LAO PDR: OFFICER, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT FOR METHANE MITIGATION,
Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)
INTRODUCTION TO GGGI
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.
POSITION SUMMARY
Location: Lao PDR Contract Type: Staff Grade: X8 Salary Scale: National Scale Contract Duration: 2 yearsGeneral. Reporting to the project manager, the โWaste Management for Methane Mitigationโ position plays a critical role in the successful completion of the Lao PDR component of ASEAN-Korea Cooperation on Methane Mitigation (AKCMM). Team composition. The Officer works closely with three other staff members hired under AKCMMโs Lao PDR component โ the Project manager and Methane Mitigation and Policy Analyst, the Technical Specialist, Methane Emissions Reduction and the Program Assistant โ all under leadership of the Lao PDR GGGI Country Representative. These three staff members will work as part of GGGIโs Lao PDR country team. In addition to the Lao PDR country team, the Officer โ together with his/her AKCMM project colleagues โ will also receive guidance from the Asia Regional Office since AKCMM is a regional project being undertaken in ASEAN Member States. Staff members from the regional office will lead the delivery of AKCMMโs regional elements and share best practices of/lessons learned from other GGGI country teams. Primary role. The Officerโs main responsibility is to successfully originate, design, look for financing and implement methane reduction sub-projects for Lao PDR. By the end of the third year โ preferably sooner โ he/she must have achieved a measurable and verifiable reduction in methane emission through his/her methane reduction sub-projects.
Origination. Origination refers to the process of formulating a concept for a methane reduction sub-project in the form of a Project Idea Note (PIN). A PIN is a document that is 3~5 pages long and includes, among others, the following: (i) summary of the idea, (ii) sector, location, and duration, (iii) expected outcome (especially the approximate quantity of methane emission reduction), (iv) estimated budget, (v) project structure describing the flow of funds from GGGI to subcontractors, beneficiaries, and other entities as relevant, and (vi) risks and mitigation measures.
The Investment Officer shall be guided by Lao PDRs Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), government strategies/plans pertaining to methane reduction, and recent developments in the field, etc., when originating methane reduction sub-projects specifically focused on agricultural practices, agricultural waste and solid/liquid waste. Given the major sources of methane emission in the ASEAN region, the sub-projects will likely take place in the following sectors: (i) agriculture/livestock (e.g., alternate wetting-and-drying rice farming), (ii) solid waste management (e.g., capping landfills).
Design. Design refers to the process of elaborating and improving the project idea. The Investment Officer shall exercise her/his judgement to determine what the next steps should be for the project idea to progress towards implementation. It may involve, for example, conducting feasibility studies, engaging potential beneficiaries to ensure their cooperation, collecting additional data, or identifying competent partners to manage salient risks.
At the end of the design phase, there should be a comprehensive set of documents detailing all the information required to implement the sub-project. There should also be at least a high-level agreement among sub-project stakeholders on their respective roles and responsibilities.
Financing. Financing refers to the process of mobilizing the funds needed to implement the sub-project. This process can be simple or complicated depending on how the sub-project is designed. To understand the Officerโs role, note the hypothetical scenarios presented below, assuming that he/she has been allocated a budget of USD 1M for the sub-project.
- Scenario #1. An alternate wetting-and-drying sub-project together with a community of rice farmers, and the Officer (together with the line ministry) has designed a scheme where (i) the training and monitoring of rice farmers are managed by a local rice exporter for a nominal fee (the main benefit to the exporter being hands-on experience growing low emission rice), (ii) the reduction in methane emissions will be certified and the resulting income from the sale of carbon credits are shared with the farmers, (iii) the local branch of a state-owned agricultural bank has agreed to issue cheaper loans for input to attract more farmers subject to there being a partial loan guarantee, etc. Here, the Investment Officer has mobilized additional resources (both monetary and in-kind) through creative utilization of the project budget.
- Scenario #2. A landfill project that incorporates technological/operational solutions to significantly reduce methane emissions. The Officer has used some of the budget to co-finance the feasibility study for the landfill; he/she has also used the budget to mobilize investment from for example the Republic of Koreaโs development bank for the landfill project.
The ideal Candidate would be someone who (i) is capable of utilizing the budget to design sub-projects that are technically feasible and financially viable, (ii) successfully mobilizes substantial investment from external parties, and (iii) develops a robust implementation arrangement with risks allocated to partners best positioned to address them.
Implementation. Implementation refers to the process where all implementing partners enter into an agreement with respect to the sub-project and activities are carried out. The Officer must ensure that these entities remain committed throughout the implementation phase, identify and address unforeseen risks/delays and, resources/time permitting, continue originating a pipeline of methane reduction sub-projects.
PURPOSE
The Officer is directly responsible for all activities under Output 2 and Output 3 of the project and undertakes both technical and administrative tasks.
He/she achieves a measurable and verifiable reduction in methane emissions through methane reduction sub-projects that are technically feasible and financially viable; he/she also utilizes the budget to devise creative structures/arrangements that mobilize substantial co-investment from external parties. Specific tasks include, among others,
Analyzing the investment need in Lao PDR with respect to methane emission reduction (particularly the governmentโs preferences and priorities), the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to designing methane reduction sub-projects, potential entry points for private sector firms and financial institutions, etc. Adapting the latest developments in methane reduction methodology to design sub-project ideas tailored to Lao PDR. He/she must strive to go beyond process-oriented implementation and achieve superlative outcomes through technical expertise as well as by bringing competent organizations on board as implementation partners. He/she should, therefore, be someone who is constantly seeking to learn and optimize while also being excellent at communicating such knowledge. Applying the information and results (both interim and final) to achieve methane emission reduction at scale and originate new sub-projects. The AKCMM, upon completion, would have established a strong foundation for a variety of subsequent projects on methane; by having a strong pipeline of sub-projects, he/she will contribute to the drafting of follow-up regional/national proposals that (i) replicate/scale-up proven approaches or (ii) seek to develop more ambitious/innovative solutions.
ENGAGEMENT
The Officer will engage various stakeholders (e.g., national/provincial/municipal government agencies, bilateral/multilateral agencies, private sector firms and financial institutions, research institutions and academia, NGOs, and local communities) by:
Analyzing the nature of relationships between GGGI and stakeholders in Lao PDR with respect to AKCMM โ both those that already exist and those that are yet to be established but are necessary for the projectโs success โ and develop strategies to build, strengthen, and maintain such relationships. In doing so, he/she must clearly articulate the nature of the relationship, particularly on how their involvement adds value to the delivery of Output 3. Providing substantive input to potential partners so that their engagement is aligned with the goals of Output 3 specifically and AKCMM in Lao PDR generally. He/she must, therefore, have a complete grasp of the present and future trajectory of a sub-projectโs implementation-related discussions/negotiations (especially on risk allocation) leading up to the signing of all implementation-related agreements. He/she shall therefore serve as an effective convenor and communicator, ensuring that there is a shared understanding of the sub-project among all implementation partners. Leading salient dialogue with government agencies, implementation partners, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders on matters related to Output 3 throughout a sub-projectโs implementation phase. This may range from responding to a request for additional information to discussing a contractual amendment to certain activities to account for an unforeseen obstacle or delay.
DELIVERY
The Officer will, based on guidance from and supervision of the Project Manager,
Monitor outcomes from major national/regional/international fora as well as GGGIโs project portfolio to identify emerging needs in Lao PDR related to methane mitigation, Originate, design, finance, and implement methane reduction sub-projects in Lao PDR to achieve measurable and verifiable reduction in methane emissions, utilizing the budget to develop creative structures/arrangements, Identify opportunities to (i) engage entities based in (but not limited too) the Republic of Korea at each stage of the investment cycle (e.g., Korean technology providers, think tanks, project developers, etc.) and (ii) mobilize additional resources from external parties to deliver results at scale, Manage engagement with stakeholders of sub-projects to be delivered under Output 3, Plan and manage missions to gather baseline data, consult stakeholders, validate assumptions, and assess the political/operational/technical feasibility of sub-projects to be delivered under Output 3, Manage the delivery of Output 3 by (i) preparing a work plan, (ii) holding regular meetings with external stakeholders, (iii) procuring competent service providers, (iv) managing the budget and contract(s) related to the output, (v) anticipating and addressing risks, (vi) solving problems of technical or operational nature, and (vii) communicating the results effectively, Understand and comply with all administrative and reporting rules as required by the Government of Lao PDR, GGGI HQ and ARO, AKCF, and the ASEAN Secretariat (with respect to Output 3), Support the delivery of Outputs 1, 2, and 4, and, Have an up-to-date knowledge of GGGI processes, standards, and safeguards and following/adhering to them through the investment cycle.
REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS
A Masterโs degree in economics, environmental science, finance, international relations, statistics, or a related discipline. In lieu of a Masters Decree, A Bachelorโs decree with 7+ additional years of relevant work experience will be accepted, 6 โ 8 years of experience in project development and financing. Candidates with strong background and experience in agriculture and / or waste project development and /or management would be preferred, Proven track record in the development of investment projects (developing project proposal for donor and/or investor funding), structuring of investment and conducting technical assessments or pre-feasibility studies, Robust experience in private sector engagement, investment negotiation, closing deals. Familiar with financial and investment landscape in Laos, Strong understanding of climate-related challenges in Lao PDR, particularly on the trends and sources of methane emissions and established/emerging approaches to reduce them, Strong experience in private sector engagement, investment negotiation, closing deals. Strong analytical skills with great ability to conduct specific research and study focused on methane related projects. Proven ability to understand a novel subject matter in a short period of time and write intelligibly on the subject matter (applicants may be requested to share a writing sample). Good interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds and organizations, Fluency in written and spoken English and Lao.
FUNCTIONAL
Self-motivated learner with attention to detail. Excellent multi-cultural literacy and interest in being a part of an international team working in an evolving and entrepreneurial environment. Leadership, teamwork, and creative problem-solving abilities. Excellent communication (both written and oral) and facilitation skills. Problem solver, able to find and implement solutions. Anticipate and provide necessary technical and content-based support. Willingness and ability to travel
CORPORATE
Understand and actively supports GGGIโs mission, vision and values. Promote the optimum use of public resources Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership. Process and share information easily. Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily. Promote creativity and innovation among staff. Be able to lead where needed and provide solutions to project-level challenges.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The officer, waste management and investment for methane mitigation position is an X8 grade level in GGGIโs national salary scale. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision. This is a national position and does not include relocation benefits.
GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
About GGGI. The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based intergovernmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGIโs vision is a low-carbon, resilient world of strong, inclusive, and sustainable growth. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies towards a green growth model that simultaneously achieve poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. GGGIโs work contributes to its Member Statesโ efforts to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement. In undertaking its mission, GGGI partners with both public and private sector stakeholders to develop innovative green growth solutions, mobilize project financing and investments, and share knowledge and lessons learnt.
About GGGI Lao PDR. The Lao PDR office started operation in 2017 has grown into a 35+ team of international and nationals experts supporting the Government of Lao PDR with the implementation of a green growth agenda. The Lao PDR office implements a wide range of projects ranging from solid and liquid waste management, GCF Readiness, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Landscapes initiatives like sustainable forestry, wetland, climate resilient agriculture and more. In Lao PDR GGGI is legally hosted by the Ministry of Finance (formerly the Ministry of Planning and Investment) but has extremely close relations with other Ministries like the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, formerly the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and with various sub-national entities, district and provincial Governments.
ASEAN-Korea Cooperation on Methane Mitigation (AKCMM). AKCMM is a 3-year, USD 20M regional project aimed at reducing methane emissions at scale in ASEAN Member States (AMS). The project seeks to achieve this objective through the following four interventions (i.e., outputs):
Output 1. Developing enabling policies and institutions Output 2. Improving measurement of methane emissions Output 3. Designing, financing, and implementing methane reduction sub-projects Output 4. Promoting regional dialogue and partnership Child protection โ GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGIโs Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.