ThaiNGO

WHO ARE WE?

Kenan Foundation Asia, a regional non-profit development organization based in Bangkok, Thailand, working in partnership with companies, governments, academia, and committed individuals to empower people with the knowledge, technology, and skills necessary for a better future.

Kenan Foundation Asia (Kenan) is implementing the USAID-funded Enhance Activity in Thailand, as a consortium partner under the prime contractor Tetra Tech International Development. Kenan and Tetra Tech are seeking applications for Government Liaison Specialist to oversee networking with and building the capacity of provincial, local and national government agencies to develop and implement a robust citizen-centric local governance system in Thailand. The Government Liaison Specialist will be based in Bangkok and report to the Enhance Chief of Party. This is anticipated to be a four-year assignment ending in August 2027.

DESCRIPTION OF THE USAID ENHANCE ACTIVITY

The USAID Enhance Activity (Enhance) aims to strengthen citizen-centric local governance in Thailand. Interventions under this Activity will lead towards more accountable and responsive local governance, increasing partnership among local stakeholders and the Royal Thai Government (RTG) agencies in support of plans for innovation, and promote successful efforts to other localities.

Working in close coordination with USAID/RDMA, RTG agencies, and key partners, Enhance will accomplish this through three primary objectives:

1. Strengthening capacity of local governments and non-governmental stakeholders in citizen-centric governance
2. Strengthening communications, networking, and learning among government and non-governmental stakeholders to increase innovations that will amplify citizen voice and accountability in local governance; and
3. Ensuring wider adoption and/or institutionalization of successful local innovations that support citizen-centric governance.

POSITION DESCRIPTION/SUMMARY: The Government Liaison Specialist is responsible for supporting the Program Managers to achieve program outcomes related to managing adoption and institutionalization of successful local innovations in the North, Northeast and Deep South regions of Thailand.

The Specialist is also responsible for providing direct policy and advisory assistance to key Royal Thai Government (RTG) counterparts and support efforts to build the capacity of national government agencies to develop and implement a robust citizen-centric local governance system in Thailand.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide high-level technical guidance and direction on responsive local governance (primary).
• Establish and manage provincial and local government levels connections (primary).
  • Local government (Provincial Administrative Organizations, Sub-administrative Organizations, municipalities)
  • Ministry representatives in the province
• Help establish, build relationships, and manage national advisory committee (primary).
• Support the development of partnerships (secondary).
  • Work with USAID Enhance technical staff to develop relationships with partner organizations (universities, civil society organizations, etc.)
  • Support the identification of roles and responsibilities for partnerships.
• Facilitate horizontal communication and coordination among relevant local government organizations and supporting the strengthening of communications, networking, and learning among government and non-governmental stakeholders.
• Assist with strategic planning for known and potential regulatory and policy activities related to citizen-centric governance.
• Help identify entry points for further enhancing USAID Enhance-local government collaboration across different strategic areas pertaining to citizen-centric governance.
• Support local site selection (secondary). As USAID Enhance enlarges the number of partnerships with local government organizations, the GLS will support the final selection of new counterparts and support the Chief of Party (COP) in the strategy for early engagement.
  • Conduct stakeholder analysis and support in updating the Political and Economic Analyses for each of the three partner regions and national level.
  • Provide input for planning and designing co-creation workshops, including defining objectives, determining participants, garnering buy-in, and facilitating/leading relevant governance discussions.
  • Attend relevant meetings and working groups.
• Provide general technical support to staff and feedback on deliverables regarding working of Thai government processes and organizations. This may include, for example:
• Support the Annual Work Plan with specific programmatic recommendations—especially related to government systems, processes, institutions, policies—for achieving all USAID Enhance Objectives and Results.
• As requested by the COP, support, participate in, and provide leadership to USAID Enhance’s Technical Advisory Group and Provincial Implementation Committees, an important mechanism to ensure high-level buy-in with the RTG. Group members would include technical cooperation agencies as noted above as well as selected local experts. It would meet bi-annually and contribute to strategy testing sessions organized as part of adaptive management.
• Contribute to USAID Enhance’s risk management strategy by supporting the COP in periodic formal and informal progress assessments (collaborating, learning, and adapting [CLA]), and make programmatic recommendations. Stay current on the Activity’s complexity-aware monitoring indicators and its progress toward the indicators and targets in the Enhance Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in public administration or related field, advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience with public administration, local government, and community engagement in Thailand.
• Strong knowledge of the Thai legal and policy environment and system of local governance.
• Strong contacts and networks at all levels within the RTG.
• High degree of adaptability to varied working environments and good interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Fluent Thai language skills and working knowledge of English.
• Ability to work full-time in a dynamic work environment, with occasional travel to the North, Northeast, and Deep South regions.
• Proficiency in MS Office programs and Email.

Interested applicants are invited to send full resume indicating qualifications

and experience, and cover letter to: Recruitment@kenan-asia.org

Please kindly note that all applications will be stored in Kenan’s system for 1 year and will be kept strictly confidential.