2026-10-09

Ecosystem Restoration Specialist; Sustainable Livelihood Specialist; Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist

 

RECRUITMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

(Vietnamese experts)

 

  1. Ecosystem Restoration Specialist 
  2. Sustainable Livelihood Specialist 
  3. Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist

 

ICEM Asia is an award-winning, independent technical service centre that supports government, the private sector, and communities to develop and implement policies and actions for sustainable development. 

ICEM focuses on climate change, biodiversity conservation, water resources management, strategic environmental assessment, disaster risk reduction, and environmental economics. ICEM’s mission is to advance ecologically sustainable development—improving quality of life now and for future generations while preserving the ecological systems that sustain life.

 

THE PAD III PROJECT

The Mekong PAD III Program is funded by the Australian Government under the Mekong-Australia Partnership. It aims to address the growing challenges facing protected areas and their surrounding landscapes, particularly in transboundary regions spanning Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Biodiversity loss and climate change are rapidly degrading ecosystem services vital to local communities and national economies. These pressures are especially severe in transboundary areas, where communities are often isolated, poor, and highly vulnerable – relying heavily on healthy ecosystems for their livelihoods and well-being.

PAD III targets seven Transboundary Biodiversity Landscapes (TBLs), which are critical to water security across entire river basins and catchments. The program offers a strategic opportunity to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, build climate resilience, improve economic opportunities for local communities and vulnerable groups, and strengthen multi-level collaboration for ecologically sustainable landscape management.

ICEM implements PAD III in partnership with IUCN, Landcare Australia, and the University of Tasmania.

In Viet Nam, ICEM has also partnered with the national NGO People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature) to lead field activities. PAD III implementation in Viet Nam focuses on Yok Don National Park (YDNP).

ICEM is now seeking to employ: (1) Ecosystem Restoration Specialist, (2) Sustainable Livelihood Specialist, (3) Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist, national, based in Vietnam for the assignment period November 2026 to 2029. The detailed task and requirements for each position is described as below.       

 

ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION SPECIALIST  

1. General tasks

In the role of the PAD III Ecosystem Restoration Specialist, the expert will lead the planning and design of pilot ecosystem restoration activities within the YDNP landscape, in coordination with communities, government stakeholders, ICEM and PanNature. The Specialist will also provide capacity-building and technical guidance to PanNature, communities and local stakeholders to support adequate implementation of the planned activities. Target ecosystems for restoration are forests and wetlands, including associated streams and riparian areas where relevant. Main activities include:

  • Assess the current ecological status of the forest and wetlands in target areas within Yok Don National Park, and identify pilot restoration sites for implementation ;
  • Conduct a baseline assessment of the selected restoration sites;
  • Co-develop restoration plans and strategies with communities, PanNature and Yok Don National Park management board;
  • Build capacities of communities, rangers, PanNature and relevant local government stakeholders in ecosystem restoration, including the preparation of associated knowledge products and training materials;
  • Provide training-of-trainers (ToT) for PanNature and relevant stakeholders;
  • Lead the establishment of a community-managed tree nursery;
  • Provide technical guidance to support implementation and monitoring of restoration activities;
  • Ensure restoration activities enhance local livelihoods, gender equity, and social inclusion.

The Ecosystem Restoration Specialist will be supported by the PanNature team, a Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist, a Sustainable Livelihood Specialist, a National GEDSI Specialist and ICEM’s international and national technical experts. The program’s End-of-Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are:

  • EOPO 1: Targeted institutions use data and evidence to make transboundary landscape governance and management better and inclusive
  • EOPO 2: Targeted institutions implement coordinated actions to restore degraded landscapes in transboundary areas
  • EOPO 3: Women and vulnerable groups improve income sources and have better access to business opportunities

2.  Tentative Geographical Scope

The PAD III Ecosystem Restoration Specialist will primarily focus on Yok Don National Park, and particularly Drang Phok Village, its surrounding areas and wetlands, and the YDNP botanical garden. The specific project implementation area will be confirmed following project approval.

3. Key Duties and Responsibilities – Ecosystem Restoration Specialist in Vietnam 

a) Technical Restoration Planning and Implementation

  • Assess the current ecological condition of forests and wetlands in the target area (i.e., Drang Phok village, its surroundings, and the botanical garden), including forest structure and composition, natural regeneration, habitat condition, key ecological processes and functions, hydrological and other relevant biophysical conditions, as well as major pressures and constraints affecting ecological recovery, including invasive species, fire and free-range livestock grazing. The assessment should also record native multi-purpose species of livelihood value (e.g., NTFP, food and medicinal species) and how communities use them, to inform species selection.
  • Review and analyse available historical ecological information relevant to the target area, including historical records, vegetation and biodiversity surveys, forest inventories, monitoring data, maps, remote-sensing information and other relevant studies. Where appropriate, assess evidence of historical changes in forest structure, species composition, habitat condition and ecological processes to understand the nature and extent of degradation and inform realistic restoration objectives.
  • Identify and assess suitable reference sites and/or reference conditions representative of the target forest and wetland ecosystems. The assessment should consider relatively intact or wellfunctioning areas with comparable ecological and environmental characteristics and document relevant attributes, including species composition, vegetation structure, regeneration patterns, habitat characteristics, ecosystem functions and the absence or level of key degradation pressures. Where appropriate, combine reference-site observations with historical information, local ecological knowledge and other available evidence to develop an appropriate reference model for restoration planning.
  • Identify pilot restoration sites (covering both degraded forest and wetland ecosystems) in collaboration with YDNP and communities.
  • Conduct a baseline assessment of the selected restoration sites to document site conditions and assess restoration needs and feasibility. The assessment will cover the status and condition of soil, vegetation, biodiversity and water at the restoration sites,the objectives of the restoration work, the conservation significance and livelihood importance of the site, and an assessment of UXO risk. It also includes the identification of initial restoration approaches and techniques as well as an initial strategy to incentivise community participation and replication in future.
  • Assessments will combine participatory methods (e.g., participatory mapping and KoboToolbox surveys) with drone imagery and land-use/land-cover (LULC) analysis, and mapping of wetland extent and characteristics.
  • Present the findings to communities and the YDNP Management Board to validate the selected forest and wetland demonstration sites and approaches before restoration planning.
  • Working with the relevant communities and stakeholders, co-develop tailored nature-positive restoration plans for the identified restoration sites, based on the findings of the baseline assessment, reference conditions, restoration targets and site-specific needs. The plans will guide the implementation of small-scale demonstration restoration activities designed to deliver measurable ecological benefits and, where appropriate, sustainable livelihood benefits. The sitespecific restoration plans should also feature:
    • Approach to ensure the inclusive participation of women, youth, ethnic minority and Indigenous people, and people with disabilities, as relevant to each site.
    • Identification of appropriate native species (prioritizing multi-purpose species of livelihood value and, where suitable, species tolerant of projected climate conditions) and restoration approaches (e.g., assisted natural regeneration, enrichment planting, erosion and sediment control, and restoration of wetland hydrological functions) that support the recovery of key ecosystem attributes, functions and services, such as habitat quality and biodiversity, water regulation, soil stability and natural regeneration.
    • Sustainability mechanisms to support long-term community participation and stewardship, including opportunities linked to the sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), agroforestry, ecotourism (e.g., wildlife observation at restored wetlands) or other locally appropriate livelihood activities. This will require close collaboration with the Sustainable Livelihood Specialist.
    • In addition, each plan will define the proposed restoration interventions, implementation steps, restoration designs (conceptual and spatial), workplan, required materials and resources, indicative cost, maintenance arrangements, monitoring indicators and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders. The plan will provide practical guidance for implementing, monitoring and adapting restoration activities.
  • Lead the technical design and establishment and/or improvement of community-managed native-species nurseries, and guide community groups in seed collection of native species. Seed and planting material should come from local or ecologically matched sources and be collected from multiple parent trees to keep genetic diversity, without over-harvesting wild populations. This activity will develop functional nursery systems capable of producing high-quality planting material suited to site conditions and restoration priorities. The implementation approach will include site selection, infrastructure development (e.g., seedbeds, shading structures, irrigation systems), and strengthening of operational systems such as seed sourcing, propagation techniques, and nursery management. Emphasis will be placed on the production of native and ecologically appropriate species aligned with restoration priorities.
  • The Ecosystem Restoration Specialist will work closely with the Sustainable Livelihood Specialist, who will lead the nursery business planning, to help establish nurseries as viable enterprises. The Ecosystem Restoration Specialist’s technical inputs will include assessment of seed and seedling demand for restoration, species selection aligned with restoration priorities, evaluation of nursery models (community-based, government-managed, or private), and the technical and operational aspects of nursery plans. Business plans will address production systems, cost structures, revenue streams, and market linkages, including integration with restoration programs and potential private sector demand. Nurseries will be established and managed through participatory approaches involving local communities, government agencies, and partner organisations.
  • Provide technical guidance during implementation to PanNature, who will lead the day-to-day monitoring, supervision and coordination of community groups implementing ecosystem restoration plans and managing tree nurseries.
  • In collaboration with the Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist, provide technical inputs on the ecological impacts of free-range livestock grazing for incorporation in the livetock grazing baseline assessment.

b) Capacity Building 

  • Prepare practical training materials, field guides and knowledge products on ecosystem restoration to support implementation, monitoring and replication of forest and wetland restoration activities by the community and YDNP management board. These may cover, for example, assisted natural regeneration, native species propagation, community-based nursery management, agroforestry, invasive species management, and participatory restoration monitoring. Training materials should integrate scientific evidence with relevant local and traditional ecological knowledge.
  • Develop and implement a capacity-building program, to strengthen the ability of local communities, PanNature, park rangers and relevant government stakeholders to plan, implement, monitor and sustain ecosystem restoration activities within the selected sites. Include a ToT component for PanNature, park rangers and relevant government stakeholders to enable the continued dissemination and application of restoration knowledge beyond the project period.
  • In collaboration with the National GEDSI Specialist, integrate gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) principles into all capacity-building activities and develop practical guidance to support the meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups in restoration decision-making and implementation.
  • Deliver training, field demonstrations, peer-to-peer learning and on-the-job coaching to strengthen technical skills and promote the adoption of restoration good practices by local stakeholders and PanNature.
  • Provide ongoing technical mentoring and advisory support during restoration implementation and monitoring to ensure activities are implemented according to ecological restoration best practices and adapted based on field experience and monitoring results.

c)  Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

  • Define restoration goals, target ecological conditions and measurable indicators for the priority restoration areas based on the current baseline, historical evidence, reference conditions and site-specific constraints. Targets should cover relevant ecological attributes, including species composition, community structure, physical/environmental conditions, ecosystem functions, external exchanges (e.g., landscape connectivity and hydrological flows) and key threats or degradation pressures, and should be sufficiently specific and measurable to support monitoring and adaptive management.
  • Translate the assessment findings into practical restoration criteria and recommendations for the restoration plan, including the desired ecological trajectory, priority areas and restoration needs, key ecological attributes to be maintained or recovered, and indicators and baseline information required to monitor progress towards the defined restoration targets.
  • Design the monitoring framework and community-based monitoring protocols, and monitor early restoration outcomes against the baseline and targets (e.g., seedling survival and growth, natural regeneration, vegetation cover and structure, native species richness, invasive species cover and, for wetlands, relevant hydrological indicators), with support from local partner NGOs and community monitoring groups. Longer-term ecological outcomes are expected to emerge beyond the contract period.
  • Track the capacity development of stakeholders at the project sites using the training assessment templates developed by the regional MEL team
  • Document lessons learned from applying traditional and scientific knowledge, including factors behind restoration successes and failures.
  • Facilitate knowledge exchange, learning events and cross-site visits among stakeholders to share lessons learned, strengthen local restoration networks and promote the replication of successful restoration models across the wider landscape.

d)  Governance and Safeguards 

  • Support village-level land-use planning and help clarify land-use and resource-use rights and management arrangements for restoration sites (e.g., through agreements with the YDNP Management Board and local authorities), in coordination with the National GEDSI Specialist.
  • In collaboration with the National GEDSI Specialist, contribute to applying the program’s culturally appropriate, gender-responsive grievance redress mechanism and support the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, ensuring that community members, including vulnerable groups, can safely raise concerns, provide feedback and participate in the resolution of issues related to restoration activities throughout the project cycle.

e)  Coordination with Other Technical Experts

  • Support the planning and delivery of PAD III field missions
  • Actively participate in PAD III landscape, national and regional meetings
  • Support GEDSI mainstreaming across all ecosystem restoration activities and outputs, with the support of the GEDSI team and the National GEDSI Specialist.
  • Work in close coordination with other experts and the PAD III team, in particular the Sustainable Livelihood Specialist and the Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist (e.g., on managing free-ranging livestock pressure on restoration sites), to ensure biodiversity and livelihood benefits at ecosystem restoration sites.

f)  Reporting and Documentation

  • Prepare a baseline assessment report summarising the ecological status of assessed forest and wetland ecosystems, key degradation drivers and restoration opportunities, historical ecological trends, reference conditions, proposed restoration and nursery sites (including the results of site validation with communities and YDNP), restoration priorities, objectives and initial approach.
  • Produce site-specific restoration plans, co-developed with and endorsed by relevant communities and stakeholders, including restoration interventions, implementation arrangements, monitoring framework and long-term stewardship mechanisms.
  • Prepare the capacity-building program, training reports, training materials, field guides and other knowledge products to support capacity building, knowledge transfer and replication of restoration approaches.
  • Establish and maintain baseline data, monitoring systems and progress reporting for restoration activities, nursery operations and capacity-building initiatives, and document lessons learned, challenges and adaptive management recommendations.
  • Provide technical inputs and contribute to communication products, case studies, technical briefs, donor reports and other knowledge-sharing materials related to ecosystem restoration, community engagement and sustainable landscape management.

4. Input Estimated Level of Effort: Up to 3 person-months

Contract period: 2026 – 2029 (intermittent inputs over the PAD III implementation period)

5. Qualifications and Experience

  • Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Forestry, Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Science, or related field.
  • Experience:
    • At least seven years of relevant experience in ecosystem restoration, forestry, biodiversity conservation or landscape management, preferably in developing countries and/or working with ethnic minority communities.
    • Demonstrated knowledge of the ecological characteristics, biodiversity values, degradation pressures and restoration approaches applicable to Yok Don National Park or similar dry dipterocarp forest, semi-evergreen forest and seasonal wetland ecosystems in the Greater Mekong region is highly desirable. 
    • Experience in community-based restoration and participatory natural resource management is highly desirable.
  • Skills:
    • Strong communication, facilitation, and training skills.
    • Developing high quality reports and documentation in English.
    • Fluency in Vietnamese is required.
    • Working knowledge of local ethnic minority languages is an advantage.
    • Familiarity with spatial mapping tools is an advantage.

 

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD SPECIALIST

1. General tasks

In the role of the PAD III Sustainable Livelihood Specialist, the expert will lead the assessment, planning and design of diversified, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable livelihood models for forestdependent communities in Drang Phok village, in coordination with communities, government stakeholders, ICEM and PanNature. The Specialist will also provide capacity-building and technical guidance to PanNature, communities and local stakeholders to support adequate implementation of the planned activities. The overall objective of the assignment is to increase and diversify household income, strengthen household resilience and reduce dependence on forest and wetland resources within the park. Activities include:

  • Conduct a baseline assessment of current livelihood systems, and identify, screen and prioritise sustainable livelihood options with communities and the YDNP Management Board;
  • Co-develop a participatory livelihood development plan for Drang Phok Village;
  • Design and deliver a capacity development program for communities, and a training-of-trainers (ToT) for PanNature and relevant stakeholders;
  • Provide technical guidance to support implementation of selected livelihood models;
  • Monitor livelihood outcomes and document lessons learned to support replication.

The Sustainable Livelihood Specialist will work alongside the PanNature team, Ecosystem Restoration Specialist, the Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist, the National GEDSI Specialist and ICEM’s international and national technical experts.

The program’s End-of-Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are:

  • EOPO 1: Targeted institutions use data and evidence to make transboundary landscape governance and management better and inclusive
  • EOPO 2: Targeted institutions implement coordinated actions to restore degraded landscapes in transboundary areas
  • EOPO 3: Women and vulnerable groups improve income sources and have better access to business opportunities

This assignment contributes mainly to EOPO 3, and supports EOPO 2 by reducing livelihood-related pressure on restoration areas.

2.  Tentative Geographical Scope

The PAD III Sustainable Livelihood Specialist will primarily focus on Yok Don National Park, and particularly Drang Phok Village and its surrounding areas. The specific project implementation area will be confirmed following project approval.

3. Key Duties and Responsibilities – Sustainable Livelihood Specialist in Vietnam 

a) Livelihood Assessment, Planning and Implementation

  • Identify and review livelihood projects and programs that are ongoing or planned in and around Drang Phok Village (e.g., government programs, payments for forest environmental services (PFES), and NGO, donor and private-sector initiatives). Document their models, target groups, results and lessons, and use existing data where available, so that PAD III can build on or scale up proven models and avoid duplicating assessments and activities.
  • Building on the program’s socioeconomic household survey conducted in August 2026, assess community livelihood systems in Drang Phok Village, including existing livelihood activities and income sources, household assets, seasonal patterns, dependence on forest, wetland and other natural resources, access to land, water, markets, finance and services, and the key barriers to income generation and diversification. In collaboration with the National GEDSI Specialist, disaggregate the findings by gender, age, disability and ethnicity, and identify specific constraints and opportunities for women, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
  • Identify sustainable livelihood opportunities that increase and diversify income, strengthen household resilience and reduce dependence on natural resources (e.g., climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, sustainable harvesting and processing of NTFPs, value-added local products, community-based ecotourism and native-species nurseries). Screen the options against clear criteria, including market demand, economic viability, environmental impact on YDNP, climate resilience, technical and social feasibility, and accessibility for women, persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, and develop an initial list of priority activities.
  • Present the baseline findings to the community and the YDNP Management Board, and facilitate a participatory process to select the priority livelihood activities to be implemented under the project.
  • Co-develop a comprehensive participatory livelihood development plan for Drang Phok Village through a multi-stakeholder planning process, to promote sustainable, climate-resilient and environmentally responsible livelihood opportunities. The plan will describe the pilot livelihood models, target beneficiaries and selection criteria, materials and budget needs, market linkages, workplan, mechanisms to ensure long-term community adoption, replication strategy, monitoring protocols, roles and responsibilities, GEDSI considerations and environmental safeguards (e.g., avoiding forest encroachment and setting sustainable harvest levels for NTFPs).
  • Provide technical guidance during implementation to PanNature, who will lead the day-to-day monitoring, supervision and coordination of community groups implementing the selected livelihood models in line with the approved livelihood development plan.
  • With the support from PanNature, facilitate linkages between community groups and buyers, cooperatives, businesses, local extension services and relevant government support programs, and support groups to organise joint production and marketing where appropriate.
  • Provide livelihood inputs to the Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist, who leads the assessment of water access infrastructure and agroforestry systems within planned grazing areas, and integrate the agreed options into the livelihood development plan.
  • Support the Ecosystem Restoration Specialist in establishing a community-managed tree nursery as a viable business, through the preparation of a business plan addressing production systems, cost structures, revenue streams, and market linkages, including integration with restoration programs and potential private sector demand.

b)  Capacity Building

  • Design a capacity development program aligned with the livelihood development plan and integrating GEDSI principles, to strengthen the technical, business and organisational capacities of villagers, community groups, PanNature and relevant stakeholders to implement, manage and scale up the selected livelihood models. Include a ToT component for PanNature so they can continue supporting communities after the project.
  • Prepare practical training materials to equip stakeholders with the skills needed to plan and implement sustainable and climate-resilient livelihood models (e.g., production techniques, basic business and financial management, product quality and marketing, and group management), integrating GEDSI considerations.
  • Deliver training, field demonstrations, exposure visits and on-the-job coaching on livelihood development, scheduled and located so that women and other vulnerable groups can take part.
  • Provide ongoing mentoring and advisory support to PanNature and community groups during implementation, and adapt support based on monitoring results.

c)  Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

  • Define livelihood targets and measurable indicators based on the baseline assessment and aligned with the PAD III MEL framework (particularly EOPO 3), e.g., changes in household income and number of income sources, adoption of promoted practices, participation of and benefits for women and vulnerable groups, and changes in reliance on natural resource extraction. Disaggregate indicators by gender, age, disability and ethnicity where possible.
  • Design monitoring protocols, including participatory monitoring by community groups, and monitor the progress, effectiveness and outcomes of the livelihood interventions with support from local partner NGOs. Because changes in income and resilience may take longer to emerge, early monitoring should focus on adoption, production, sales and participation.
  • Track the capacity development of stakeholders using the training assessment templates developed by the regional MEL team.
  • Document lessons learned, including factors behind the success or failure of livelihood models, and facilitate knowledge exchange and cross-site visits to promote replication across the wider landscape.

d)  Governance and Safeguards

  • In coordination with the National GEDSI Specialist, promote fair and transparent participation and benefit-sharing arrangements within livelihood groups, including clear criteria for selecting beneficiaries.
  • Ensure that livelihood activities comply with YDNP regulations and relevant national laws, and do not increase pressure on forest, wetland or wildlife resources (e.g., through land clearing, unsustainable NTFP harvesting or expansion of free-ranging livestock).
  • In collaboration with the National GEDSI Specialist, contribute to applying the program’s culturally appropriate, gender-responsive grievance redress mechanism and support the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, ensuring that community members, including vulnerable groups, can safely raise concerns and participate in resolving issues related to livelihood activities.

e)  Coordination with Other Technical Experts

  • Support the planning and delivery of PAD III field missions.
  • Actively participate in PAD III landscape, national and regional meetings.
  • Support GEDSI mainstreaming across all livelihood activities and outputs, with the support of the GEDSI team and the National GEDSI Specialist.
  • Work closely with the Ecosystem Restoration Specialist on livelihood opportunities linked to restoration (e.g., NTFPs, agroforestry, native-species nurseries and wetland-based ecotourism), and with the Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist, who leads work on grazing areas, water access and agroforestry in grazing areas, on livestock-related livelihoods, so that livelihood, restoration and livestock activities reinforce each other.

f)  Reporting and Documentation

  • Prepare a baseline livelihood assessment report covering the review of existing initiatives, baseline livelihood systems, GEDSI analysis, screened and prioritised livelihood options, and validation results.
  • Produce a participatory livelihood development plan for Drang Phok Village, co-developed with and endorsed by the community and the YDNP Management Board.
  • Prepare the capacity development program, training materials and training reports.
  • Establish and maintain monitoring data and progress reports for livelihood activities, and document lessons learned, challenges and adaptive management recommendations.
  • Provide technical inputs and contribute to communication products, case studies, technical briefs, donor reports and other knowledge-sharing materials related to sustainable livelihoods and community engagement.

4. Input Estimated Level of Effort: Up to 3 person-months

Contract period: 2026 – 2029 (intermittent inputs over the PAD III implementation period)

5. Qualifications and Experience

  • Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture or Agroforestry, Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, or a related field.
  • Experience:
    • At least seven years of relevant experience in community-based livelihood development, rural enterprise or value chain development, preferably in or around protected areas and with ethnic minority communities in Viet Nam.
    • Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable livelihood models (e.g., climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, NTFP value chains or community-based ecotourism) is required.
    • Experience in the Central Highlands is highly desirable.
    • Proven experience in participatory planning, household socio-economic surveys and livelihood analysis, business planning and market linkages, and GEDSI-responsive programming.
  • Skills:
    • Strong communication, facilitation, and training skills.
    • Ability to produce high-quality reports and documentation in English.
    • Fluency in Vietnamese is required; working knowledge of local ethnic minority languages is an advantage.
    • Familiarity with digital data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox) and basic financial analysis is an advantage.

               

SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

1. General tasks

In the role of the PAD III Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist, the expert will lead the assessment, planning and design of sustainable livestock management models in and around Drang Phok Village, in coordination with communities, the YDNP Management Board, local authorities and veterinary services, ICEM and PanNature. The aim is to reduce the impacts of free-range cattle grazing on forest and wetland habitats and wildlife in the park, while improving the productivity and economic returns of livestock for local households. Activities include:

  • Conduct a baseline assessment of the current livestock management system and identify, screen and prioritise demonstration projects for sustainable livestock management with communities and the YDNP Management Board;
  • Co-develop a participatory sustainable livestock management plan for Drang Phok Village;
  • Design and deliver a capacity building program on sustainable livestock management for communities, and a training-of-trainers (ToT) for PanNature and extension staff;
  • Provide technical guidance to support implementation of the plan;
  • Monitor the effectiveness, progress and outcomes of the interventions and document lessons learned to support replication.

The Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist will work alongside the PanNature team, the

Sustainable Livelihood Specialist, the Ecosystem Restoration Specialist, the National GEDSI Specialist and ICEM’s international and national technical experts.

The program’s End-of-Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are:

  • EOPO 1: Targeted institutions use data and evidence to make transboundary landscape governance and management better and inclusive
  • EOPO 2: Targeted institutions implement coordinated actions to restore degraded landscapes in transboundary areas
  • EOPO 3: Women and vulnerable groups improve income sources and have better access to business opportunities

This assignment contributes mainly to EOPO 2, by reducing grazing pressure on forest ecosystems and restoration areas, and to EOPO 3, by improving the productivity and economic returns of livestock for households, including women and vulnerable groups. It also supports EOPO 1 by generating evidence on the extent and impacts of grazing to inform YDNP management.

2.  Tentative Geographical Scope

The PAD III Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist will primarily focus on Yok Don National Park, and particularly Drang Phok Village and its surrounding areas used for livestock grazing. The specific project implementation area will be confirmed following project approval.

3. Key Duties and Responsibilities – Sustainable Livestock Management Specialist in Vietnam 

a) Livestock Assessment, Planning and Implementation

  • Identify and review livestock-related projects, programs and policies that are ongoing or planned in and around Drang Phok Village (e.g., government livestock and poverty reduction programs, payments for forest environmental services (PFES), veterinary and extension services, and NGO, donor and private-sector initiatives), together with YDNP regulations and available data on grazing. Document their models, results and lessons so that PAD III can build on proven approaches and avoid duplicating assessments and activities.
  • Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the existing livestock management system and practices in and around Drang Phok Village, including livestock numbers and species, ownership across households, grazing calendars and routes, feed and water sources, livestock housing, animal health and access to veterinary services, productivity, markets and the contribution of livestock to household income. Identify the drivers of free-range grazing (e.g., labor, land and fodder availability, customary practices and costs). In collaboration with the National GEDSI Specialist, disaggregate the findings by gender, age, disability and ethnicity, and identify the roles, constraints and opportunities of women and vulnerable groups in livestock keeping.
  • Document the extent and spatial distribution of livestock grazing in and around Drang Phok Village. In collaboration with the Ecosystem Restoration Specialist, document the ecological impacts, including impacts on forest ecosystem restoration, ecosystem health, environmental quality, wildlife occurrence, habitat integrity and biodiversity conservation (e.g., seedling regeneration, soil compaction, water quality and habitat competition with wildlife), and the risk of disease transmission between livestock and wildlife. Combine field surveys, participatory mapping, GIS and YDNP patrol and monitoring data where available, in coordination with the Ecosystem Restoration Specialist.
  • Identify and screen opportunities to reduce the impact of free-range cattle grazing while supporting local livelihoods (e.g., designation of grazing areas, rotational grazing, fodder crop cultivation, improved livestock housing, water access points, agroforestry in grazing areas, strengthened veterinary and disease prevention services, and a gradual transition toward semiintensive and intensive livestock systems). Screen the options against clear criteria, including ecological benefit to YDNP, economic viability and household returns, technical and social feasibility, labor and cost implications, climate resilience and accessibility for women and vulnerable groups. Based on the screening process and baseline assessment, identify demonstration projects to pilot alternative, sustainable livestock management practices.
  • Present the findings from the baseline assessment to the community and the YDNP Management Board, and facilitate a participatory process to select priority pilot projects and participating households.
  • Co-develop a participatory sustainable livestock management plan for Drang Phok Village through a multi-stakeholder planning process to limit the impacts of grazing practices. The plan will describe the pilot projects and livestock management approaches, conceptual designs (e.g., grazing area layout, rotation schedules, fodder plots, water points and livestock housing), materials and budget needs, workplan, mechanisms to incentivise community participation, sustainability and replication strategy, monitoring protocols, initial maintenance arrangements, roles and responsibilities, GEDSI considerations and environmental safeguards.
  • Lead the assessment and design of water access infrastructure and agroforestry systems within planned grazing areas, with support from PanNature and in coordination with the Ecosystem Restoration Specialist and the Sustainable Livelihood Specialist, and integrate the agreed options into the plan.
  • Provide technical guidance during implementation to PanNature who will lead the day-to-day monitoring, supervision and coordination of households and community groups implementing the approved plan (e.g., establishing grazing areas and fodder plots, applying rotational grazing, and building and maintaining water points and livestock housing).
  • In cooperation with district and provincial veterinary services, and with support from PanNature, strengthen animal health and disease prevention measures (e.g., vaccination, disease surveillance and biosecurity) to reduce the risk of outbreaks, including zoonotic transmission between livestock and wildlife.
  • With the support from PanNature, facilitate linkages between livestock-keeping households and extension services, input suppliers (e.g., fodder seed and planting materials), buyers and relevant government support programs.

b) Capacity Building

  • Design a capacity building program aligned with the sustainable livestock management plan and integrating GEDSI principles, to strengthen the knowledge and technical competencies of livestock-keeping households, community groups, PanNature, YDNP rangers, local extension and veterinary staff and other relevant stakeholders in sustainable livestock management, grazing impact assessment, compliance and adaptive management. Include a ToT component for PanNature and extension staff so they can continue supporting communities after the project.
  • Prepare practical training materials to equip stakeholders with the skills needed to plan and manage free-range livestock grazing and transition to improved systems (e.g., rotational grazing, fodder production and conservation, feeding, livestock housing and manure management, animal health and biosecurity, and grazing monitoring), integrating GEDSI considerations and using visual, locally relevant formats.
  • Deliver free-range livestock grazing management training, field demonstrations, exposure visits to successful models and on-the-job coaching, scheduled and located so that women and other vulnerable groups can take part.
  • Provide ongoing mentoring and advisory support to PanNature, households and community groups during implementation, and adapt support based on monitoring results.

c) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

  • Define targets and measurable indicators based on the baseline assessment and aligned with the PAD III MEL framework (particularly EOPO 2 and EOPO 3), e.g., number of households and livestock under improved management, area of designated grazing areas and fodder crops, reduction in livestock presence and grazing intensity in forest and restoration areas, vegetation regeneration in previously grazed areas, livestock health and productivity, household returns from livestock, and participation of and benefits for women and vulnerable groups. Disaggregate indicators by gender, age, disability and ethnicity where possible.
  • Design monitoring protocols, including participatory monitoring by community groups and joint monitoring with YDNP rangers (e.g., livestock incursion records, vegetation plots and cameratrap or patrol data), and monitor the effectiveness, progress and outcomes of the interventions with support from local partner NGOs. Because ecological changes may take longer to emerge, early monitoring should focus on adoption of practices, compliance with agreed grazing rules, fodder establishment and livestock health.
  • Track the capacity development of stakeholders using the training assessment templates developed by the regional MEL team.
  • Document lessons learned, including factors behind the success or failure of pilot practices, and facilitate knowledge exchange and cross-site visits to promote replication in other villages around YDNP and across the wider landscape.

d) Governance and Safeguards

  • In coordination with the National GEDSI Specialist, support the community and the YDNP Management Board to agree clear, transparent rules for the use, management and maintenance of designated grazing areas, fodder plots, water points and other shared infrastructure, together with fair participation and benefit-sharing arrangements and clear criteria for selecting participating households.
  • Ensure that livestock management activities comply with YDNP, commune’s regulations and relevant national laws (including on forestry, animal husbandry and veterinary services),.
  • In collaboration with the National GEDSI Specialist, contribute to applying the program’s culturally appropriate, gender-responsive grievance redress mechanism and support the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, ensuring that community members, including vulnerable groups, can safely raise concerns and participate in resolving issues related to livestock management activities (e.g., access to grazing land and restrictions on grazing inside the park).

e) Coordination with Other Technical Experts

  • Support the planning and delivery of PAD III field missions.
  • Actively participate in PAD III landscape, national and regional meetings, and in relevant coordination meetings with the YDNP Management Board and local authorities.
  • Support GEDSI mainstreaming across all livestock management activities and outputs, with the support of the GEDSI team and the National GEDSI Specialist.
  • Work closely with the Ecosystem Restoration Specialist so that grazing areas, fodder plots and agroforestry systems are located and managed to protect restoration sites and complement restoration activities, and with the Sustainable Livelihood Specialist so that livestock management and livelihood activities reinforce each other (e.g., livestock-related income, value addition and alternative income for households reducing free-range herds).
  • Coordinate with district and provincial agriculture, livestock and veterinary agencies and extension services to align pilot activities with government programs and to support long-term uptake.

f) Reporting and Documentation

  • Prepare a detailed workplan setting out the assessment methodology and tools, field schedule, stakeholder engagement approach and allocation of the level of effort across deliverables.
  • Prepare a baseline livestock assessment report covering the review of existing initiatives, the current livestock management system and practices, drivers of free-range grazing, the extent, spatial distribution and ecological impacts of grazing (with maps), GEDSI analysis, screened options and proposed demonstration projects, and validation results.
  • Produce a participatory sustainable livestock management plan for Drang Phok Village, codeveloped with and endorsed by the community and the YDNP Management Board.
  • Prepare the capacity building program, training materials and training reports.
  • Establish and maintain monitoring data and prepare progress reports on implementation of the plan, documenting results, lessons learned, challenges and adaptive management recommendations, and prepare a final report on the effectiveness, progress and outcomes of the interventions, with recommendations for sustainability and replication.
  • Provide technical inputs and contribute to communication products, case studies, technical briefs, donor reports and other knowledge-sharing materials related to sustainable livestock management and community engagement.

4. Input Estimated Level of Effort: Up to 3 person-months

Contract period: November 2026 – 2029 (intermittent inputs over the PAD III implementation period)

5. Qualifications and Experience

  • Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Animal Science/Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Agriculture, Pasture and Rangeland Management, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
  • Experience:
    • At least seven years of relevant experience in livestock development and management with rural communities, preferably in or around protected areas and with ethnic minority communities in Viet Nam.
    • Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing sustainable livestock management practices (e.g., grazing management, fodder development, improved livestock housing, transition to semi-intensive systems and animal health programs) is required.
    • Experience in the Central Highlands is highly desirable.
    • Proven experience in livestock system and grazing impact assessment, participatory planning and mapping, community-based natural resource management, and GEDSI-responsive programming.
    • Good understanding of Vietnamese policies and regulations on livestock production, veterinary services and protected area management.
  • Skills:
    • Strong communication, facilitation and training skills, and the ability to work effectively with communities, park authorities and government agencies.
    • Ability to produce high-quality reports and documentation in English.
    • Fluency in Vietnamese is required; working knowledge of local ethnic minority languages is an advantage.
    • Familiarity with GIS and participatory mapping, ecological field survey methods, digital data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox) and basic cost–benefit analysis of livestock systems is an advantage.

 

How to apply:

To apply, please send a cover memo and updated CV with contact details of two references to Ms. Hoang Thi Thu ([email protected]).

Applications close on 30 October 2026. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICEM is committed to an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace. We encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups, consider all qualified applicants without regard to gender, age, ethnicity, religion, or background, and support flexible, family-friendly work arrangements.

For more information about ICEM, please visit www.icem.com.au

   Job Details  
Organisation:
ICEM
Job location:
Vietnam
Application deadline:
2026-10-30
Send application to:
[email protected]
Job categories:
'Specialist'   
Job types:
'National'