieve "Green List" status within the next five years. The administration of the national park has recently been staffed and provided with government budget. The national park administration works closely with local communities and the local government through a collaborative protected area management approach. In light of international ambitions the newly established administrative unit needs support in developing the technical and administrative capacity necessary to achieve these international standards and awards.

Your tasks

• The tasks of the development workers are fundamentally derived from the tangible needs on the ground, but include an understanding of the links between these needs and the current management plan, which, in turn, is based on the corresponding national goals (Green List status and World Heritage nomination)
• Development of a basic understanding of biodiversity conservation and protected area management approaches and their implementation within the partner organization
• Supporting the partner organization in the implementation of an organizational development program as part of the capacity development strategy of the GIZ project
• Ensuring regular exchange between the local partner and the GIZ project "ProFEB", including national experts of the project, on capacity development for the management of protected areas
• Support of the partner organization in the management of the protected area in accordance with the management plan, fulfilment of the target indicators, or closing of identified competence gaps with regard to the international recognition (Natural Heritage and "Green Listing") and in the implementation of the regular monitoring of management performance through standardized instruments (Monitoring Tool for Green List sites (IBEX))
• Taking on tasks in a team of predominantly national specialists at local, provincial and national level with complementary competences
• Cooperation with local partners with whom solutions are to be jointly designed and implemented

Your profile

• University degree and track record in the field of biodiversity, and participatory protected area management
• Knowledge of, or experience with, natural heritage and green listing is an advantage
• Ability to work in a team and networking combined with the ability to think conceptually and analytically
• Structured working style with a high degree of self-organization, flexibility and creativity
• High digital affinity and willingness to contribute to a partly virtual team with different locations
• Very high advisory competence, especially in culturally and politically sensitive contexts with partners with very little technical and administrative competence
• Strong communication competence, presentation and moderation skills and the ability to adapt to different target groups
• Experience with Southeast Asian cultures and/or experience in the region is desired
• Good English language skills and, ideally, some language skills in Thai and German and the willingness to learn a new foreign language (Lao)

Location information

We are pleased to offer you a first impression on topics such as climate, shopping and services, the school situation and health care in Laos.

The place of work is Thakhek, but about 50% of the working time is spent at the national park authority in Boualapha. In the dry season (November to April), this would mean weekly missions of several days to Boualapha, with an estimated 60-80% of the working time in Boualapha. In the rainy season (May to October), the working time in Boualapha would be about 20-40%.

Boualapha has about 40,000 inhabitants, but the place has more of a village feel, with only one central strip with a few restaurants, some shops and a small market. The building of the Protected Area Administration is located about 9 kilometers outside Boualapha on the road that connects Boualapha with the National Highway 12. A project vehicle will be provided for travelling around Boualapha. Boualapha does not have an airport and in the rainy season (July to September) the road connection can be interrupted temporarily, even for longer periods. Boualapha has a small market where food and the simplest daily necessities are available. Power outages are common in \and the local district hospital cannot perform treatments professionally. Boualapha is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive away from Thakhek and about 8 hours from the capital Vientiane.

Thakhek has 26,000 inhabitants and is the seventh largest city in Laos. From Boualapha, Thakhek can be reached via two road connections that are only partly paved. Boualapha is about an hour drive away from the National Highway 12, which connects Laos to Vietnam. Highway 12 is open all year round. Thakhek has several markets with reliable supplies of food items, fresh produce and items of daily use. It also has a number of restaurants. Thakhek also has no airport, but the city of "Nakhon Phanom" across the Mekong river in Thailand has a domestic airport and can be reached by bus or car from Thakhek via the so-called "Friendship Bridge" in about 1-2 hours. Thakhek has a provincial hospital where simple standard treatments can be reliably performed.

Health care in Thailand (including Nakhon Phanom) is good, and special goods are available. The capital Vientiane features a few hospitals and clinics, at least one clinic works at the level of a Thai hospital. Healthcare of international standard is accessible in Thailand as long as the borders between Laos and Thailand are open. In Vientiane, a variety of imported products can be purchased. Neither Boualapha nor Thakhek have international schools, but it should be possible to organize childcare in Thakhek.

The climate in the project area is tropical and characterized by the southwest monsoon, with pronounced rain and dry season. The landscape around Boualapha is attractive, characterized by rice fields, rivers and impressive limestone formations. Xe Bang Fai cave, the main attraction of the Hin Nam No National Park, can be visited in the dry season in less than half an hour from Boualapha. Xe Bang Fai river allows for boat rides, swimming and at the cave there is basic accommodation (campground, simple guesthouse and homestay). An internationally visited climbing camp is located less than half an hour car or motorcycle ride from Thakhek.

In general, the security situation is calm. GIZ's requirements for security measures must be followed at all times. Please also inform yourself about country-specific information from the Federal Foreign Office. A contact person for security risk management is appointed at the GIZ office Laos. GIZ considers Laos to be a family duty station without restrictions, however forms of relationship have to be legally accepted in the country of deployment.

Notes

GIZ's Development Service is looking forward to applications of candidates with a professional qualification and / or university degree and at least two years of professional experience. In addition you hold the German nationality or the nationality of a member state of the European Union.

Regular business trips within Khammouane Province, to the provincial capital Thakhek, to local villages and several day-long ranger patrols in remote tropical karst areas without accommodation, as well as trips to the capital Vientiane and, if necessary, to Phong Nha Ke Bang and Dong Hoi in the Quang Binh Province in Vietnam are integral part of this position.

Work "in the field" is one of the requirements for this position. This often includes staying several days in villages and in the forest without catering facilities and simple overnight accommodation. Self-sufficient accommodation and catering arrangements are often advised.

English is not an official language in Laos and is not widely spoken. At the local level, English language skills are almost completely lacking. Therefore, the willingness to acquire a basic vocabulary in lao language is a condition. Nevertheless, the day-to-day work will depend on translation between Lao and English. This is ensured by the project.

We are happy to help accompanying partners discuss questions about benefits, residence permits and how to find your own job locally - feel free to get in touch with us during your application phase at [email protected].

Please observe the provisions of the country-specific vaccination regulations for entry and work in the country of assignment - in particular also regarding COVID-19.

Please understand that we can accept and process in principle only applications via our E-recruiting system. Following the confirmation of your succesful application, kindly check your spam / junk mail folder on a regular basis, since some provider classify emails form our recruiting system as spam.

About us

We offer the opportunity to work in an innovative and worldwide operating institution related to development policy. Your competencies and qualifications are demanded on the spot in an interdisciplinary team. You advise governmental and civil society organizations at local or municipal level. The Development Service of GIZ offers a comprehensive service package. It includes a specific technical and personal preparation. The basis for the deployment of specialists in the development service is the German Development Workers Act (EhfG).

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

GIZ would like to increase the proportion of employees with disability, both in Germany and abroad. Applications from persons with disabilities are most welcome.

Contact

Recruitment and Follow-on assignments Client Portal +49 (0) 6196 79 3200 [email protected]