Water & Wetlands Programme Advisor (WWPA)

The Water and Wetlands (W&W) Programme has a long history of work with the Government of Lao PDR and development partners. IUCN Lao PDR encourages collaborative, efficient and sustainable water resources management mechanisms to ensure that secure water for all. Through our work with local leadership, communities, governments and regional development partners, we seek to continue implementing multi-stakeholder processes to promote healthy watersheds and wetlands. There are currently two main projects under the W&W Programme as follows:

Climate Change Adaptation in Wetland Areas (CAWA)
In response to biodiversity surveys carried out in the two Ramsar sites and the recognition that agricultural encroachment is the greatest threat to the wetlands of Beung Kiat Ngong (BKN) and Xe Champhone (XC), FAO and MoNRE have designed a project to address the challenges and asked IUCN to provide technical support in the two Ramsar sites. CAWA seeks to reduce climate change vulnerability of the communities and the wetlands ecosystems. The project is not just be wetlands-focused but also focuses on the livelihoods of people in and around the wetlands and the interactions between communities’ livelihoods and wetland ecosystems. This is a 5-year project.

Lower Mekong Basin Wetland Management and Conservation Project (MRWP)
MRWP of KfW is in line with the overall goal of the Strategic Framework for cooperation between the MRC and the Federal Republic of Germany. All projects between these parties have the following objective: “The MRC is effectively and competently supporting member countries in the sustainable management of basin challenges, particularly those arising from hydropower development and climate change”. MRWP will consist of three distinct but closely linked components: one regional component (to be implemented by the MRC) and two national components (to be implemented in Lao PDR and Cambodia). The national components to be implemented by Cambodia and Lao PDR will contribute to sustainable rehabilitation, conservation and management of wetlands ecosystem services while improving the livelihood of local communities in selected wetlands sites.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
The WWPA is responsible for the management of the W&W Programme including all aspects of project cycle management, i.e. planning & development, implementation, and monitoring & reporting.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:
The position’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Technically advise and contribute towards achieving CAWA deliverables:
• Pilot methodological tool for participatory climate change (CC) vulnerability and disaster risk assessment in wetlands developed.
• Training programme on CC adaptation (CCA) and vulnerability and disaster risk assessment (VDRA) in wetlands.
• Participatory CC vulnerability risk assessments carried out in BKN and XC wetlands.
• Studies of CC related issues affecting the target wetlands, including: hydrology, wetlands ecology, fisheries biology, watershed management, and agronomy.
• Planning and coordination of frameworks and capacities for promoting and sustaining CCA measures in the two wetlands, including: ecotourism, infrastructure, hydrology, institutional development, and rural development.
• Capacities of water/natural resources/wetlands user groups strengthened to apply effective governance of wetlands use and management.
• Capacity development programmes and innovation systems to support CC resilience strategies.
• Methodological guidelines for integration of CCA and disaster risk management into local and national plans.
• Training programme for community, district and provincial stakeholders in participatory CCA and disaster management planning and M&E.
• Institutional mechanisms for coordinating CC resilience in wetlands strengthened.

Technically advise and contribute towards achieving MRWP deliverables:
• Undertake village eco-system delineation and zoning through field mapping of Ramsar wetlands: ground truthing with communities, defining project boundaries and proposing amendments to conservation zones if appropriate.
• Develop sector implementation plans, including water management, fisheries, birds and wildlife, protection (by community rangers), vegetation and habitat and livelihoods (including ecotourism).
• Revisit current 5-year management plan and update and integrate sector work plans.
• Assist communities with updating sector implementation plans and integrated management plan in project year 5 to prepare the next 5-year plan.
• Prepare and test guidelines for planning and implementing integrated management of wetlands.
• Promote guidelines within Government for inclusion as national policy and use in other Ramsar sites and wetlands of significance.
• Develop integrated ecosystem monitoring guidelines (ecosystem, flora and fauna, water, management, etc.) and provide training.
• Undertake special studies as necessary.
• Assist communities to prepare a business plan for the sustainable development of ecotourism.
• Based on business plan, prepare further pre-feasibility studies visitors center, meeting area, restaurant, car park in BKN and Ban Phapho and if feasible continue with next steps (technical design, tender, construction).
• Implement feasible investment proposals for wetland management.
• Strengthening patrolling systems.
• Rehabilitation of sites through natural regeneration and if necessary reforestation.
• Remove invasive species from wetlands if necessary.
• Review environmental curriculum of primary and secondary schools in Champasak Province and develop a concept of wetland environmental education curricula for pilot schools for teaching in an experience center.

Institutional tasks
• Represent IUCN Lao PDR in external and internal IUCN meetings, at national, regional and international levels, as needed.
• Undertake any other tasks as may be assigned by, and mutually agreed with the line manager