WWF-Myanmar

15/C, Than Taman Street,

Dagon Township, Yangon,
Myanmar 11191

Direct: +95-1-229331
Fax: +95-1-2314358
www.wwf.org.mm

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position title: Project Officer - Healthy Rivers, WWF Myanmar

Directly reports to: CSO Partnership Manager, WWF Myanmar

Technically reports to: Freshwater Programme Manager, WWF Myanmar

Location: Dawei, with extensive travel to the field and Hpaan

I. Background

WWF Myanmar was established in 2013 and is working to conserve the country’s biodiversity and
build a secure and sustainable future for people and wildlife. The focus is on promoting green
economy into national policies and to sustain and protect biodiversity and connectivity of the
transboundary Dawna Tennasserim Landscape (DTL) through an integrated landscape approach, and
of the Ayeyarwady River system through an integrated river basin management approach IRBM).

The DTL contains some of the most remarkable biodiversity on earth and is a key site for the
protection of the worlds most endangered species including Tigers, Asian Elephants, the Gurney’s
Pitta and a number of other endemic species.
The 300 km long Tanintharyi or Great Tenasserim River is one of the most important rivers in the
Dawna Tenasserim Landscape (DTL) of South East Myanmar. Flowing from an altitude of over
2000m towards the Andaman Sea at Myeik, relatively little is known about the river ecosystem.
While some significant threats to the ecosystem, in particular mining, and potential dam building, are
known, their potential impact has not been studied. Given that the river is a key aquatic lifeline in this
region, it is important to assess the health of its ecosystem, its importance to local communities, as
well as the extent of human impacts and current threats. This can inform development planning by
local authorities and communities to address current pressures and avoid future threats..

II. Major Function

Mining has consistently been identified by local CSOs and communities as one of the key threats to
Tanintharyi River. Gold mining has particularly been damaging due to extensive use of chemical such
as mercury, which accumulates in fishes and is hazardous (carcinogenic) to human health.
Increasingly more complains are being received by the authorities, demanding that the mining be
stopped. A systemic approach to understand the science, impact (both human and environmental),
economics, stakeholders, investors and supply chain is crucial to develop a programme that bring
different stakeholders together to shift mining practices to become less damaging.
 WWF-Myanmar
15/C, Than Taman Street,
Dagon Township, Yangon,
Myanmar 11191

Direct: +95-1-229331
Fax: +95-1-2314358
www.wwf.org.mm

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

 Screening and stocktaking of available literature, research, expertise and information on the
Tanintharyi River ecosystem, incl. biodiversity, water quality, importance and use by local
communities, human impacts and existing threats
 Carrying out stakeholders interviews as well as coordinating laboratory tests to quantify the
scape of impact of mining on people and ecosystem
 Identifying and quantifying the scale of mining through currently available data across
different CSOs partners as well as carrying out ground truthing. The scale of mining includes
both the scale of impact as well as scale of production
 Interviewing with various stakeholders to understand and document the stakeholders engaged
in the mining value chain as well as the value proposition
 Consolidating and comparing various policies and safeguards and how well they are applied
by the companies
 Facilitating discussions among different stakeholders to understand the challenges and to
reduce the impact of mining on nature and people. This could include identifying the most
promising strategies for mitigation as well as coordinating training on various topics ranging
from EIA preparation to mercury free mining.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are
anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to
organizational needs.

I. Working Relationships

1. Internal
Work closely with a) Freshwater and CSO engagement teams b) WWF network
teams working on mining c) Monitoring & evaluation team

2. External
 Extensive interaction with CSOs and CBOs, authorities and local private
companies

II. Requirements

1. Education and Experience

 Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, social development or relevant
field
 3 years of practical experience in mining, natural resource management or
environment management with NGOs or development agencies in Myanmar
 WWF-Myanmar
15/C, Than Taman Street,
Dagon Township, Yangon,
Myanmar 11191

Direct: +95-1-229331
Fax: +95-1-2314358
www.wwf.org.mm

 Experience of working with government officials and other authorities, local

communities and/or NGOs
 Knowledge of community development and community organizing principles
 Knowledge of conservation and natural resource governance issues in Myanmar
 Proven understanding of issues in related fields and working knowledge of
policy/institutional context in community based resource management in Myanmar
 Good oral and written communication skills in Myanmar and English; Oral
communication skills in Karen Language is a distinct advantage.

2. Skill
 Ability to stay in remote areas for extensive period of time and limited supervision
 Positive attitude towards addressing conservation challenges
 People management, coaching and capacity building/development
 Presentation and communications
 Planning and organisation
 Proficiency in MS Office
 Experienced in community engagement including trust building, meeting
facilitation and negotiation
 Strategic thinking and decision making
 Skilled in qualitative and quantative data collection, analysis and report writing
 Monitoring and evaluation

III. WWF's Mission and Values

It is part of every staff member's terms of reference to contribute to WWF's mission:

WWF’s Mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a
future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
- conserving the world's biological diversity
- ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
- reducing pollution and wasteful consumption.
It is also part of every staff member's terms of reference to embody WWF's values, which are
Engaging, Optimistic, Determined and Knowledgeable.

Closing Date: 5 November 2019 (Tuesday)

 WWF-Myanmar
15/C, Than Taman Street,
Dagon Township, Yangon,
Myanmar 11191

Direct: +95-1-229331
Fax: +95-1-2314358
www.wwf.org.mm

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and curriculum vitae with your salary
expectation stating the position title and reference number in English by email to
vacancy.mm@wwf.org.mm (application documents should be addressed as
Document_Yourfullname).

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.