ThaiNGO

STATEMENT OF WORK

Program Engagement Consultant

BACKGROUND

USAID and Australia Mekong Safeguards Program (aka “Mekong Safeguards”) is a five-year, $10.55 million partnership project between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The Asia Foundation (TAF) implements this regional and bilateral Program which operates in the five countries of the Greater Mekong: China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. Mekong Safeguards’ goal is to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of large energy, transportation and water infrastructure in the region. A combined $8.6 million USAID cooperative agreement and a $1.85 million Australia DFAT grant support the project.

SCOPE OF WORK

TAF is seeking a part-time, qualified, and experienced professional(s) for the position of Program Engagement Consultant.

Under the guidance of the Chief of Party/Deputy Chief of Party of the USAID and Australia Mekong Safeguards program (Mekong Safeguards), the Program Engagement Consultant will be responsible to support the execution of the program to achieve the intended targets in reducing the negative impacts from energy and transportation infrastructure development activities. The Program Engagement Consultant will proactively and upon request, provide information on energy, transportation, environmental, and social updates in Thailand that are related to Mekong Safeguards (policy, regulation, directive, announcement, memo, etc.) from the government and private sector. The Program Engagement Consultant will coordinate closely with Mekong Safeguards and the Asia Foundation in Thailand to i) actively engage stakeholders in country to execute program activities—including government, utilities, companies, international organization, financial institutions, multilateral development banks, and regional entities such as ACMECS; and ii) support sustainable finance initiative such as green financing mechanism and climate finance to promote improvement in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies, standards, and institutional practices with aims to reduce negative impacts of new infrastructure development projects.

The role of the Program Engagement Consultant is to support both Mekong Safeguards staff, TAF staff, and government counterparts to complete the technical tasks mentioned above. Activities include collaborating and coordinating with government, private sector, financial institutions, donors, and/or civil society organizations counterparts to initiate, conduct, and follow-up with the activities in Thailand (and other countries as assigned) as well as scheduling of meetings and engage with relevant key stakeholder counterparts. Certain activities may require travel to locations outside of Bangkok.

The Program Engagement Consultant is required to have an understanding of environmental and social safeguards and infrastructure project development (particularly for energy and transportation), project financing as well as strong stakeholder relations expertise to ensure continued support for government and private sector counterparts.

Specific roles include:

• Manage project team, leading organization, advocacy and follow-up with government and private sector stakeholders on assigned tasks.

• Manage and ensure high quality engagement of government and private sector stakeholders with USAID Mekong Safeguards consultants and contractors.

• Advise on advocacy and strategic methods for securing government and private sector support on USAID Mekong Safeguards assistance programming.

• Conduct research on topics related to ESG and sustainable finance

• Provide technical assistance and support on activities and quantitative analysis as needed.

• Supporting the organization of virtual or in-person events

• Produce written material for reports

• Perform other duties as assigned

Please send a cover letter specifying the position to which you are applying with your resume or CV by email to: poonsook.pantitanonta@asiafoundation.org by September 29, 2021. (Only short-listed candidates will be notified).