At RECOFTC, we believe in a future where people live equitably and sustainably in and beside healthy, resilient forests. We take a long-term, landscape-based and inclusive approach to supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods and foster gender equity. We are the only non-profit organization of our kind in Asia and the Pacific. We have more than 30 years of experience working with people and forests, and have built trusting relationships with partners at all levels. Our influence and partnerships extend from multilateral institutions to governments, private sector and local communities. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

 

RECOFTC is inviting candidates to apply for the position of Gender and Rights Officer as part of the Program Coordination and Technical Services team. The successful applicant will be based in Bangkok, Thailand, with occasional duty travel to field sites in seven countries in Asia. The contract duration is for 24 months with a possibility of extension subject to funding and satisfactory performance. The position is for Thai nationals only.

 

Specific tasks and duties

The Gender and Rights Officer will be a member of the Program Coordination and Technical Services (PCTS) Unit and under the supervision of the Senior Program Officer, Social Inclusion and Gender Equity. The Gender Officer will coordinate with RECOFTC staff as well as technical experts from our partners, governments, local organizations and civil society to support integration and implementation of a socially-inclusive, gender equitable and human rights agenda into RECOFTC’s programs and projects.

 

As a Gender and Rights Officer, the primary role is to support integration and implementation of a socially-inclusion, gender equality and human rights agenda into RECOFTC’s programs and projects. Given that social inclusion, gender equality and human rights are all central and cross-cutting elements of RECOFTC;’s work, the Gender and Rights Officer will work across programs and projects helping the team anchor RECOFTC’s vision and principles into all activities and results. The Gender and Rights Officer will conduct research and use it to inform and improve programs and projects. The Gender and Rights Officer will hold meetings and conduct training and dialogues with government officials, private sector organizations, women’s networks, indigenous groups, youth networks, news media and private sector organizations to bridge the gaps between gender equality, social inclusion, human rights, forestry and climate change agendas. The Gender and Rights Officer will discuss ideas and implement activities with RECOFTC staff and partners to ensure that RECOFTC operations do no harm and build the resilience of local communities, including women, indigenous groups, youth and other marginalized groups. The Gender and Rights Officer will contribute to business development activities by building our gender equity, social inclusion, and human rights portfolio. Initially, the Gender and Rights Officer will closely coordinate and implement specific work streams under three regional projects: Weaving Leadership for Gender Equality (WAVES); Gender and Customary Tenure Alliance Research for Action Program; and the Forest Governance University Research Network. The specific programs that the Gender and Rights Officer will work with will evolve and change over time.

These regional initiatives focus on these key activities:

• Cultivating gender leadership by building critical mass and consciousness raising
• Tackling systemic barriers that prevent marginalized groups such as women, indigenous groups, youth and other sub-groups from realizing their rights to well-being, dignity and participation in decision-making
• Promoting inclusive policies and practices, particularly in forestry, land and natural resource sectors as well as academia
• Bridging gaps between policies and practice through action research and policy advocacy
• Enhancing outcomes for gender equality and the environment

 

The person chosen for this position will require research, coordination and entrepreneurial skills so they can help devise innovative solutions that benefit marginalized groups and environmental outcomes.  In addition, the Gender and Rights Officer will guide and mentor young professors engaged in the SIDA Forest Governance Research Network. 
 

The Gender and Rights Officer’s main duties will be:

 

Program coordination and delivery (40%)

• Coordinate and implement specific work streams under the Gender and Customary Tenure Alliance Research for Action Program and the Forest Governance University Research Network
• Conduct research and assessments on human rights and forestry gaps, customary tenure, leadership and social change policy and processes.
• Promote women’s, indigenous, youth and other marginalized groups’ participation in forestry, tenure and climate change decisions-making processes
• Coordinate to create co-learning spaces and develop capacity-building strategies and actions
• Identify and work to embed human rights outcomes in results-based monitoring, learning and action frameworks
• Provide backstopping and mentorship support to project staff and partners
• Document and develop case stories, policy briefs, research reports and other communication products
• Produce reports related to project progress, trainings and research and monitoring

 

Gender integration and implementation (50%)

• Develop guidelines and toolkits to support implementation of gender equality and human rights into forestry and related natural resource management sectors.
• Coordinate and implement activities for integrating gender equality and human rights agendas into programs and projects
• Implement events to enhance the understanding and capacity of RECOFTC staff and its partners
• Develop and document gender outcome reports and learning documents
• Provide backstopping support to customize and socialize gender strategy and toolkits for projects and partners
• Guide and mentor academics and researchers

Business development (10%)

• Support the Senior Program Officer, SIGE, in strengthening human rights portfolios across RECOFTC and its work with partners
• Help to secure new business and strategic partnership opportunities to promote gender equality, social inclusion and human rights work
• Support business development for the three regional initiatives
• Perform other tasks as assigned

Qualifications and experience

The Gender and Rights Officer will have the following essential qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Master’s degree in forestry, ecology, conservation, gender studies, human rights or similar field
• At least 3 years of experience in integrating gender and human rights principles into programs and project
• Knowledge of natural resource management, especially with respect to forestry
• Experience coordinating and working in teams
• Experience building relationships and planning activities with diverse stakeholders
• Excellent networking, communication, negotiation and entrepreneurial skills
• A passion for improving gender equality, social inclusion and human rights in forestry, land and natural resource sectors’ programs and policies
• Fluency in English
• Thai National

 

Desirable

• Experience in RECOFTC focal countries
• Fluency in one of RECOFTC’s country languages
• Experience in designing and implementing a Theory of Change

 

Women and members from ethnic minorities are strong encouraged to apply.

 

RECOFTC’s core values

At RECOFTC, our core values are the foundation of our culture and guide all our work. In addition to job specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics, attitudes and skills:

 

• Embrace innovation
• Adapt to, and learn from, challenges
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
• Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership
• Prioritize sustainability
• Cultivate participation, social inclusion and gender equity

How to apply

Interested candidates are requested to submit a CV, and a cover letter indicating why they are suitable for this position along with salary requirements and current contact details of three referees, including recent supervisors to hr@recoftc.org.

 

In addition, interested candidates are asked to submit a maximum of 2-page written response on this question: “You are coordinating a forestry project that aims to deliver on both environment and gender equality and human right goals. Majority of partners engaged in this project are trained in natural sciences with their majors in environment and forestry. These partners, while agree to the principles of equality and justice, do not perceive gender and human rights as a subject of relevance to this project. As a Gender Officer working with these partners to include gender equality and rights aspects, write explicitly what strategies and activities will you consider in this project in the role as a coordinator to ensure that the project delivers on both environment and gender equality and human rights goals.”

 

Please quote the position title in the subject line of the email. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. RECOFTC has a competitive compensation package. Offers are based on competitive skills, and relevant experience of the selected candidate.

 

To learn more about RECOFTC, please visit our website www.recoftc.org

 

Applicants shall not be discriminated against based on ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, colour, marital status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by RECOFTC’s values and code of conduct. Affirmative accommodations may be made so that qualified disabled applicants can partake in the application process. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Please inform RECOFTC’s Human Resources in writing of any special needs at the time of application.

Contact : jeerawan.chaiwut@recoftc.org

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นักพัฒนาโครงการ / Creative content developerนักกิจกรรม / Activist