Thailand Project Coordinator

There are an estimated 32 million fishers in Asia.  Fishing sector in Thailand, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea relies on migrant workers from Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam.  In 2017, the Thai fishing and seafood processing sectors together employed more than 600,000 workers, of whom 302,000 were registered migrant workers primarily from Thailand and Cambodia.  Within this context labour exploitation and human trafficking – particularly affecting vulnerable migrants – are prevalent.  While efforts to address such exploitation within these sectors have developed over recent years, there still exist gaps in frameworks for ensuring the enforcement of labour standards and proper mechanisms for the identification, referral, and (re)integration of victims of forced labour and human trafficking.  

To address these gaps UNDP will partner with ILO and IOM on an EU-funded regional programme on labour migration in the fishing sector.  To strengthen policy and practice, UNDP – positioned as it is with long-established relationship with regional stakeholders – will support further development of the transnational referral mechanism through the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) Process for victims of trafficking/forced labour and vulnerable migrants.  To address gaps in the evidence base, UNDP will conduct research and produce knowledge products on migration and development focused on workers in the fishing and seafood processing, including the drivers, outcomes and dynamics of labour migration and trafficking among migrant fishers and migrant workers in the seafood processing sector with consideration on the impacts of climate change and the impact of labour migration on women and children.

This specific initiative falls under UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub Human Mobility Team’s work strengthening multi-stakeholder responses to ensure that the opportunities of migration for driving development are harnessed and the challenges of forced migration/displacement addressed. 

Overall objective is to support the implementation of the Ship to Shore Iniatitive and UNDP’s Inclusion for Development Programme in Thailand, including technical support to the Thailand Government and partners on the development of Transnational Referral Processes (TRM) for victims of trafficking and exploited migrants.

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Project Manager (RPM). S/he will also collaboratively work with the Regional Management Office (RMO) in performing  the following.

1) Provide technical support to the National COMMIT Taskforce and partners on COMMIT activities, including:

1.1 Lead support to Royal Thai Government to COMMIT Subregional Plans of Action development and implementation.

1.2 Coordinate to the development and implementation of transnational referral processes for the Greater Mekong Subregion, specifically:

• Lead development and implementation of a TRM Scoping Survey
• Support to development of TRM for the GMS options paper.
• Coordinate National and Intergovernmental consultation on the TRM
• Coordinate the TRM framework drafting process with Thai stakeholders, as necessary

1.3 Support to preparation, implementation, and reporting for the 2021 Inter-ministerial Meeting of the COMMIT Process.

2) Lead the development of a knowledge product outlining lessons learned from UNDP’s recently closed UN-ACT project, including direct field research perceptions and results of the project;

3) Support UNDP’s research into drivers, outcomes and dynamics of labour migration and trafficking in the Greater Mekong Subregion;

4) Lead coordination of regular reporting and M&E related activities for S2SR under the oversight of regional project personell

5) Support development of UNDP’s work on Human Mobility in Thailand;

6) Carry out  additional tasks upon request and discussion, related to the UNDP Country Office priorities on Migration and Displacement;

Institutional Arrangement

a)  The incumbent will report directly to UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub Regional Advisor on Recovery Solutions & Human Mobility and Team members responsible for direct implementation of the UNDP-ILO-IOM project.

b) Regular updates through meetings will be provided by the incumbent and in frequent communications, including weekly updates and monthly reports.

c) The incumbent will work in close collaboration with National Project Coordinators in project countries, as well implementing partners at the regional level.

Travel

Possible travel outside the assignment location (should the COVID-19 travel restriction be lifted). 

• Strong analytical, writing and editing skills;
• Ability to plan, organize and report on work;
• Openness to change and ability to integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Proficiency of use in office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
• Cultural and gender sensitivity and ability to work with people from different backgrounds;
• Ability to work both independently and in a team and ability to deliver high quality work on time;
• Ability to liaise with stakeholders and partners, including governments, research institutions, civil society;
• Literacy in Window-based computer applications.

Education: 

• Master’s degree or A first-level university degree in international relations, development, social work, Law, or related fields.

Experience:

• Master’s with minimum 2 years or Bachelor’s with minimum 4 years of professional working experience in the field of human trafficking, migration, labour migration, international migration from Thailand and anti-human trafficking or related fields is required;
• Working experience in development projects with UN system and/or NGOs, with some experience working to support vulnerable people or groups is required.
• Experience in results-based management or regular project management is desirable.
• Knowledge in victim protection, victim support/services and referral is desiarable;
• Experience in high level policy advocacy delivery is desirable;
• Experience with project monitoring is desirable;
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with government and non-government partners in a coordinating role; 
• Knowledge of gender and human-rights issues an advantage.

Language Requirement:

• Excellent knowledge of English and Thai with fluency in speaking, reading and writing is required.
• Proficiency in another official UN language is desirable.