Communication Officer, RECOFTC Lao PDR

Deadline for application: 10 October 2026

RECOFTC is an international nonprofit organization working towards a future where resilient communities with respected rights thrive in forest landscapes that they manage sustainably and equitably. We take a long-term, landscape-based and inclusive approach to supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods and foster gender equality. With almost 40 years of experience, we have built trusting relationships with partners from communities, governments, businesses, academia and civil society organizations. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and achieve the UN Global Goals.

We operate in the Asia-Pacific region, with country offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam.

RECOFTC Lao PDR has been supporting the Government of Lao PDR in advancing the forestry sector and implementing various forestry programmes for over a decade. The focus has been on village forestry and associated programmes, empowering women, local communities, ethnic groups, and other stakeholders to manage their forests sustainably and build resilience to climate change. This work supports environmental conservation, livelihood improvement, private sector engagement and social equity. We provide technical assistance, capacity-building and facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues to support inclusive and participatory forest governance in Lao PDR.

Project background

RECOFTC is implementing the “Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Carbon Emissions” (EnABLE) project in Lao PDR, funded by a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank. The project aims to enhance the inclusion of target populations, particularly women and ethnic groups living in selected remote villages, in receiving carbon and non-carbon benefits from the Lao PDR Emissions Reduction Programme and its Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP). The project will support and complement the ongoing World Bank-funded Governance, Forest Landscape and Livelihoods (GFLL) project, which is being implemented by the Department of Forestry (DoF), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAF). The project will run until December 2027.

RECOFTC Lao PDR invites applications for the position of Communication Officer based in Vientiane Capital. The contract is issued on an annual basis, with the possibility of extension subject to annual performance assessment and includes a three-month probationary period. The appointment is expected to begin in October/November 2026.

Specific tasks and duties

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic communication plan for EnABLE Project
• Lead and provide support to the project in developing, packaging and disseminating communication materials in accordance with the communication plan, visibility guidelines and requirements of donor and partners, including liaising with relevant communication focal points and the regional office to ensure the required procedures are followed
• Work closely with the project’s Communication Consultant to produce information, education and communication materials and training tools base on the consultant agreement such as brochures, banners, newsletters, postcards, VDOs, guidelines in English, Lao and ethnic languages. These should follow RECOFTC branding and donor branding requirements
• Oversee the translation of knowledge products including press releases and other content from English to Lao (and vice versa) and where possible, ethnic languages, for the approval of the Deputy Country Director and Country Director
• In consultation with the project team, develop and maintain an online repository (SharePoint, website) of relevant communication materials including training manuals, policy briefs, project reports, blogs by project staff and photos and videos of key events and project activities
• Support the project team in writing/editing case studies and policy briefs, reports, documenting lessons learned and best practices
• Coordinate the printing and production of communication and visibility materials
• Visit project sites to document activities, gather photos, write stories of change and other evidence and compile them to effectively communicate the project impact to donors and other key stakeholders
• Collect and summarize weekly/monthly news articles on community forestry, livelihoods and related topics and share them with the country team and regional office
• Write and share stories on MyRECOFTC and EnABLE Website
• Ensure that communication and training materials promote Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) and that GESI is well integrated into RECOFTC Lao’s LCP communication and activities
• Maintain information and knowledge sharing among partners and stakeholders through SharePoint and social media platforms based on the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
• Support RECOFTC Lao in facilitating workshops, meetings, trainings, learning events, dialogues and exchanges
• Ensure that knowledge management within RECOFTC Lao works effectively
• Perform other tasks assigned by the Project Coordinator and the Deputy Country Director

Qualifications and experience

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in communication, journalism, forestry, environment, social development or a related field
• At least five years of work experience in communication on environmental, forestry, natural resource or social development issues in Lao PDR
• Solid experience in implementing communication activities and events, such as community outreach, exhibitions, campaigns and managing social media and websites
• Experience in developing communication products, materials and tools by using graphic design software such as Canva or equivalent.
• Proficiency in digital and multimedia tools for communication and outreach, including social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube)
• Strong written and oral communication skills in Lao and English, including the ability to produce clear, concise materials for diverse audiences and to coordinate or facilitate translation into ethnic languages of EnABLE communities
• Understanding of gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) principles and their application in communication and MEL activities
• Lao national

Desirable

• Understanding and willingness to promote gender equity and social inclusion (GESI)
• Experience in communication and visibility requirements for different kinds of donor funded projects
• Experience working with national or local media and public relations
• Effective training and facilitation skills, especially in fostering participatory processes with adult learners and community groups
• Commitment to knowledge sharing and continuous learning in a collaborative environment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills with the ability to work effectively both independently and as an active team member, demonstrating flexibility and openness to different perspectives

RECOFTC’s core values

At RECOFTC, our core values are the foundation of our culture and guide all our work. In addition to job specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics, attitudes and skills:

• Embrace innovation
• Adapt to and learn from challenges
• Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
• Commit to sustainability
• Cultivate participation, gender equality and social inclusion
• Prioritize well-being

Commitment to RECOFTC policies and procedures

At RECOFTC, we uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and responsibility in all our operations. Our policies and guidelines are designed to ensure a safe, inclusive, sustainable and ethical environment for our staff, partners, consultants and the communities we serve.

All consultants, staff and contractors engaged by RECOFTC are required to comply with RECOFTC’s policies and procedures while performing their roles with RECOFTC

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV and a cover letter. The cover letter should clearly outline the candidate’s suitability for the position, include salary expectations and provide current contact details of three referees, including recent supervisors.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. RECOFTC offers a competitive compensation package.

For more information about RECOFTC, please visit our website at https://www.recoftc.org/

RECOFTC is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, colour, marital status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by RECOFTC's values and code of conduct. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified disabled applicants to participate in the application process. If you require special accommodation, please inform RECOFTC's Human Resources in writing at the time of application. The successful candidate will be selected based on merit. RECOFTC strongly encourages women and members of Indigenous and or ethnic groups to apply.