The Asia Foundation is seeking a part-time, qualified, talented government relations and public policy advisor to support the USAID and Australia Mekong Safeguards Program. Mekong Safeguards is a partnership between USAID and Australia that promotes environmental and social (E&S) safeguards in infrastructure development through supporting policymakers, government regulators, major financiers, developers, contractors, and communities with technical assistance, knowledge, and tools to foster the consistent application of E&S standards, particularly for the energy, transport, and water sectors. The position is crucial in engaging with national government entities, regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders to promote and enhance sustainable practices and policies that align with international standards. The candidate is required to have a deep understanding of geopolitics, regional policies, national priorities, environmental and social issues, as well as social dynamics in the Mekong Subregion, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam.
This position may require travel within the Mekong Subregion for stakeholder engagement activities. The specialist will work primarily from an office environment in Bangkok but may also engage with communities directly affected by relevant policies.
Reporting and Supervision
This position will report directly to the chief of party and work closely with the deputy chief of party, and objective 1 lead of Mekong Safeguards.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Analysis and Development

• Conduct comprehensive research on existing environmental and social policies in the Mekong Subregion.
• Conduct in-depth analyses of regional and national policies, geopolitical dynamics, and issues related to the program’s mandate in the Mekong subregion to inform Mekong Safeguards’ strategies and engagements.
• Analyze the impact of local, national, and regional regulations on E&S safeguards.
• Develop policy recommendations aimed at enhancing environmental protection and promoting social safeguards standards.
• Determine national and regional priorities for each country and regional organizations relevant to environmental and social issues, as well as identify potential entry points and areas of engagement and collaborations.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with relevant regional bodies, government officials, policymakers, NGOs, community organizations, and private sector representatives.
• Facilitate dialogues between stakeholders to promote collaborative approaches to environmental governance.
• Organize workshops, seminars, and meetings to discuss policy initiatives related to environmental and social safeguards related to infrastructure development.
• Recommend, organize, and facilitate training sessions for stakeholders on best practices in government relations and public policy advocacy.
• Provide expert advice and support to Mekong Safeguards team on engaging with government and policymakers effectively, particularly on protocols, formal/informal approaches, communication products, etc.
• Formulate partnerships with government, NGOs, regional entities, and/or the private sector to strengthen environmental and social standards and practices.
• Represent the organization at conferences, forums, and public hearings related to environmental and social issues.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor legislative developments affecting environmental and social policies/regulations in the Mekong Subregion.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of implemented policies through data collection and analysis.
• Prepare regular updates on the progress of the supported activities toward achieving policy objectives.

Other tasks

• Administrate funding implementations, including sub-grant/contract, and consulting activities such as developing TORs, task descriptions, analyzing resource distribution, and interfacing with sub-grantees, contractors and consultants.
• Support in-field travel planning and logistics with government delegations, including U.S. and Australian government officials, and develop materials for field missions, including briefing materials for officials and stakeholders, schedules, and other logistical arrangements.
• Support team logistical and administrative tasks, including financial planning, work planning, budgetary planning, procurement processes, memoranda development, and other tasks as required by management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Public Policy, Political Science, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in government relations or public policy focused on environmental or social issues.
• Strong understanding of the political landscape in the Mekong Subregion.
• Experience in engagement and coordination with government authorities, regional organizations, local community leaders, and private sector stakeholders.
• Established verifiable connections with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, members of parliaments, and/or other relevant government ministries in Mekong countries.
• Knowledgeable in government structure for Mekong countries and understanding of appropriate cultural practices and protocols for engagement.
• Understanding of environmental and social policy and regulations as well as impacts created by infrastructure project developments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in local languages is an advantage.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working for multilateral donors such as USAID or Australia DFAT is a plus.

Skills

• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to think strategically about policy development and advocacy efforts.
• Proficient in using data analysis tools for monitoring policy impacts.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills for building relationships across sectors.

Please send a cover letter specifying the position to which you are applying with your resume or CV along with daily rate by email to mekong.safeguards@asiafoundation.org by Nov 29, 2024. In the email subject title, please include ‘Position: Government Relations and Public Policy Advisor’. Please include the requested information (cover letter, CV, and daily rate); otherwise, the application may not be processed.
Only short-listed candidates will be notified.