Product Manager - test​/Lakshmi

Deadline for application: 21 August 2023

At RECOFTC, we believe in a future where people live equitably and sustainably in and beside healthy, resilient forests. We take a long-term, landscape-based and inclusive approach to supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods and foster gender equity. We are the only non-profit organization of our kind in Asia and the Pacific.

We have more than 35 years of experience working with people and forests, and have built trusting relationships with partners at all levels. Our influence and partnerships extend from multilateral institutions to governments, private sector and local communities. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

RECOFTC is inviting candidates to apply for the position of Program Manager for Explore. The successful applicant will be based in the RECOFTC main office in Bangkok, Thailand. The contract duration is for 24 months with a possibility of extension subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance.

Established in 2020, Explore is managed by a Secretariat hosted by RECOFTC in partnership with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF). The program receives financial support from Sida. Explore develops the research capacity of universities in Southeast Asia on forest landscape governance. It supports researchers, universities and research institutions to improve their ability to conduct quality and transformative research, as well as leverage research to support policy development and implementation at various levels leading to more equitable, community-oriented forest landscape governance.

The overall objective of the Explore program is to support governments in using high quality research to improve policies and institutional frameworks for the inclusive and sustainable management of forest landscapes in Southeast Asia that contribute to climate and development goals such as SDGs.

The program is now in Phase 2. The main objective is for innovative and well-designed research to be used widely by key stakeholders and support informed policy and decision making at landscape, national and regional levels. Phase 2 is being implemented from October 2022 to September 2027.

The Explore program is a long-term engagement between Sida, RECOFTC and CIFOR-ICRAF, and it envisages three phases with a timeline of 10-12 years.

• Oversee the implementation of the whole Explore Program
• Oversee development and monitoring of Explore’s annual workplan and budget in line with its 5-year program
• Refine and oversee implementation of the program’s risk management plan, ensuring that identified risks are avoided and mitigated as necessary
• Prepare documents and other key deliverables for the Explore donors, including Sida, in a timely manner
• Oversee fundraising activities from non‑Sida sources for Explore Phase 2
• Liaise with the Explore Project Advisory Committee (PAC) drawn from academics, policymakers and forest governance experts from around the world.
• Facilitating the quarterly Explore Advisory Committee meetings
• Reviewing and finalizing PAC meeting minutes
• Preparing progress reports for PAC
• Ensure that the Explore Secretariat is working with RECOFTC’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team with regard to monitoring, evaluation, and learning of the project and ensure required data collection processes for the annual reports and other reporting
• Promote understanding of RECOFTC’s whistle blower policy to ensure that all partners and network members are aware of it and know how to use it during the project implementation
• Act as focal point with Sida and other donors
• Act as focal point with CIFOR-ICRAF, this includes liaising with CIFOR-ICRAF regarding gathering technical inputs into the program implementation and with its representative on the PAC
• Supervise the Secretariat’s coordination with RECOFTC’s seven country offices and provide…