Brief Description:

DURATION: 6 months

EXPECTED DEPARTURE DATE: Departure date is contingent upon completion of administrative file and approval of visa. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and position will remain open until filled.

OVERVIEW:
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO) are working in partnership to implement the Mongolia: Enhancing Resource management through Institutional Transformation (MERIT) initiative. MERIT is a multi-year initiative that will enhance the public sector management of the Mongolian extractive sector to maximize its contribution to sustainable economic and social development. With the technical support of qualified Canadian volunteers, MERIT is working closely with several partners to build capacity in a number of areas, including gender equality, HR management, leadership development, monitoring and evaluation, environmental management, delivery of quality training, public consultation and inter-agency collaboration, with the overall objective of responsible resource management in Mongolia.

MERIT has a strong local team based in Ulaanbaatar, as well as Project Officers based in our 4 implementation aimags. This team works closely with partners, MERIT volunteers and other key actors (e.g. other donor funded projects, community leaders) to coordinate MERIT’s work.

PARTNER DESCRIPTION:
MERIT is currently working in Sukhbaatar aimag, located in the south-east corner of Mongolia. It borders with China to the south and with Dornogobi, Khentii and Dornod provinces to the north and west. The Aimag Center, Baruun-Urt Town, is 557 km east of Ulaanbaatar, connected by paved road. Sukhbaatar was ranked in the top five provinces by the provincial competitiveness indexes in the last 5 years. Sukhbaatar Aimag is rich with natural resources such as zinc and uranium.

One area where MERIT builds capacity is in improving government effectiveness and efficiency in the implementation of policies and regulations and in public consultation and engagement with communities and stakeholders, with the objective being improved transparency and responsiveness. The need for strong communication, coordination and collaboration at all levels will be critical to the success of many projects supporting the extractive sector in Mongolia.

MERIT will provide technical assistance and skills trainings in communication, coordination and information sharing to improve public sector communication effectiveness at all levels: inter-agency, cross-agency, industry and civil society/community. In this regard, the Aimag government needs to implement communications and public education initiatives in a sound, transparent and systematized fashion. In recognition of the fact that Aimag agencies lack capacity in public consultation and engagement with communities and stakeholders, MERIT is recruiting a long-term volunteer to build capacity in these areas, particularly with divisions of the AImag government that are responsible for this engagement, and with Soum (municipal) level governments within Sukhbaatar. These activities will be particularly related to the extractive sector, mine life cycle and the development of local cooperation agreements towards improving attitudes and cooperation in the sector.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- The Public Consultation and Community Engagement Advisor will provide hands-on support and expertise to the Sukhbaatar Aimag government (and other MERIT partners, if needed) for developing tools, approaches, and general skills in public consultation and community and stakeholder engagement. The strategy will aim to increase awareness, improve knowledge and build support for the Government’s mandates as mentioned above and for environmental protection, restoration and conservation, especially with respect to managing the extractives sector. This advisory service will address communication gaps and facilitate information sharing at different levels.
- The Public Consultation and Community Engagement Advisor will work closely with technical and public administration staff, and support the Aimag Government’s public consultation efforts and to engage different target audiences around the aimag’s priorities, policies and procedures, and to maintain a positive public perception of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)’s environmental policies and activities.
- Under the direct supervision of the MERIT Project Director, the Public Consultation and Community Engagement Advisor’s efforts will undertake the following key tasks. This is not an exhaustive list and additional tasks may be required during the assignment:
- Provide advice and guidance to the Sukhbaatar Government (and other partners) on developing and implementing tools, approaches, strategies on public consultation and community and stakeholder engagement;
- Provide coaching and mentoring to Aimag staff in the delivery of public consultation and engagement programs;
- Strengthen the Aimag Government’s outreach and public education programs to maintain a positive public perception about the Aimag’s policies, practices and priorities;
- Support the development of required communications materials or tools;
- Coordinate with other MERIT volunteers and staff to support implementation of related plans, tools, and activities of the MERIT project, particularly gender mainstreaming;
- Encourage the participation and inclusion of women and youth in all activities; and
- Prepare a work plan and monthly report for submission to MERIT and WUSC.

QUALIFICATIONS:
- Work experience in public consultation, community engagement or stakeholder negotiations, preferably in the public sector, mining sector or environmental sector
- Expertise in developing, implementing and evaluating communication plans, public consultation tools or strategies
- Excellent networking and relationship building skills
- Ability to work independently and to exercise judgement
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Cultural, gender, religion, nationality sensitivity and adaptability.

VOLUNTEER BENEFITS AND SUPPORT:
- Support and guidance prior to departure and while on assignment in country.
- Participation in a pre-departure training where you will have the opportunity to learn about the program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and meet other volunteers. Travel, meals and accommodation are covered.
- Support for accompanying partner and up to two dependents
- In-country orientation and briefing upon arrival in-country.
- Language training in-country where required.
- Return flights, visas and work permits.
- Cost of required country specific vaccinations and antimalarials.
- Health insurance.
- Modest monthly living allowance while overseas.
- Accommodation while overseas.
- Return debriefing in Canada after completion of assignment. Travel, meals and accommodation are covered.
- An incredible opportunity to enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada between the age of 18-70.
- Departure date is contingent upon the timely completion of all administrative requirements (e.g. visa processes, medical clearance, police checks, travel documentation).
- With the support of the program, all volunteers shall undertake to make a minimum financial contribution of $1,500 for participating in the program.

TO APPLY VISIT:
http://agora.ceci.ca/SGC/WUSProje.nsf/va_WPO/0100FF4B6B4C390B852582B9006C61C8?OpenDocument&lg=enok

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