ADB Thailand Resident Mission

23
rd
Floor, The Offices at Central World 999/9 Rama I Road Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Telephone: 662 (02)-207-4444 Fax: 662 (02)-207-4400

Greater Mekong Subregion
Environment Operations Center
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
(ADB RETA 7987)
For Internal and External Candidates

Position Title: Technical Program Head
Duty Station: GMS Environment Operations Center, Bangkok
Contract Terms: Twelve (12) months with possibility of extension, full time
Email Contact: sompongse@gms-eoc.org or jirapar@gms-eoc.org
Deadline for
Application:
4
th
May 2012

Background

The Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative in the Greater Mekong
Subregion (GMS CEP-BCI), is an initiative under the GMS regional Economic Cooperation
Program (ECP). It is implemented with regional technical assistance (RETA) funds of the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and co-financed by several development partners. Phase I (RETA
6289) commenced in 2006 and was scheduled to end in December 2011.
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Phase II (RETA
7987) was approved by the ADB Board in December 2011.

The aim of the CEP-BCI II is to improve biodiversity conservation and climate resilience across
the GMS. The RETA will integrate sound environmental management, biodiversity conservation,
and climate resilience measures into the GMS ECP.
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The outcome will be an environment
friendly and climate-resilient GMS ECP. This outcome will be achieved through a programmatic
approach by supporting activities in priority economic corridors targeted by the ECP and in
priority transboundary biodiversity conservation corridors and landscapes.
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The RETA is aligned
with the Strategic Framework for the GMS ECP (20122022) and will complement several
regional and country-specific programs dealing with different aspects of the environment and
climate change. In particular, the RETA will complement: (i) the proposed regional investment
framework for GMS corridor development; (ii) the Core Agriculture Support Program II; (iii)
promoting renewable energy, clean fuels, and energy efficiency in the GMS; (iv) harnessing
climate change mitigation initiatives to benefit women; and (v) the GMS Biodiversity
Conservation Corridors Project.
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The TA comprises four outputs.
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Output 1: Environmental planning systems, methods, and
safeguards improved will involve the application of planning tools such as strategic
environmental assessments (SEAs), spatial multicriteria analysis, and extended economic
analysis to development strategies and plans for selected sectors and economic corridors. The
capacity to address environmental safeguards in key sectors will also be strengthened under

1
The first phase has been extended until December 2012 to fully utilize remaining funds and enable a smooth
transition to the next phase.
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For more information refer http://beta.adb.org/countries/gms/main
3
While economic corridors enhance "physical connectivity, biodiversity conservation corridors support "ecosystem
connectivity to accommodate movements of species between core areas. These corridors are embedded within
wider conservation landscapes, which provide services based on ecosystem functions.
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http://www2.adb.org/Projects/project.asp?id=40253
5
For more information refer http://www2.adb.org/Projects/project.asp?id=44323
2

this output. Output 2: Management of transboundary biodiversity conservation
landscapes and local livelihoods improved will support biodiversity conservation measures
in critical transboundary landscapes in the GMS. It will support sustainable livelihoods for local
communities and also enhance the performance of investments in the economic corridors by
maintaining and improving the flow of ecosystem goods and services. Output 3: Climate-
resilient and low-carbon strategies developed will promote climate-friendly development
within the GMS through the integration of climate-change mitigation and adaptation
considerations for key development sectors. Output 4: Institutions and financing for
sustainable environmental management improved will support capacity development to
strengthen institutional arrangements and enabling policies for effective regional cooperation on
environmental management within the overall framework of the GMS ECP.

The TA will be implemented by the respective Working Group on Environment (WGE) focal
agency of each GMS country.
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Following a programmatic approach, the WGE focal agencies
will prepare annual work plans and budgets (AWPBs) in coordination with relevant national and
provincial sector agencies (i.e., in the agriculture, energy, tourism, and transport sectors), the
Economic Corridor Forum, and the Phnom Penh Plan Secretariat. They will also liaise with
development partners (including nongovernment organizations) and ADB resident missions to
ensure complementarity between respective environmental and climate-related programs and
projects. The AWPB will be adopted at the WGE annual meetings and progress will be reviewed
at the semiannual meetings.

The Environment Operations Center (EOC) based in Bangkok will be responsible for timely and
effective delivery of the TA.
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The EOC will continue its role as the technical secretariat to the
WGE, specifically as a subregional knowledge hub and resource and referral center on
environmental management tools and practices, socioeconomic and biophysical information,
and expertise in environmental and climate-related fields. National Support Units (NSU)
established in each country will be further strengthened to support the respective WGE focal
agency with TA implementation. NSU staff will facilitate coordination of activities and meetings,
monitor progress of AWPBs, update geographic information systems (GISs) and environmental
information systems, and assist with reporting to the WGE.

The Technical Program Head (TPH) will be overall responsible for technical content of the CEP-
BCI and for effective and efficient delivery of the Program by guiding the technical specialists to
achieve the Program's outcome and output targets. The TPH will report to the Chief of
Operations (COO) at EOC and serve in this capacity in the absence of a COO. Through the
COO the TPH will be accountable to the WGE on technical content of the Program.

Since the CEP-BCI is implemented as an ADB TA, the TPH will relate to the responsible ADB
Project Officer (PO) in the capacity of the Team Leader of the technical consultant team. In this
capacity, the TPH will work with and be guided by the ADB PO to broaden and deepen CEP-
BC's engagement with ADB country programs in the GMS countries and to implement and
monitor the TA as per ADB guidelines.





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The responsible WGE focal agencies are: the Ministry of Environment (Cambodia), the Ministry of Environmental
Protection (PRC), and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam).
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Under supervision of ADB, which serves as the executing agency.
3

Specific responsibilities will include:

(i) In coordination with the COO, the WGE and the ADB, chart strategic and
operational directives to achieve the Program's impacts, outcomes and outputs
and guide their implementation through the implementing agencies (i.e. WGE
focal agencies and other line agencies at national and subnational levels), EOC
and NSU based consultant teams and in institutional partnerships (i.e. academic
and research institutes, civil society groups and private sector entities).
(ii) Assume overall responsibility for developing and implementing the CEP-BCI
Work Plan; regular monitoring of the Program's physical and financial progress;
and routine reporting to the WGE, ADB and co-financiers.
(iii) Continuously track related development programs with potential to complement
the CEP-BCI; act as the primary point of contact between the CEP-BCI technical
team and other partners (i.e., multi-lateral and bi-lateral development
organizations, academia and research institutes, civil society groups, and the
private sector) to identify and operationalize synergies and complementary
activities between CEP-BCI and their respective programs.
(iv) In coordination with the Finance and Administrative Head of EOC, guide and
facilitate the recruitment, management and evaluation of EOC and NSU based
consultants and guide them on upgrading their knowledge and operational
competencies and skills.
(v) In coordination with the EOC-based Capacity Development Specialist, identify
long- medium- and short-term strategies to create enabling conditions for the
implementing agencies to absorb and institutionalize the Program's technical
content and support the development and delivery of related training activities.
(vi) Deepen the Program's engagement with private sector by identifying and
operationalizing strategies to expand sustainable financing options for activities
initiated under the Program.
(vii) In consultation with the ADB Project Officer, liaise with relevant ADB staff at
Head Quarters and Resident Missions to broaden and deepen links between the
Program and relevant ADB operations including the GMS Economic Cooperation
Program, the Core Agriculture Support Program, other GMS regional cooperation
programs and country operations (associated with agriculture, energy, transport
and tourism sectors).
(viii) In coordination with the EOC based Outreach Specialist develop and implement
an information and communication strategy for the Program and support the
development of knowledge products on the Program's technical content.
Qualifications and Experience

Advanced degree (preferably PhD) in development economic/planning, environmental/natural
resource management.

At least 15 years experience in the Asia region, applying environmental and economic policy
and planning at different scales (i.e. regional, national, and sub-national). Experience working in
GMS countries will be considered a strong advantage.

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At least 10 years experience designing and implementing development programs with a proven
track record for designing concepts, writing proposals, results-based monitoring and reporting,
financial management and monitoring. Knowledge of ADB operations and experience with multi-
sector, multi-national and multi-stakeholder programs will be considered a strong advantage.

At least 7 years experience leading and managing projects and programs with a proven track
record managing and mentoring staff and achieving results.

Excellent communication skills and ability to convey technical information to broad audiences.

High fluency in written and spoken English; a working knowledge of a language(s) of GMS
region will be an added bonus.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.