Civil Society Specialist

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories.

FHI 360 is currently recruiting for the position of Civil Society Specialist for the anticipated multiyear USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) End Wildlife Crime (EWC) project. The purpose of the USAID End Wildlife Crime counter-wildlife trafficking activity is to conserve biodiversity and strengthen rules-based order by building on the long history of RDMA in countering wildlife trafficking (CWT) through partnerships with regional organizations, governments, the private sector, and civil society, as applicable, regionally across all ASEAN member states and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Civil Society Specialist

The Civil Society Specialist will support the strengthening of CSO capacity to effectively and sustainably engage in advocacy and oversight for CWT efforts. S/he will design and lead activities related to CSO mentoring, technical assistance, trainings, as well as relationship building with regional bodies and local governments (as possible). S/he will also propose innovative, results-driven recommendations to adapt civil society strengthening interventions and work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (ME&L) team to meet and exceed the project’s output, outcome, and impact indicators.

The position will be based in Bangkok, Thailand or other ASEAN countries where FHI 360 has country office. Recruitment is contingent upon successful award.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop strategies to support capacity building of CSOs to serve as advocates and watchdogs in regional structures and for engaging with key forums (such as ASEAN, ASEAN Civil Society Forum, etc.) to facilitate and encourage greater inclusion of civil society and other diverse stakeholders in regional consultations, coordination, and action on CWT
• Support youth and indigenous organizations to strengthen advocacy skills and technical capacity to share their unique knowledge and skill sets as a catalyst for CWT action across the region and within existing regional structures
• In collaboration with other regional staff and field staff, provide partner CSOs with mentoring, on-demand TA, learning-by-doing activities, group trainings, and relationship building with regional entities
• Support the development of tools to equip CSOs to better engage with regional bodies and forums, including talking points, roundtable consultation strategies, public-private working group approaches, etc.
• Contribute to the development of a performance measurement system for CSOs, including recommendations for how to engage partner CSOs in regional activities and initiatives that increase their relevance both within those bodies and in communities
• Include gender and social inclusion (GESI) considerations across civil society strengthening interventions
• Work with leadership to identify good practices for replication and to support the sustainability of activities through replication and institutionalization
• Collaborate with consortium staff to document project success stories for knowledge sharing, reporting, and replication
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, education, law, political science, public administration, or related field required. Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 5-8 years of experience in organizational development, ME&L, and gender mainstreaming for United States Government (USG) and/or other donor projects required
• At least 10 years of experience providing training, mentoring, and TA to CSOs locally or regionally within the target region
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects and consultants, and to set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities required
• Demonstrated ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, subcontractors, consultants, and recipients of assistance required
• Demonstrated ability to design and adapt tools and document success stories and project learning for replication
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and fluency in another ASEAN language is an asset.

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.