Lao Peoples Democratic Republic: Integrated Conservation Resource Management


May 11, 2016 | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
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The Hin Nam No National Protected Area (HNN NPA) has a unique karst landscape of outstanding importance for regional biodiversity. It is located in Bualapha District (Khammouane province), on the Lao-Vietnamese border. Around 22 villages with approx. 7,000 inhabitants, most of whom belong to ethnic minorities, are located around the HNN NPA. The population generates approx. 40% of their food and other household needs from natural resources within the protected area and its margins. Furthermore, trade in non-timber forest products (NTFPs), wildlife and valuable timber species is one of their main sources of income. The growing demand for these products in neighbouring countries has resulted in steadily growing pressure on the protected area and its biodiversity.

The protected area administration has elaborated a first draft of an integrated nature conservation and development concept, based on a collaborative management approach ("co-management"). Implementation of the concept started in the first phase of the project. However, the local communities and park administration still lack the human and financial resources to protect the biodiversity of the HNN NPA sustainably.

The objective of the current GIZ project is to promote the further elaboration of the existing nature conservation and development concept, to strengthen the capacity of the institutions and to assist local communities through incentives for co-management, to ensure food security and alternative sources of income. Furthermore, the project supports research in order to support the Lao Government in its efforts to apply for Hin Nam No to be nominated Lao's first UNESCO's World Heritage Site.

Tasks:

The objective of the current GIZ project is to promote the further elaboration of the existing nature conservation and development concept, to strengthen the capacity of the institutions and to assist local communities through incentives for co-management, to ensure food security and alternative sources of income. Furthermore, the project supports research in order to support the Lao Government in its efforts to apply for Hin Nam No to be nominated Lao's first UNESCO's World Heritage Site.

  • Supervise the GIZ technical staff (Tourism advisor; Biodiversity advisor; Livelihoods advisor; Co-management advisor and liaison officer) and GIZ support staff
  • Steer the processes to consolidate the implementation of the co-management concept on field level, to document lessons learned as well as to give policy advice to the Lao government and National University of Laos
  • Implement a result-based monitoring and reporting system
  • Ensure the consideration of gender aspects and other crosscutting issues
  • Coordinate the cooperation on a district, provincial, national and international level especially with regard to co-management, ASEAN Heritage Park Initiative; World Heritage Site initiative (e.g. with Phong Nha Ke Bang Natural World Heritage Site in Vietnam; UNESCO; the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and others)
  • advise the partner organisation on District-, Provincial- as well as National Level with regard to the further implementation  and consolidation of an integrated nature conservation and development concept
  • Develop sustainable financing mechanisms for protected areas, specifically for HNN NPA
  • Provide capacity development of the Hin Nam No co-management unit on an individual; organisational and network/policy level to ensure effective protected area management. 

Your profile: 

  • Master in management of natural resources or protected area management (or equivalent)
  • At least 10 years of work experience in protected area management;
  • Fluecy in english (oral and written); lao language skills and knowledge in german are an asset
  • Sound communication skills combined with diplomatic skills and professional appearance
  • Conceptual and process-oriented thinking
  • Intercultural competencies and experience