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Trade and Investment Facilitation Department

Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Title: Program Coordinator (Trade & Investment facilitation)

Category: Regular Staff

Start date: 01 October 2022

Duty station: Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Mekong Institute (MI) is an intergovernmental organization (IGO) founded by the six member countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) namely PR China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. MI operates under the MI Charter which came into force in 2003 signed by the six governments of the GMS. It states that the institute operates as an autonomous institution under the governance of the Council and Steering Committee.

MI goals and strategies support the GMS Cooperation Program and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), emphasizing enhanced physical connectivity in the GMS economic corridors and the realization of the GMS/AEC target of a single market and production base, equitable growth, and sustainable resource management. Currently, MI programs and activities focus on three main thematic areas: Agricultural Development and Commercialization, Trade and Investment Facilitation, and Innovation and Technological Connectivity.

Mekong Institute (MI) works with a wide range of partners in all of its fields of competence. MI collaborates with range of development partners including Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, PR China, European Union, German International Cooperation, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Thailand International Cooperation Agency, USAID, IDRC, FAO, and UNESCAP among others for implementing development projects focusing on three thematic areas of MI.

1. Scope of work

The Trade and investment Facilitation Department of Mekong Institute is implementing a number of activities including multi-year capacity development projects in the GMS countries. This includes Sustainable Smart Tourism, Smart Agriculture Supply chains, Ecommerce, Market Access, Regional Investment forums among others. The capacity development activities under these projects involve training programs, workshop, research, seminars, structured learning visits and action research in the GMS countries.

To assist the Trade and Investment Facilitation Department (TIF) team in the implementation of project activities, MI is seeking the services of a Program Coordinator based at the Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen, Thailand. The Program Facilitator will work in close coordination with the Director of TIF Department to deliver the activities planned under the projects.

2. Primary Responsibility

The Program Coordinator will be responsible for assisting the Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) team in delivering the outputs of the planned projects. The Program Coordinator will also assist the TIF team in customized programs, new project development and other MI wide activities as required during the period of the contract.

3. Specific duties:

• Assist the team in designing and developing capacity building programs (workshops, training course, seminar, action research, etc.)

• Coordinate with Director/Team leader/Program Specialist on curriculum preparation and administration (preparing contracts for content providers, processing payment requests, supervision of contract)

• Prepare and send participants’ invitation letters, participants’ manuals, and advanced training program materials

• In coordination with course trainers/resource persons, prepare resources materials for distribution to course participants.

• Co-facilitate learning program sessions, field visits, and/or action research

• Document program proceedings (workshop reports, minutes, etc.) and disseminate program documents after editing to participants and partnering organizations

• Ensure lecture notes, readings and course documents are filed accurately for MI records, and coordinate with IT section and CKM on MI Intranet.

• Assist TIF Director/Specialist/ Team Leader in conducting research in specialized thematic areas.

• Assist in coordination of all aspects of planning, implementing and evaluation of workshops conferences and MI official functions as assigned.

• Prepare/draft reports, conduct post-training follow up activities in accordance with MI standard and/or as required by development partners.

• Any other related tasks as assigned by the TIF Director and/or MI Executive Director.

4. Period of engagement:

The staff will be placed initially on probation for three months. On successful completion of the probation period, the services contract will be confirmed with provision of extension on completion of the annual contract. The possibility of the contract extension beyond the contract period is based on the performance of the staff and availability of fund.

5. Reporting:

The Program Coordinator will be attached to the Trade and Investment facilitation Department of MI and will report directly to the Director, Trade and Investment Facilitation Department.

6. Salary

Salary will be based as per MI policy and commensurate with candidate’s experience and qualification. The staff is entitled for benefits which are applicable to regular employees of MI. Non-Thai employees of MI are exempted from Thai income tax.

G. Qualifications:

• Hold at least a Master Degree in social sciences, economics, public administration, international development

• At least two year of direct experience in international development area, including training, research, policy development, monitoring and evaluation of projects.

• Ability to work in a team and cooperate with team members

• Ability to carry out secondary researches

• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated interests in learning and self-improvement

• Advanced computer skills (i.e. Microsoft Office Package/Microsoft Project/Internet)

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

7. How to apply

Interested candidates may submit application along with updated CV with recent passport photograph and sample (s) of relevant research publications if any to recruitment@mekonginstitute.org by 31 August 2022 (5.00 PM). Only shortlisted applications will be contacted for the interview/written test.