Project Assistant

Vacancy #:
- 7314- Unit:
- India Programme Coordination- Organisation:
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)- Location:
- India Country Office, New Delhi, India- Reporting to:
- Programme Manager- Work percentage:
- 100%- Grade:
- A2- Expected start date:
- 01 July 2025- Type of contract:
- Fixed-term (24 months)- Closing date:
- 17 June 2025 BACKGROUND

IUCN is a Membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organizations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that enable nature conservation, human progress and economic development to take place together. IUCN India’s programs support sustainable natural resource management initiatives of Members and Partners.

Under the GEF project The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME-II) project which is a follow-up to the BOBLMEI project, there is a focus on managing and protecting the marine environment of the Bay of Bengal. The BOBLME-I had identified key issues such as overexploitation of resources, habitat degradation, and pollution which are affecting the health of the Bay. These findings led to the creation of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) which is being implemented in the second phase. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of United nations (FAO) in collaboration with Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct guidance of Programme Manager, the Project Assistant is required to support the implementation of Component 2 (Restoration and conservation of critical marine habitats and conservation of biodiversity) and Component 4 ( Improved livelihoods and enhanced resilience of the BOBLME) of the project. Significantly, the Project Assistant will be responsible in supporting the stakeholder coordination including Marine Managed Area (MMA)managers for strengthening MMA and to work closely work closely with communities to develop nature-based livelihoods for the MMA dependent communities. Project Assistant will also assist in development of the Coastal and Marine Programme in the IUCN India Country office.

SPECIFIC DUTIES
- Stakeholder Coordination. Establish the BOBLME II National Coordinating Body/ Committee and organize regular NCB /Committee Meetings in line with agreed ToRs, prepare minutes from quarterly coordinating body/ committee meetings)
- Liaise with Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate hange in selection of Priority Marine Managed Area site for BOBLME II and support for improving MPA management effectiveness
- Lead the development and oversee the implementation of a Three-year Workplan/ Activity Plan (2025-2027) for the Implementation of National Activities relevant to the delivery of Component 2 and Component 4 of the BOBLME Project in consultation with key stakeholders relevant to selected MMA site (Ministry of Environment, relevant agency for MPA, NGOs).
- Support the coordination of a National Capacity Building workshop on the IUCN Green List for PAs in liaison with IUCN ARO technical staff
- Coordinate arrangements for developing the site profile for the priority MPA and associated communities; (Social Ecological Systems analysis, Gender Analysis, Vulnerability assessment) and diagnostic gap analysis of the MPA using the IUCN Green List Framework for the select MPA. Identify priority actions / interventions that improve management effectiveness that can be met through the Grant Project for MPAs
- Support Grant Proposal Development for Strengthening MPA Management Effectiveness. Develop project proposal / or initiate call for project proposals to respond to / deliver the priority actions identified for improving MPA management effectiveness.
- Support Grant Proposal Development for Strengthening Resilience of MPA associated coastal communities. Develop project proposal / or initiate call for project proposals to respond to / deliver the priority actions identified for strengthening coastal community resilience through female focused livelihood development and other activities/ opportunities that strengthen women’s empowerment.
- Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) National Level Activities for Components 2 and 4 MEL for the planning and delivery or oversight of the Grant Project(s) designed for implementing improvement of MPA management effectiveness and increasing resilience of MPA associated coastal communities.
- Communications Develop at least two stories per year highlighting the developments of the national level activities and outputs.
- Provide day-to-day technical and administration support to Programme manager to implement project activities under Component 2 and 4.
- Ensure smooth and coherent project imple