Lead Project Development Consultant

The WWF GEF International Waters Project “Blue Horizon: Ocean Relief through Seaweed Aquaculture” was approved by the GEF Council on December 11, 2020. (GEF Financing $6,000,000; Co-financing $37,660,000). The project will work at the global, regional and national level to strengthen and develop seaweed value chains. More specifically, the project will work in the coastal and marine ecosystems of Viet Nam and Philippines, where the potential for the expansion of seaweed aquaculture and seaweed aquaculture value chains exists.

The project objective to ‘create new sustainable seaweed value chains that will deliver ecosystem services and provide socioeconomic benefits’ will be delivered through the following four components: (1) Regional capacity building for seaweed aquaculture; (2) Enabling Environment for Seaweed Aquaculture in Philippines and Viet Nam; (3) Seaweed Value Chains (production + processing); and (4) Knowledge Management, M&E, and IW Learn.

To lead development of the project design and the associated project documents for the “Blue Horizon: Ocean Relief through Seaweed Aquaculture” project, working closely with key stakeholders and the Project Development Team (PDT) made up of staff from SEAFDEC, Department of Fisheries focal point (Viet Nam), BFAR focal point (Philippines), national consultants, WWF Philippines, WWF Viet Nam and the WWF GEF Agency. The consultant will be responsible for developing a comprehensive project design in support of the SEAFDEC and government priorities on sustainable seaweed value chains and in accordance with WWF and GEF standards. The consultant will advise on national consultant TORs and formats for deliverables.

The consultant will ensure timely delivery of the full WWF GEF Project Document package, including: the WWF GEF Project Document, GEF Request for CEO Endorsement document, GEF Core Indicators, Letters of Co-financing, and other requested materials as mutually agreed in the project development workplan.

1. Main responsibilities

• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders, the Project Development Team, and other consultants (e.g. national technical consultants, safeguards consultants, gender consultants) for overall planning and development of the project design, including participation in team meetings and workshops;
• Lead project design, including defining the situational context (environmental problem, threat analysis and prioritization, and barriers to be tackled by project), identifying project activities, site selection criteria and identification, documenting the baseline and incremental cost reasoning, developing the Results Framework, integrating safeguards and gender inputs, and support budget development, and co-financing letters process, based on the PIF and project design consultations;
• Ensure meaningful stakeholder consultations from regional to local level to inform project design and in compliance with WWF and GEF policies. Responsible for close engagement with SEAFDEC and government focal points on the project design, in coordination with the national consultants.
• Review and provide input on a Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Gender Action Plan prepared by the technical consultants, and integrate stakeholder feedback into project design;
• Guide national consultants, review their outputs to ascertain their completeness, address the identified gaps and incorporate into the project development;
• Review draft safeguards documents and incorporate into project design;
• In full coordination with the Project Development Team, lead the development, drafting and final delivery of the WWF GEF Project Document and accompanying documentation (Request for CEO Endorsement document, Results Framework and GEF core indicators, Letters of Co-financing, and other requested materials) in accordance with the approved workplan. Incorporate feedback from WWF, government, stakeholders, and GEF Sec/STAP reviews until CEO Endorsement.
• Prepare documentation for and facilitate regular meetings of the PDT as well as regular check-ins on progress towards deliverables to WWF GEF Agency;
• Perform other duties as required.

2. Duty Station

Home-based with travel pending COVID restrictions/

3. Collaboration and Supervision

A Project Development Team (PDT) will be established as a decision-making body and will ensure participation and buy-in from key parties for project development, including government partners. The PDT includes made up of staff from SEAFDEC, Department of Fisheries focal point (Viet Nam), BFAR focal point (Philippines), national consultants, WWF Philippines, WWF Viet Nam and the WWF GEF Agency, and national consultants. The PDT will review consultant deliverables and provide feedback as required.

The consultant will be contracted by the WWF GEF Agency in collaboration with SEAFDEC and administratively report to the WWF GEF Agency project manager. The WWF GEF Agency project manager will provide guidance on WWF GEF project development process and requirements and will approve deliverables for payment based on PDT clearance.

National consultants will be recruited simultaneously. The technical consultants will coordinate with and report to the Lead Project Development Consultant(s). The roles of the technical consultants will be defined in the work plan. The Lead Project Development Consultant(s) will approve the work plan and deliverables of the technical consultants.

Consultants will also be recruited for safeguards and gender.

Required experience and expertise of the consultant:

• At least 10 years’ combined experience in the designing, coordination, management and/or execution of complex international and multi-lateral funded projects, especially for GEF;
• Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences, Marine Resource Management, Aquaculture Value Chains or equivalent;
• Excellent consultation, facilitation, negotiation, analytical, research and presentation skills;
• Excellent verbal communication and writing skills in English;
• Able to collaborate with project development partners and take guidance and feedback from the WWF GEF Agency and the SEAFDEC.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in Philippines and Viet Nam;
• Experience with Open Standards/Project and Program Management Standards (PPMS) in the GEF context;
• Extensive experience negotiating and coordinating with government officials, local government, donors, project partners, local communities, civil society organizations and multi-lateral organizations;
• Experience and skills in managing professional and multi-stakeholder teams, and working with multi-disciplinary teams;
• Demonstrated expertise in gender responsive project design.

**Applicants should send a CV and resumes to Rachel.kaplan@wwfus.org

**Deadline: February 26, 2021 

As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.