RECRUITMENT NOTICES

PRO-POOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR AGROFORESTRY DEVELOPMENT BAC KAN PROVINCE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

International Eco-tourism Specialist

Background

The development objective of the project is to achieve sustainable and equitable poverty reduction and improved livelihoods of the rural poor in Bac Kan Province. The expected outcomes include: (i) improved governance culture, asset ownership and use and market incentives for private sector led pro-poor growth; (ii) deliver sustainable improvement in the livelihood of the rural poor through linking investments in infrastructure, human capacity development, improved technology and farm business management practices and effective service delivery systems; and, (iii) socially, ecologically and economically sustainable sloping land conservation and protection systems including payments for ecosystem services (ES) established.

Through Component 1, Sustainable and Equitable Forest Land Management, forest land use planning and allocation would be addressed, creating a framework for agro-forestry planning, regulation and equitable allocation in Bac Kan to be implemented. The project would promote the sustainable utilization of production and protection forest land ensuring that income and benefits from forestry resources are accrued by poor households and women. Component 2, Generating Income Opportunities for the Rural Poor, would promote improved services and technologies provided through pluralistic, pro-poor demand driven transfer mechanisms. Before new high-value chains can be created or existing chains upgraded, farmers need to have a more commercial approach to their farming operation, enabling them to engage with chain partners in a business-like way for their mutual benefit. Under Component 2, public-private partnerships and community managed investment funds would enhance pro poor agro-forestry investment. Under Component 3, Innovative Environmental Opportunities, forage based conservation, Sustainable Land Use management, bio-energy development options will be assessed and promoted. Options for Payment for Ecosystem/Environment Services (PES) are to be assessed and tested through pilot projects including Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD), catchment protection for erosion control and water resource management. As the development of eco-tourism presents opportunities, under component 3, pro-poor ecotourism will be promoted

A village based eco-tourism industry, which is attracting more adventurous international tourists, is emerging, particularly in Ba Be district. Guesthouse owners are active in promoting eco-tourism and have expressed an interest in establishing a House of Stilts Association and introducing community monitored regulations to better protect their environment. The project would accelerate the emergence of pro-poor eco-tourism in the Ba Be area through support for the development of ecotourism associations, promotion of private enterprise investment in tourism development (by the BISC), capacity building of tourism service providers and, through the Agribusiness Promotion Investment Fund, the development of public goods (forest walking tracks, information houses and website, vocational training courses, etc) in support of ecotourism development. The ecotourism program will be evaluated at end-PY3 and, if successful, will be expanded to other project districts at that time.

In 2010, an international Eco-tourism Specialist will provide technical support to develop the Eco-tourism Management for PMU and district authorities including preparation for ToT.

Job Responsibilities and Tasks:

Specific responsibilities include:

a) Literature review of current policies, legislation, strengths and weaknesses of relevant plans (incl. land use plans) and other relevant literature in the tourism/eco-tourism sector

b) Assessment of the arrival statistics and municipal support services (incl. infrastructure) in selected tourism facilities within the Ba Be national Park and other potential areas.

c) Gathering information to prepare an inventory of tourism assets including coordinate data of the sites

d) Assistance for assessing tourism assets in terms of attraction value and municipal support services.

e) Assisting with the development of recommendations on measures and monitoring for sustainable tourism planning within the Ba Be national Park

f) Assessing key issues or threats to sustainable tourism in the Ba Be national Park

g) Field visits into protected areas and nature sites with tourism value and related information collection for the assessment of attraction value, municipal services and tourism impacts

h) advising on tourism planning, positioning, marketing (design of marketing tools), staff training, and project design/implementation in general

In Addition the international ecotourism specialist will:

h) Coordinate with the PMU and the national agribusiness specialist and BISC advisors to add value and ensure consistency between processes in CDF and development of the pluralistic service delivery system.

i) Coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Bac Kan province to provide the planning and development of ecotourism sector in Bac Kan

k) Provide on-going coaching and mentoring to the PMU, District Coordinators, DCST and DARD staff in the operations of ecotourism management and investment.

Expected Outputs:

First Input: (2010) (1 person-month)

1) Report on the potential for development of ecotourism sector in Bac Kan province

2) Draft outline for ecotourism development strategy

3) TNA for roadshow participants

4) Strategies for facilitation of SMEs in investment in ecotourism sector in Bac Kan province focusing on Ba Be national park.

Second Input: (2011) (1 person- month)

1) Review and has strong recommendations on the mission report.

2) Field visit in Ba Be national Park and other areas.

3) Coaching for key personnel and finalise the mission report.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

· Post-graduate degree in agriculture, (eco) tourism or related topics;

· Strong experience in development and management of ecotourism sector and rural area.

· Good local experience, either in Bac Kan, neighbouring provinces, or in provinces with similar production and poverty characteristics

· Good understanding of the local administrative and management systems and the communication networks involved at the district and commune levels;

· Strong mentoring, facilitation and communication skills gained from in working with senior level managers, private enterprises or in other department;

· Sensitivity to cultural and gender differences;

· Demonstrated computer skills in MS Office and specifications for relevant database development,

· A good command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of local ethnic minority languages would be an advantage.

Developed by: Trieu Duc Thong,

BISC Advisor

Email: Thongtrieu@gmail.com