Statement of Work

Master of Ceremonies (Consultant)

USAID Wildlife Asia’s

Virtual Counter Wildlife Trafficking Partner Forum

September 8-10, 2021

 

Program - USAID Wildlife Asia

USAID Wildlife Asia seeks to significantly reduce wildlife crime in Southeast Asia and China by employing a comprehensive regional cooperation approach. Specifically, Wildlife Asia will (i) Reduce consumer demand for wildlife and wildlife products in target areas; (ii) Strengthen regional law enforcement capacity and coordination; (iii) Increase commitment to addressing counter wildlife trafficking (CWT); and (iv) Support the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia’s (RDMA’s) coordination of regional CWT stakeholders and efforts to strengthen the US Government (USG) interagency CWT initiatives.

 

USAID Wildlife Asia is based in Bangkok, Thailand and the geographic scope includes all ASEAN countries, with a focus on the Lower Mekong (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia) and China. The species of primary focus are elephants (ivory), pangolins, rhinos (rhino horn), and Asian big cats. The project is in its fifth and final year of implementation.

 

Position Summary

USAID Wildlife Asia is seeking a Master of Ceremonies (MC) for its main close-out Counter Wildlife Trafficking Partner Forum virtual event on 8-10 September 2021. The forum will be co-hosted by USAID Wildlife Asia; the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Thailand; the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank and WWF. The event is aimed at bringing together key Counter Wildlife Trafficking Partners and Stakeholders in Asia and beyond to strengthen collaboration, planning and cooperation towards protecting biodiversity and ending the trade in illegal wildlife as we enter a post-pandemic landscape. The main objectives of the event are to:

1. Showcase the growth and potential of the Counter Wildlife Trafficking movement and advance sustainability of partnerships, achievements, and legacy impacts and initiatives.
2. Support and advance partner country and ASEAN Counter Wildlife Trafficking leadership including coordinated partner support for the implementation of regional priorities and the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action.
3. Provide a forum for partners to present ongoing and forthcoming CWT programs/funding, discuss Counter Wildlife Trafficking issues and advance coordinated action.
4. Facilitate discussion among development partners to identify new areas of investments in policy, behavior change, law enforcement and the emerging responses to Illegal Wildlife Trafficking through a One Health approach.
5. Conceptualize and create an informal steering group of donors with Counter Wildlife Trafficking investments in the region.

 

The format is currently structured as three online virtual webinars of approximately two hours each scheduled on three successive mornings between September 8-10, 2021. The outline of each day is expected to be as follows:

• Day 1: Focus on the importance of a Partnership Approach in furthering the Counter Wildlife Trafficking Movement and the resulting legacy impacts and initiatives.
• Day 2: Focus on sustaining and strengthening the Counter Wildlife Trafficking Movement by working at the regional, national and local levels, and the importance and role of regional and national institutions, leaders, and champions.
• Day 3: Partner Dialogue with focus on the current Counter Wildlife Trafficking landscape, the impacts of COVID, priorities in a post-COVID world, partner plans, and opportunities to strengthen coordination mechanisms moving forward.

 

The MC will be required to work in close collaboration with USAID Wildlife Asia and the event organizer, InsightPact, in the lead-up to and delivery of the event with a view to making the forum and each of the sessions as engaging, interactive, and productive as possible. In addition to overall facilitation, the MC will encourage participants to share their perspectives and experiences, moderate panel discussions, encourage learning, create opportunities for connections, and be able to adapt to changing needs as the assignment evolves. The skills of the ideal MC will include the following:

 

• Knowledgeable – knows enough about the key issues to guide the conversation and ask the thoughtful questions. They are not subject experts, but they know how to research the arguments and draw out the main points.
• Probing – is confident about asking thought-provoking questions to ensure a stimulating and lively discussion.
• Engaged and engaging – is constantly thinking about the audience needs, making sure the conversation is meaningful for them and prepared to inject humor when need be.
• Outcome orientated – works with the organizer to ask the questions they want asked to get the results they want.
• Personable – knows how to build rapport with the audience so that they are engaged throughout the event.
• Energetic and enthusiastic – works the “room” so that the audience is engaged, entertained, and energized.
• Quick-witted – picks up quickly on verbal cues and link seamlessly from one session to another.
• Charismatic – has confidence, presence and impact.

 

The MC will report to USAID Wildlife Asia’s Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party and the appointed representative from InsightPact, as well as coordinate and communicate with key members of USAID Wildlife Asia senior management team as required. For administrative issues, the sub-contractor will report to Ms. Jiraporn Chotipanich, Operations and Procurement Manager, USAID Wildlife Asia.

 

Tasks and Responsibilities

Before the Event

• Develop a detailed draft scripts for the event as a whole and each of the sessions for review and discussion.
• Attend the relevant preparatory meetings with organizers and partners, and where appropriate, contribute ideas and suggestions to improve the content and flow of the event.
• Liaise with speakers and presenters to discuss the logistics of specific sessions or to obtain more information as needed in support of the event.
• Provide guidance on the feasibility of timing for each of the sessions and offer suggestions to make the event flow more effectively.
• Organize and lead preparatory meetings with speakers, presenters, and moderators.
• Join a test session to assess whether the platform meets the event needs.

During the Event

• Introduce speakers, resource persons and where appropriate moderators and other workshop-related individuals for each session.
• Announce upcoming sessions and provide brief information about these sessions.
• Ensure seamless transition between sections of the program, including reminding all parties about the time limits.
• Facilitate Question and Answer sessions as needed.
• Ensure that discussions are focused and relevant and that enough time is available for discussion at the end of each session and at the end of each day.
• Ensure that every session is starts and ends in a timely manner.
• Communicate with event organizer InsightPact during the event to address real time coordination/trouble shooting issues and receive support as needed.  
• Coordinate, where appropriate, the use of technologies to capture participant view points and opinions through interactive real-time polling and participant feedback .
• Provide summary wrap-up at the end of each day with outcomes and brief reminder of starting time and topic for subsequent day events, including closing remarks as appropriate.

 

Deliverables

• Final script for the whole event prior to event.
• Direct communications with session leads, panel members, discussants as needed to ensure key participants are prepared for sessions.
• Participation in test runs with organizers, presenters and panelists.
• Punctual attendance during the 3-day event and execution of the above-listed Master of Ceremonies tasks.
• The correct pronunciation of the names of the speakers, names of resource persons, names of organizations and name of each session.
• Demonstrated understanding of the agenda and Forum objectives, ensuring that all sessions transitions are done smoothly and sessions are started and ended in a timely manner.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience as a Master of Ceremonies for high profile events especially of a virtual nature
• Strong stage presence
• Punctual time management
• Impeccable professional communication skill
• Composed nature
• Experienced in guiding a formal and informal ceremony
• Excellent spoken English skills
• Experience supporting USAID programs helpful
• Capacity to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Ability to adapt to changing need as the assignment evolves

 

Procedure

USAID Wildlife Asia is requesting individuals to submit a CV, cover letter, and the names of at least two referees to hr@usaidwildlifeasia.org before July 31, 2021 with the subject line “MC-CWT Partnership Forum Virtual Event”. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Contact : hr@usaidwildlifeasia.org

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ที่ปรึกษา / Consultant