The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global Coalition of more than 150 organizations dedicated to advancing the forest, land, and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendant Peoples, and in particular the women within these groups. Members capitalize on each other’s strengths, expertise, and geographic reach to achieve solutions more effectively and efficiently. RRI leverages the power of its global Coalition to amplify the voices of local peoples and proactively engage governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector actors to adopt institutional and market reforms that support the realization of rights.

RRI is coordinated by the Rights and Resources Group (RRG), a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC.

If you are passionate about working with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples to secure their rights; supporting women’s rights and governance; and combatting climate change, this could be the place for you. RRI does meaningful work to make a positive difference at the global, national, and local scale. For more information about our inclusive and purpose-driven work, check out our current openings.

People of color, people from Indigenous and local communities, women, and LGBTQ+ persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

Consultant to support RRI Facilitation in Asia Regional Activities – South Asia (80% Level of Effort)

The Consultant to support RRI facilitation in Asia regional activities will work closely with the Asia Program Director, the Asia Senior Program Associate, and the RRG team to facilitate the planning process, monitoring and technical assistance for the implementation of all RRI strategies and activities, donor reporting, and communications in the South Asia region.

The Consultant will work independently of and will not represent any RRI Partner or Collaborator during annual work planning or during the implementation of activities. The Consultant will perform her/his duties according to an established work plan for 2022, which could be adjusted according to RRI´s strategic priorities and will support the RRI planning cycles.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide technical support to partners and collaborators (P&C) for the implementation of the planned activities, ensuring that plans respond to expected outcomes, promoting communication and coordination among organizations under the guidance of the Asia Program Director.
• Support the Asia Senior Program Associate in the monitoring of implementation strategies, including the budget expenditures, informing the Secretariat of any unforeseen difficulties to comply with planned strategy and activities.
• Encourage synergies and cross-regional learning among RRI P&C and resource people, supporting RRI positioning as a key actor at the national/regional levels, while at the same time promoting an RRI shared vision and identify among coalition members.
• Maintain regular communication with and among RRG and P&C in Asia to generate discussions and analysis around the political landscape in South Asia.
• Identify challenges and opportunities for RRI strategy implementation in South Asia.
• Highlight key successes and learning during project implementation and work with the Asia Senior Program Associate to write blog posts and other communication materials.
• Assist in coordination & implementation of ongoing 2022 projects and efforts for the preparation of 2023 strategies.
• Maintain constant and open communication with the Asia Program team regarding the implementation of workplan strategies and other Strategic Response Mechanism (SRM) projects under the program’s purview, ensuring cohesive flow of information and understanding across the team on the progress of its strategies.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

The Consultant’s main tasks and responsibilities will be as follows:

1. Technical Assistance to Partners and Collaborators (P&Cs)

• Facilitate and support P&Cs to develop concept notes and budgets that match the annual work plan, particularly for new collaborators and coalitions.
• Support P&Cs in identifying and developing proposals for RRG’s Strategic Response Mechanism (SRM) that meet the criteria. Support SRM proposals´ timely processing by RRG.
• Contribute to linking the Partners and Collaborators to government, research and civil society actors relevant to the effective achievement of their strategic outcomes/activities.
• Hold meetings with local Partners, Collaborators, and allies to enhance collaboration and synergies, provide updates on country strategy implementation to identify and assess opportunities to expand impact in target countries.
• Provide timely inputs from P&Cs for RRI monitoring and donor reporting and ensure that reports follow RRI criteria.
• Monitor the implementation of planned activities at country and regional levels.
• Encourage and coordinate communications among regional P&Cs as directed by the Asia Program Director and P&C according to a shared vision, and shared regional and national strategies, and work plans.
• Work with the Asia Senior Program Associate under direction of the Asia Program Director to facilitate communication and resolve issues with Partners and Collaborators and other members of the Coalition.
• Support Collaborators to strengthen their narrative progress reports to ensure the program is successfully meeting its goals or identify areas of improvement.

2. Strengthen the Synergies among Partners and Collaborators in country and regional platforms and channel global RRI communications to Region

• Proactively communicate findings and lessons from RRI activities globally to all relevant outlets and audiences in the region, and the Asia Program Director in RRG, providing RRG with updates on new trends and issues requiring attention and/or action.
• Arrange and participate in meetings with government and CSOs, at request of P&C or RRG, to discuss issues related to forest land tenure and rights, keeping P&C and RRG informed of the meetings, both before and after such key meetings.
• Enhance communication among Partners and Collaborators in the region and RRI-related advocacy, contributing to promote RRI global and country/regional strategies, and relevant publications and tools, news, and data.
• Provide opportunities for cross-learning among country Partners and Collaborators in the region on experiences with and effective strategies for forest land tenure reform, climate change and enterprise development and other global RRI themes.
• In preparation for the country planning meetings, identify potential issues to address and the organizations of key informants to contribute to RRI’s country and regional strategy.

3. Regional Analysis and Documentation

• As requested, the Consultant will provide technical expertise to support regional analysis on issues related to forest tenure, rights, and community forestry in target region as well as new political, social and economic regional and global trends that effect or represent opportunities for RRI strategy in the target country.
• Document and share important cases related to forest tenure models, forest-based enterprise development, realizing rights and benefit enhancement and sharing by communities through tenure reform.
• Provide updated reports on the socio political, and economic context of the target region monthly.

This is a position based in Nepal or India, and the incumbent needs to be a resident of and/or have a permit to legally work in the country. Requires some travel in the country and throughout the sub-region and region as needed, and communicating regularly with the Secretariat based in Washington, DC. Candidates must have a professional proficiency in English and Nepali and/or Hindi. The contract will be for six months, renewable.

Applications will be accepted immediately and interviews conducted on a rolling basis.