Senior Associate, Solid Waste Management

PURPOSE

• Support Programme Officer in implementation of ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management (AMUSE) project in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane province, Lao PDR
• Ensure smooth operations of ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management (AMUSE) project through the technical and non-technical support including administrative, financial, and managerial duties.
• Extend support to the finalization of project design, inception and implementation of the KOICA phase 2 activities in Vang Vieng.
• Coordinate with key partners including government counterparts (DOE, MONRE, UDAA, district and provincial government), Hotels and Guesthouses Association (HGA), private sector partners, and community representatives (heads of villages) for project development and implementation
• Support execution of assignments by project consultants to deliver high quality technical outputs including pre-feasibilities, technical designs and other diagnostic studies.
• Engage the tourism business and community engagement projects including design of participatory workshop/training, delivery of raising awareness campaign and monitoring of community participation in waste recycling and source separation.

ENGAGEMENT

• Support line ministries and city governments to clearly articulate sustainable solid waste management needs based on a circular economy concept.
• Engage in stakeholder mapping, support private sector engagement, and connect ministerial and city-level stakeholders with the technical advice and support required for project implementation.
• Provide technical support and policy advice as needed by liaising with technical advisors in GGGI and consultants to deliver projects.
• Support various government stakeholders to facilitate consultation and capacity building.
• Engage community members in the project implementation.
• Engage and liaise with other project partners and ensure GGGI alignment to the project outcome.

DELIVERY

• Deliver assigned SWM project components including conceptualization, project implementation, stakeholder management, and project reporting.
• Contribute to identifying relevant information related to policy-driven issues, synthesis of best practices and lessons-learned directly linked to program goals through independent research.
• Assess delivery issues and work with government counterparts to build common understanding and coordination on project activities.
• Monitor project implementation, prepare periodic financial and narrative reports, and recommend adjustments to budget and work plan if necessary.
• Organize relevant meetings, focus group discussions, workshops, and trainings with key stakeholders
• Prepare project reports on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis in order to report to donors and program stakeholders.
• Support consulting firms/consultant to deliver the work assignment in a timely manner.
• Support the preparatory work, and delivery of other Waste Unit aligned interventions including the KOICA funded activities in Vang Vieng.
• Support the project manager in identification/conceptualization/development of new projects in the waste management sector.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, urban development, economics, environmental sciences and engineering, economics and solid waste management or a relevant field.
• Minimum 4 years project experience in sustainable waste management, environment engineering, sustainable urban development or other related sub-sectors
• Technical knowledge of waste management and green cities development – conducting waste related survey, cost-benefit analysis and urban development policy
• Good understanding of technical analysis including conduct of technical feasibility studies
• A basic understanding of geo-spatial tools, GIS and other computer-based applications.
• Tangible experience in delivery of waste management services such as collection, waste recycling, landfill management is an added advantage.
• Ability to independently deliver community level raising awareness campaigns.
• Ability to engage the private sector and domestic financial institutions.
• Ability to write a project proposal in the areas of green cities development and solid waste management.
• Ability to mainstream gender in project cycle.
• Working fluency in English and Lao and ability to translate between the two languages.

FUNCTIONAL

• General understanding of green growth, sustainable development and waste management
• Ability to apply related concepts in the urban development and waste management in the context of Lao PDR.
• Ability to communicate substantive issues and to engage technical staff, policymakers, and leaders.
• Prior experience or ability to engage the private sector.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and to operate effectively in a team environment.
• Willingness to undertake domestic field travel within Lao PDR.
• Ability to build and manage complex multi-stakeholder relationships.

CORPORATE

• Able to effectively communicate, listen to others, and contribute to an environment for open communication.
• Understand and actively support GGGI’s mission, vision, values and green cities strategy.
• Excellent sense of client service and client relations management.
• Proactive and collaborative working relationships with stakeholders and colleagues.
• Able to work effectively with other people and teams with a high degree of cultural/professional diversity.
• Maintain a high degree of professional integrity. 

ABOUT US

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as "green growth", which targets key aspects of economic performance such a poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and private sector to help build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change.

GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programs in developing countries around the world. These in-country programs, together with global products and services, focus on delivering results through an integrated approach of evidence-based green growth planning and implementation aligned to countries’ development priorities. The organization also focuses on knowledge development and management activities which build a strong theoretical and empirical basis for green growth, while providing concrete options and guidance for policymakers; as well as building the conditions for public and private green infrastructure investments. 

The GGGI Laos program has been expanding rapidly in the areas of climate change, green cities and green investment mobilization. Since 2019, GGGI Laos has been implementing sustainable solid waste management projects in Vientiane to promote waste-to-resource opportunities. GGGI has implemented three pilot initiatives: i) decentralized waste collection services, ii) organic waste recovery project and iii) waste recycling banks based on a circular economy concept. GGGI has also, with support from KOICA, supported Vientiane City Office for Management and Services (VCOMS) in development of the 10-year strategy on sustainable solid waste management.

As the waste recycling bank project which has been successfully implemented in Vientiane Capital schools will be replicated with the tourism industry actors in Vang Vieng under ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management (AMUSE) project granted by GIZ GmbH. This project aims to improve environmental quality in small and medium-sized cities in Laos as part of the ASEAN regional projects for optimizing municipal waste management and recycling in terms of sustainability and gender sensitivity in medium-sized tourist cities. The project will deliver two outcomes namely; i) waste-to-resource initiative including source separation of recyclables in the tourism sector ii) Urban Development Administrative Authority (UDAA) capacity to manage municipal solid waste improved, including municipality-led waste to resource initiatives. The project targets to impact the enhancement of Vang Vieng district to increase access to sustainable solid waste management service and reduce greenhouse gas emissions so as to promote sustainable tourism in the city

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.