Swisscontact Vacancy Announcement for Project Officer

Swisscontact is an independent non-profit development organisation established in 1959 by representatives of the Swiss private sector and civil society. Our development work focuses on private sector-led, sustainable economic development with improved quality of life for all in developing and emerging countries. A key focus is to strengthen the skills of individuals and foster the competitiveness of businesses.

Swisscontact, registered as an International Non-Governmental Organisation in Nepal, has been operating in Nepal since1991. Currently, Swisscontact Nepal has six development programmes across all seven provinces, with a wellfunctioning country office that employs over 145 staff members.

The primary goal of the DIGO project is to create additional jobs and income in the tourism sector while generating positive environmental impacts. The project intends to achieve the desired goals by supporting enterprises in selected tourism destinations in Gandaki Province to transition towards more sustainable practices and products and supporting enablers to strengthen destination planning for sustainable tourism.

To do so, Swisscontact will carry out activities across two interlinked intervention areas that results in strengthened sustainable tourism offer and competitiveness of the selected destination and the tourism enterprises.

•  Intervention Area (IA) 1: Destination Assessment and Policy and Planning Support
•  Intervention Area (IA) 2: Strengthening Capacities for Sustainable Tourism.

IA 1 follows Swisscontact’s Sustainable Tourism Destination Management (STDM) approach to strengthen local capacity in tourism destination governance. The structured approach through its collaborative process in assessing tourism destinations and visitor behaviour culminates in tourism stakeholders gaining a shared and improved understanding of opportunities and challenges in their destinations and subsequently allowing them to develop and implement appropriate actions.

IA 2 focuses on building the capacities and supporting local communities and the private sector to transition to more sustainable practices and products in tourism. DIGO will support mainly accommodation enterprises to launch and promote innovative business models, products, and practices centred around sustainable tourism. It will also work with training service providers to provide sustainable tourism and green skills training for key occupations in the accommodation sector.

Project Officer

Location: Pokhara (with frequent travel to project areas)
Reports to: Manager – Private Sector Development
Time: 100% (8 hours a day and 5 days a week)
Duration: One year with the possibility of extension

Purpose of the Job

The Project Officer is responsible for to provide support to programme team as required to ensure delivery of project interventions as required by DIGO.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

•  Support in the identification and selection of project partners and beneficiaries in line with project objectives.
• Support in design and implementation of interventions including meeting with potential partners, identifying support areas, and developing work plans and budget.
• Assist in identification of technical assistance service providers. Develop terms of reference and monitor outputs.
• Support in day-to-day monitoring of project activities ensuring quality control.
• Coordinate and liaise with project implementing partner and wider ecosystem actors including public stakeholders for delivery of outputs.
•  As required provide technical support to local communities, partners, and stakeholders on strengthening their tourism offer.
• Support in organizing workshops and conducting assessments.
• Contribute to periodic progress reports.
• Support in developing research, learning, and communication collaterals.
• Complying with the Project Manual and other relevant requirements of Swisscontact.
• Carry out other tasks as determined relevant by the line manager.

Key Competencies

• Bachelor’s in management, economics, development studies, rural development or in other relevant fields in tourism.
• At least 3 years of relevant work experience working with the private sector and/or in tourism.
•  Advanced communication skill in both English and Nepali (verbal and written).
• Willingness to take on new assignments at short notice.
•  Excellent negotiation skills.
•  Ability and willingness to work in a team to deliver high quality outputs within deadlines in a dynamic and fast‐ paced work environment.
•  Willingness and ability to travel.

Conditions and Environment

•  In accordance with the Swisscontact Finance and Operations Manual.

Application Procedure

Please submit online Job Application Form by clicking the link below.

Job Application Form Project Officer Pokhara

The deadline for submission of the application is February 4, 2025.

Swisscontact will not entertain any phone enquiries or other such solicitations for these positions. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the selection process. Swisscontact reserves the right to reject any and all applications.

Swisscontact is an equal opportunity employer. Women and applicants from disadvantaged groups are encouraged
to apply.