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 through responsible resource management. 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.

One of MERIT’s areas of focus is on building the capacity of local governments in the aimags and soums to effectively implement the government’s extractive sector related policies and regulations, given that extractive activities take place almost entirely in the aimags. Beginning in 2018, Tuv aimag will be supported by MERIT, in particular to address environmental challenges caused by extractive activities. As of December 2017, a total of 231 exploration and 1115 mining licenses (gold, coal, tin, fluorspar and limestone) have been granted in the aimag territory, with 32 of them being considered active.

Formal agreements between resource companies and local governments affected by resource projects are mandated by Mongolian Law, and the central government has issued Local Cooperation (benefit) Agreement templates. Local Cooperation Agreements (LCAs) are becoming an important mechanism for increasing benefits to local communities. The implementation of LCAs has been limited to date. Where Agreements have been made – using the government templates or more informally – the focus has been on infrastructure development, local hiring and local procurement, especially of food products.

Little to no progress has been made on introducing environmental protection into the LCAs, in spite of the fact that the LCAs explicitly name environmental protection as an area to be covered. One underlying reason for the lack of inclusion of environmental protection in the LCA discussions is the low level of capacity to deal with environmental issues at the aimag and soum levels.

MERIT has developed a practical approach to establishing LCAs between industry and resource extraction-affected soums. As a follow up to this effort, the project will work to support ongoing inclusion of environmental protection initiatives into the LCAs.

The scope of this assignment is to develop a coherent framework for environmental impact assessments for resource extraction-affected soums in Tuv aimag, and define possible MERIT initiatives in the area of environmental protection, recognizing the Project’s focus on strengthening the aimag capacity to support the soums. The Environmental Protection Advisor will support the collection of baseline environmental data through field-based environmental review in resource extraction-affected soums in Tuv aimag (and possibly other MERIT implementation aimags and soums).

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide support and capacity building to the Tuv aimag government and potentially other MERIT partners in the following areas: support and provide technical advice for an environmental baseline study in Tuv aimag (and in other MERIT aimags if necessary);
- Strengthen the capacity of the Tuv aimag Environmental department in the following areas: rehabilitation and reclamation of disturbed sites, hazardous material management and waste disposal options, project life cycle phases and associated environmental effects and their management, and ground water assessment and monitoring system;
- Work in close collaboration and coordinate with relevant actors, including key aimag and soum government staff, MERIT staff and other stakeholders as required, to ensure the alignment of activities with the project’s focus and to find solutions to problems as they arise;
- Design and deliver training or coaching sessions, either to groups or one-on-one, on aspects of environmental protection outlined above;
- Provide recommendations for future plans for the aimag government and for the MERIT project more broadly in the area of environmental protection;
- Encourage the equal participation and inclusion of women and men in all activities;
- Seek to raise awareness among partners and training participants of the need for gender equality in decision making; and
- Complete regular reports as required by the program, including work plan, monthly progress reports and final report.

QUALIFICATIONS:
- Considerable past experience working in addressing and mitigating the environmental impacts of the extractive sector
- Facilitation, coaching or mentoring skills
- Excellent communication and reporting skills
- Ability to work in challenging or remote contexts, and through an interpreter
- Ability to problem solve and adapt principles or solutions to various contexts

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/0A1DD9FDEFCA036085258307004B3A95?OpenDocument&lg=enok

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