TERMS OF REFERENCE
Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Title: Project Coordinator
Category: Special Service Agreement (SSA)
Duration: O1 May 2020 – 31st April 2023
Duty station: Mekong Institute HQ, Khon Kaen, Thailand
About Mekong Institute
Mekong Institute (MI) is an Intergovernmental Organization owned and operated by the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam and Yunnan province and Guangxi Autonomous Region of the People Republic of China) to promote regional development, cooperation and integration through capacity development programs and projects in three thematic areas on Agriculture Development and Commercialization, Trade and Investment Facilitation and Innovation and Technological Connectivity.
Background of the work
Mekong Institute with support from the Mekong –Republic of Korea (RoK) Cooperation Fund will be implementing a three year project on ‘Sustainable and Smart Tourism Development in the Mekong Region’. The project intends to promote human resource development to manage growing inbound tourism market through adoption of sustainable and smart tourism practices in the Mekong countries namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.
The main objective of the project is to introduce smart tourism and sharing economy concept based on more innovative and efficient use of endogenous cultural and natural resources and existing human capital. More specifically, the project aims to enhance capacities of the tourism related organizations in government, private sector and academe to promote sustainable tourism practices through new tools and techniques on smart tourism, exchanges and visits, information sharing and adoption of best practices.
The project seeks to
- create a pool of local experts to train skilled staff in hospitality enterprises and public sector officials responsible for tourism management.
- deepen cooperation among communities on business, social and personal level by creating joint tourism niches between the towns/municipalities in Mekong and Korea
- raise public sector official tourism management skills at the municipal level/provincial and country,
- promote exchanges and collaborations to preserve/conserve cultural and historic sites through MoUs/agreements for twin city development between Mekong and Korea on best practices, identify and initiate private public partnership models
- stimulate usage of ICT technology in tourism sector and adapt current business models to fit to latest trends
The three year project will deliver four key components:
- Korea-Mekong Hospitality Training & Mentoring
- Twinning of historical/cultural towns Between Korea and Mekong Countries tourist sites/towns
- Facilitating Smart Tourism Development in Mekong countries
- Monitoring and Evaluation
Scope of work
The Trade and Investment facilitation Department of Mekong Institute is seeking to recruit a Project Coordinator to assist the TIF team in the implementation of the project on ‘Sustainable and Smart Tourism Development in the Mekong Region. The Project Coordinator will work under the direct supervision of the Director, Trade & Investment Facilitation Department to deliver the project activities in collaboration with the Korean implementation partner.
Primary responsibility
The Project Coordinator will be responsible for assisting the Trade and Investment facilitation (TIF) team and MI in coordinating all activities (research, training, meetings, field visits etc.) related the project by working closely with the Korea Project partner and project stakeholders in the Mekong countries.
Specific duties:
- Liaise with relevant agencies and other project stakeholders in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand to implement the activities under the project.
- Coordinate with the TIF team, Project Consultants and Resource Person in delivering capacity building activities under the ‘Sustainable and Smart Tourism Development in the Mekong Region project.
- Assist the TIF team in organizing Project Technical Working Group meetings, training programs under the project.
- Follow up participant’s implementation of the action plans and liaise with stakeholders for smooth implementation of the project activities.
- Supervise training participants’ travel arrangement including arranging transport and accommodation, visas, as required, refunds of other travel costs.
- Work closely with MI finance department on financial reporting/progress of the project.
- Coordinate the arrangement of training facilities (e.g., room, equipment, materials)
- Prepare program proceedings (workshop report, minutes, pictures, etc.) and disseminate program documents after editing to participants and partner organizations.
- Ensure training notes, readings and course document are filed accurately for MI records, and coordinate with Communication & Knowledge Management Department (CKM) of MI on MI intranet, E-Learning, alumni database and other publicity materials.
- Prepare activity budget, activity-completion reports, evaluation report and post-training follow up activities in accordance with MI standard and/or as required by development partners.
- Establish and maintain good relationship with the MKCF focal points at MoFA in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, RoK and other project partners.
- Any other related tasks as assigned by the Director TIF and/or Executive Director of MI.
Period of engagement:
The duration of this position is three year with annual contract arrangement and the position is co terminus with the project duration. The candidate will be placed initially on probation for three months. On successful completion of the probation period, the services contract will be confirmed for nine months; the possibility of the contract extension is based on the performance of the staff and availability of fund. The termination of the contract may be done by either side by giving one month notice.
Reporting:
The Project Coordinator will be attached to the Trade and Investment facilitation Department of MI and will report directly to the Director, Trade and Investment Facilitation Department.
Salary
MI offers competitive salary. The staff is not entitled for any other MI regular staff benefits which are applicable to regular employees of MI. However, TA will be paid on tour and other holidays as admissible per MI rules under SSA contract. Non-Thai employees of MI are exempted from Thai income tax.
Qualifications:
- 25-40 years old
- Hold at least a Master Degree in tourism/ economics/ management/ international development.
- Good command in written and spoken English is essential.
- Experience in implementation of tourism related projects, coordination of capacity building project and liaison.
- At least five years of direct experience in international development area, including training, research, policy development, development project planning, implementation and monitoring
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural team and cooperate with team members
- Strong analytical skills and demonstrated interests in learning and self-improvement
- Advanced computer skills (i.e. Microsoft Office Package/Microsoft Project)
How to apply:
Interested candidates are requested to submit their application along with cover letter, updated CV mentioning experience in tourism development projects and a recent photograph by 22nd March, 2020 at hr@mekonginstitute.org. Only shortlisted candidates will contacted for interview/written test.
Closing Date : 19 April 2026 (11:59 PM, Bangkok Time)
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