Nature-based Solutions (NbS), a leading programmatic area of work for IUCN, focuses on actions addressing key societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management and restoration of both natural and modified ecosystems, benefiting both biodiversity and human well-being. The IUCN Global Standard for NbS, launched in July 2020, provides a standardised approach to the design of effective NbS projects that are ambitious in scale and sustainable, while creating a shared language for stakeholders and facilitating innovative partnerships.

In Asia, IUCN works to mainstream NbS in multi-sectoral policy, investment and practice to address the region’s nature conservation, sustainable development and other critical societal challenges. Collaborating with diverse stakeholders at various levels and scales, IUCN applies high-integrity NbS across its portfolio of collaborative projects and activities – in the region’s major land and water, marine and coastal, and forest and agriculture ecosystems.

The Technical Officer is responsible for overall coordination of the NbS strategic theme of the IUCN Asia programme in collaboration with country, regional and global teams. As member of the Science and Strategy Group (SSG) at the Asia Regional Office (ARO) in Bangkok, Thailand, he/she helps catalyse institutional knowledge and expertise to optimise, harmonise and further enhance IUCN’s established leadership, recognition and reputation for NbS in Asia.

1. MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the general oversight the Regional Director and direct co-supervision of SSG senior staff, the Technical Officer will:
i) serve as IUCN Asia focal person for NbS,
ii) support SSG in growing its region-wide portfolio of NbS-related projects and activities, and
iii) engage with Union constituents, partners and donors.

2. SPECIFIC DUTIES:
2.1 Technical Input and Capacity Development Support
• Serve as NbS specialist and catalyse SSG-wide expertise in the application of NbS to relevant aspects of the IUCN Asia programme.
• Act as NbS resource person and coordinate team-wide effort for capacity building, advisory and outreach activities.
• Promote understanding and uptake of the NbS Global Standard among key decision-makers, practitioners, trainors, finance actors and other key users in the region.
• Support NbS project development, proposal preparation and resource mobilisation by IUCN intra-regional, inter-regional and global teams.
• Facilitate collaboration with research institutions and universities in Asia to advance the science and practice of NbS on specific themes identified by stakeholders.
• Keep abreast of best available NbS knowledge, innovation from practical applications, and case studies for learning, to ensure that these are made available to regional Secretariat, Union constituents and partners.


2.2 Programme and Portfolio Facilitation
• Facilitate region-wide NbS programme development, implementation and reporting; support its integration in regional programme agenda and strategy, and its contribution to the Union’s overall programme and vision.
• Promote SSG teamwork, by capitalising on the individual and collective expertise of its staff, to support NbS initiatives across IUCN Asia.
• Assist in managing SSG’s NbS portfolio for effective, efficient delivery of projects in accordance with IUCN institutional and donor guidelines. These include projects currently under development and implementation for water and wetlands, forest, marine and coastal, and agricultural systems.
• Handle day-to-day operations of assigned NbS-related projects and activities, including associated logistical and administrative tasks.

2.3 Partnerships and Communications
• Serve as IUCN Asia’s NbS focal person for Secretariat-wide NbS coordination units including the IUCN Academy, inter-regional collaboration teams and for Union regional constituents; represent IUCN Asia in external partnership platforms and knowledge-sharing events as assigned by supervisor/s.
• Facilitate IUCN Asia’s NbS community of practice to foster collaboration among regional, subregional and country teams for the strategic theme.
• Contribute to the development of NbS knowledge products drawn from documentation of project/programme experiences, and to dissemination and outreach targeting key stakeholder-group audiences.

In addition to the above, the Technical Officer may carry out other relevant tasks assigned by and mutually agreed with supervisor/s.