DEADLINE EXTENDED 31st January … POSITION ADVERTISEMENT Regional Advisor for Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) – MRLG

The Mekong Region Land Governance Project aims to improve land governance in four of the Mekong countries, by empowering local reform actors, building alliances, and supporting policy influencing activities. The Project takes a regional approach across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to support cross country learning and to facilitate and open up space for dialogue and alliance building. The Project has been designed to deliver the following key objective: Smallholder women and men farmers in CLMV countries, especially those belonging to ethnic minorities, have secure and equitable access to and control over agricultural land, forest and fisheries.

The Project engages strategically at sub-national, national and regional levels to develop evidence-based options for efficient and effective policy and practice change. Alliances of partners to promote Responsible Agricultural Investment have been formed at regional level and in each of the CLV countries.

The project is seeking a Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Adviser to support its work at regional level. 

The Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Adviser has a project management responsibility for the continuous strategic enrichment, implementation and oversight of the project strategy related to promoting RAI in policy and practice. They will be responsible for a flexible platform for coordination among the key regional and national partners operating in the RAI space. They will coordinate knowledge production together with the Deputy Team Leader on the topic of RAI, especially the application of ASEAN-RAI and related frameworks.

These responsibilities include the following:

• Strategic management and coordination of alliances and regional workstreams on RAI.
  • Analyse RAI policy environment, challenges and opportunities for change at national and regional levels;
  • Coordinate regional activities together with partner organisations, including civil society, NGO, academia, government and private sector, manage and build alliance at regional level;
  • Liaise with partners of national level alliances and support technically as required.
  • Manage the workstream strategic development, implementation and monitoring at regional and national levels; ensure the continuous relevance of the strategy and activities.
• Knowledge management and capacity building on RAI and related themes
  • Identify, collect, synthesize and disseminate relevant existing material and information amongst reform actors;
  • Act as the editorial lead for MRLG knowledge products related to RAI:
    • Support the production of focused studies and evidence-based, policy relevant knowledge, and project lessons learned, and ensure the quality of the final product and its dissemination;
    • Including research design and co-ordination, technical backstopping, quality control (peer-review and publication) and dissemination of knowledge;
  • Support the organisation of regional events for exchanges between national stakeholders on RAI and other seminars/ learning exchanges/ capacity development activities; and
  • Liaise with academic institutions to support the long-term development of education opportunities in land governance and the promotion of land experts in the region.

Reporting and Administration Arrangements

The Consultant will report to the Deputy Team Leader and be supported by the Team Leader. They will prepare a range of technical reports as and when required, and will report monthly to the Deputy Team Leader, along with timesheets for approval.

The preferred posting is Vientiane, Lao PDR, or Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Regional travel is required.

The consultant is expected to promote a harmonious work environment within the team and the LEI and GRET values.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in rural development, geography, rural sociology, or a related field.

Experience:

• At least five years of work experience in rural development domain including at least three years in the agriculture or forestry sector in the region is required.
• An excellent knowledge and work experience of both the subject matter and issues related to Responsible Agricultural Investment (preferably in the ASEAN region).
• Demonstrated ability to produce of publications or knowledge products.
• Experience working with civil society organisations and government stakeholders is preferred.

Skills:

• Excellent research, analytical and synthesis skills.
• Candidate must speak and write fluently in English.
• Advanced working knowledge of MS Office.
• He/she should be able to work independently, with minimum supervision and guidance from supervisors.

Contractor: Land Equity International (LEI)

Full time position

Start date: February 2024

Contract duration: 1.5 years

Location: MRLG Regional Office, Vientiane, Lao PDR or Phnom Penh, Cambodia, GRET office.

Submission

Please submit a cover letter that demonstrates you meet the responsibilities and qualification requirements, a CV and at least 2 referees contact details. Submit your application with attention to Micah Ingalls, mrlg.admin@landequity.com.au, before the 31st January 2024.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.