Equitable Sustainable Development Lead for USAID RDMA Partnerships for Green Investment

Tetra Tech International Development (International Development Jobs – Tetra Tech) is currently accepting expressions of interest from qualified candidates for an Equitable Sustainable Development (ESD) Lead on an expected USAID-funded program in Southeast Asia.

Position Description/Summary:

The five-year USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA)-funded Partnerships for Green Investment aims to accelerate the transition in the land use sector across Southeast Asia to greater emissions reductions, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, inclusiveness, and benefit sharing. Partnerships for Green Investment will advance systemic change in agricultural, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) systems in the region to reduce carbon emissions at a meaningful scale in inclusive and sustainable approaches, enabling the regional transition to net zero climate resilient economies.

The Equitable Sustainable Development Lead will be responsible for providing technical direction and oversight for the work planning process, stakeholder coordination, and implementation of the project’s Component 3 work stream. Reporting to the Chief of Party (COP), s/he will enhance inclusive and equitable benefit sharing among local communities and smallholders in the land use sector. The ESD Lead will play a critical role in ensuring that financing activities are inclusive of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), women, youth, and all members of the communities engaged in supply chains. The ESD Lead will work collaboratively with regional organizations, partners, and platforms to provide information, tools, and knowledge sharing for sustainable supply chains, regenerative agriculture best practices, land use monitoring, and supply chain traceability. This would be a full-time position, based in Bangkok, Thailand for the life of project (anticipated five years).

Responsibilities:

*Develop and implement strategies to ensure that financing activities benefit all members of local communities, including IPLCs, women, youth, and smallholders.

*Promote inclusive practices that empower and engage marginalized groups in the development of nature-based solutions and sustainable land use practices.

*Facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions to empower community members with information on low emission, sustainable supply chains, regenerative agriculture best practices, and supply chain traceability.

*Collaborate with partners to design and deliver capacity-building initiatives that improve the livelihoods and incomes of smallholder farmers and women-led civil society organizations.

*Establish and maintain strong relationships with local communities, IPLCs, and relevant stakeholders to understand their needs, perspectives, and priorities.

*Facilitate multi-stakeholder joint efforts through existing platforms to enhance smallholder farmers’ participation in decision-making processes.

*Integrate gender and social inclusion considerations into all community engagement activities, ensuring the active involvement and representation of women and marginalized groups in decision-making processes.

Qualifications:

*Master’s degree or higher in sustainable development, international development, social sciences, environmental studies, or a related discipline.

*Minimum of 8 years of experience in sustainable development, climate change mitigation, or related areas, with a proven track record of implementing inclusive and equitable development projects, preferably in the context of climate and nature financing.

*In-depth knowledge of climate finance mechanisms, nature-based solutions, and sustainable land use practices, with a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities within this field, particularly in a Southeast Asia context.

*Demonstrated experience in working with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and smallholder farmers, including women and youth, on environmental and social initiatives.

*Strong understanding of the social and cultural dynamics in the region, particularly in the context of land use and agriculture.

*Proven ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder initiatives and foster partnerships between governmental, non-governmental, and private sector entities.

*Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills to engage with diverse stakeholders.

*Experience in designing and implementing participatory approaches for community development.

*Knowledge of regenerative agriculture practices, sustainable supply chains, and supply chain traceability.

*Prior experience working on USAID-funded development programs within the Southeast Asia context is strongly preferred;

* Professional fluency in English required.