Job: Assistant Project Officer

Location: Yangon 
Deadline: Sunday, 06 October 2013 

Description

RECOFTC

Myanmar Country Program Application deadline: 6th October 2013 RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests holds a unique and important place in the world of forestry. It is the only international not-for-profit organization that specializes in capacity building for community forestry and devolved forest management. RECOFTC engages in strategic networks and effective partnerships with governments, nongovernment organizations, civil society, the private sector, local people, and research and educational institutes throughout the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. With over 20 years of international experience and a dynamic approach to capacity development—involving research, analysis and synthesis; strategic communication; training and learning networks; and piloting and demonstrating —RECOFTC delivers innovative solutions for people and forests. RECOFTC is currently seeking an appropriate professional to assist our communications program to support community forestry in Myanmar.

LOCATION AND DURATION:

The position will be based in Yangon with regular visits to Nay Pyi Taw and other field sites. The contract period will initially be for 2 years with a possibility of extension.

BACKGROUND:

RECOFTC is launching a new five-year program in October 2013 (Strategic Plan 2013-2018 - People and forests for a greener future—Empowering local people to effectively and equitably engage in the sustainable management of forested landscapes), in which it undertakes to consolidate country programs in eight focal countries. The rationale for this is 'to make a differen ce on the ground for people and forests through the demonstration of proven practices and processes. Lessons learned from these focal countries will be documented and made widely available through knowledge management'. RECOFTC recently established a Country Program in Myanmar, to complement its existing ones in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. RECOFTC also has a presence through projects in Lao PDR and Nepal, and also works in China. Myanmar is an original signatory to RECOFTC's charter in 1987 and was active in the early years of the organization.

Over the course of 20 years, RECOFTC has trained a significant number of Myanmar nationals, many of whom are in key forestry positions in government institutions and civil society today. Even before recent political changes elicited strong international interest in Myanmar, RECOFTC has been working in the country with various partners such as the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MOECAF), Oikos, JICA, UNDP and local NGOs and has significantly ramped up its country engagement in the last year. The MoU signed between the Forest Department (FD) and RECOFTC on 21th January 2013, gives RECOFTC a legitimate role to work closely with the Union Government of Myanmar.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Assistant Program Officer - Communications will report to the Myanmar Country Program Coordinator (MCPC) and will closely collaborate with other MCP staff and RECOFTC's Program Coordination and Operations unit (PROCO) and Strategic Communications (StratCom) based in Bangkok, Thailand. S/he will have the following roles and responsibilities:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Myanmar Country Program Coordinator and in close collaboration with other MCP staff and support from StratCom and PROCO, the Assistant Program Officer - Communications will:

Program development:

• Prepare, finalize and update strategic communication plan for the Myanmar Country Program Office;
• Facilitate support, and coordinate MCP overall strategic communication activities in the areas of public awareness, media relations, events, exhibitions, publications, documentation of project work
• Update periodically the profiles of key partners in-country through the establishment and maintenance of database for the MCP partners and other key stakeholders to help improve outreach with media, civil society, academia, donors and government partners.
• Contribute to the development and packaging of project concept notes and proposals in Myanmar;
• Maintain stakeholder relations through appropriate communications products:
• distributing publications, setting up meetings, project factsheets, project profiles, etc.
• Help ensure that MCP and project staff understands and conforms with RECOFTC Communication Protocol

Program and service delivery

• Responsible for the delivery of strategic communication projects under the implementation of the Myanmar Country Program (such as the proposed INFORM project in partnership with Forest Trends and other partners) Provide outreach and communications support for major stakeholder events, partner special events, press conferences and project field visits, etc.
• Coordinate communications materials and the requirements for MCP events including preparing invitations, invitee lists, venues, and engage with key partners, including media, to ensure their active participation in MCP events
• Oversee the translation of English knowledge products into Burmese (and vice versa), check quality of translation and manage the printing process as necessary for Myanmar briefs and reports in country.
• Translate English press releases into Burmese (and vice versa) as required, Set up and facilitate the operation of the mini MCP library as a depository relevant communication materials;
• Establish and maintain a 'photo and video' archive of key MCP events and projects activities;
• Support MCP and project teams in writing /editing, documenting case studies, lessons learned, policy briefs and supervising the production of communication and visibility materials and products; Research and visit field projects, taking photos and documenting 'Stories of Change'
• Contribute articles to the RECOFTC website (incl. RECOFTC E-Newsletter, and blog in Burmese and English language, and manage MCP email account.
• Support online social media and outreach initiatives to promote RECOFTC events and other activities.
• This includes sourcing interesting features for our Facebook, Twitter, newsletter and blog pages in English with the eventual goal of creating Burmese accounts.
• Responsible for assisting projects in developing and packaging communication and visibility plans, training, education and extension materials and liaise with the communication officers of donors and development partners to help ensure that projects' visibility materials developed are in accordance with the donors' communication and visibility manual, guidelines and procedures
• Help with the preparation of project reports for the Myanmar Country Program and its specific projects in accordance with the donors' communication and visibility manual, guidelines and procedures
• Finalize and produce and disseminate a Myanmar country office brochure and newsletters in English/ Burmese
• Coordinate the network of CF and other networks with updated news and related on-going projects nationwide
• Collect and summarize weekly/monthly related local news article on community forestry and related activities (REDD+, climate change, policy reforms, land use conflicts etc…) and share with COMAF
• Perform other tasks as are assigned from time to time by the Country Program Coordinator.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The Communications Officer will have the following minimum qualifications and experience:

Essential:

• A Bachelor's degree in development communication, journalism, or related field, with minimum of three years of relevant experience Solid experience writing and editing communication materials in English and Burmese, including articles, newsletters, brochures and/or reports. Expertise or proven interest in local natural resources, environmental and/or social development issues
• Excellent communication skills in both written and spoken forms in English and Burmese Fully conversant with use of new technology for communications, outreach and social media (twitter, Facebook, flicker and YouTube) including the web and multimedia tools
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as an active member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Value the sharing of information and continuous improvement in a co-operative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning
• Organized, efficient and able to meet deadlines and manage events Myanmar nationality only

Highly desirable:

• Experience of working in development communications and/or natural resource management with a non-profit international organization;
• Experience translating articles, newsletters, brochures and/or reports from English to Burmese and vice-versa.
• Photography, video and design/layout skills and experience
• Experience working with local and international media; and broad media contacts

General:

• Flexibility and open-mindedness;
• Initiative and ability to make informed independent judgments, that are not inconsistent with an overall team approach;
• and Ability to work in a varied cultural and institutional context.

Interested candidates, please submit CV/resume, cover letter indicating salary requirements and current contact details of three referees, including direct supervisors to HR@recoftc.org. Sample of any recent consultancy reports written by applicants may also be submitted.

Please quote the position title in the subject line of the email. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. A remuneration package in line with qualifications and experiences will be negotiated with the selected candidate. To learn more about RECOFTC, please visit our website www.recoftc.org Women are strongly encouraged to apply and the successful candidate will be selected based on merit. *RECOFTC reserves the right to offer the position at a lower grade.

More Info and Application