Terms of Reference
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT – ECO-GUIDE V2 PUBLICATION
The Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality & Catering (ASSET-H&C) is a network that brings together vocational training centers willing to work hand in hand to better fulfill their common social mission: bringing positive change in the lives of youth from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, through training and professional integration in hospitality & catering. To reduce the social and economic barriers that prevent students from accessing and completing their training, ASSET-H&C members provide an annual total of more than 1400 youths with training that usually includes free accommodation, food, and health care. The network was launched in 2016 and consists of 13 members in four countries (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam).
Published in 2018 as a collaboration between the EXO Foundation, the IECD, and the ASSET-H&C network, the Eco-Guide V1 was designed as a practical guide for hotel partners in Southeast Asia (SEA) willing to apply sustainable best practices in their daily operations. The publication also gained recognition from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and was featured on their webpage[1] dedicated to responsible recovery in the tourism sector. The publication was translated into five different languages: Burmese, Khmer, Thai, English, and Vietnamese to ensure broader reach in the SEA region.
Building on the strong foundation established by Eco-Guide V1, the upcoming V2 will take a more actionable and human-focused approach by showcasing in-depth case studies with concrete tips and real-life impact results, specifically in the context of Southeast Asia. The Eco-Guide V2 diversifies its reach by engaging a wider range of stakeholders, including hotels, guesthouses, F&B businesses, and hospitality professionals at various levels. It serves as an “Eco-Compass” tailored specifically to the Southeast Asian hospitality context, with an expert guiding the audience through general sustainability recommendations and directing them to the right tools and resources for their regional needs in each case study. Detailed case studies showcasing successful sustainability initiatives from hotels across Southeast Asia will provide actionable steps that readers can implement immediately. At the same time, human stories will offer deeper insights to inspire all stakeholders not just in the region, but around the world.
To do so, ASSET-H&C is looking for a technical expert willing to get involved in a meaningful social project.
MAIN TASKS
By fulfilling these key responsibilities, the Eco-Guide V2 Expert will play a pivotal role in transforming the guide into a practical, impactful, and accessible resource that empowers hospitality professionals to adopt and implement sustainable practices in their operations. The expert’s role is crucial in developing an approachable narrative and comprehensive framework for the guide.
| Main tasks | Deliverables | Timeline |
| Develop Approachable Narrative
· Conduct a thorough landscape analysis to identify the important angles and the state-of-the-art techniques within 5 key themes that are most relevant and pressing for hospitality stakeholders in Southeast Asia. · Develop the Eco-Guide vision and approachable narrative for the V2 Eco-Guide in Southeast Asian context. · Craft a compelling introduction by outlining its objectives, target audience, and the key sustainability challenges it aims to address.
|
A written introduction and conclusion for the Guide
|
1st Sep 2024
|
| Map Hotel Partners and Case Studies:
· Outline the specific criteria used for selecting the hotel partners and map them out. · Determine the most impactful editorial sequence and structure for the case studies, ensuring they build a cohesive narrative and showcase a variety of sustainability initiatives. · Collaborate with partners and different stakeholders to pre-identify and validate content.
|
Comprehensive framework | 30th Sep 2024 |
| Develop Accessible Approach for Case Studies:
· Establish a comprehensive framework to guide the interview and testimony-gathering process, ensuring the information collected is relevant, consistent, and truly reflective of the hotel partners’ sustainability journeys. · Prepare a set of questionnaires that elicit detailed, insightful responses from the hotel partners, covering topics such as the drivers behind their sustainability initiatives, the challenges they faced, the key lessons learned, and the measurable impacts achieved. · Synthesize all the collected data to develop a set of actionable recommendations. · Link each case study to relevant resources, such as industry reports, implementation tools, research, etc… to provide comprehensive references and support materials.
|
– Questionnaires, and interview guidance for case studies
– A list of valuable resources relevant to each case study – A list of actionable recommendations
|
30th Nov 2024 |
| Review and Refine Content:
· Coordinate with the team to design an accessible approach for each case study that uses plain language, visual aids, and practical examples to make the content engaging and easy to understand for a wide range of hospitality professionals. · Thoroughly review the entire V2 Eco-Guide content to ensure it is comprehensive, coherent, and fully aligned with the project objectives. · then conclude the strategy with a succinct summary that encourages readers to actively engage with the guide and implement the recommended practices.
|
Refined content of the final V2 Eco-Guide | 30th Jan 2025 |
Contributing to the promotion and dissemination of the Eco-Guide V2, including:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF THE TECHNICAL PROJECT EXPERT
| Education: | At a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Sustainability Study, Environmental Science, or a related field. |
| Experience: | 8 – 10 years of working experience in the Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism field. Strong networking in SEA in this industry and partnership-building skills would be a plus. |
| Language: | Fluency in English (speaking, reading and writing). |
LOCATION AND CONDITIONS
Location: Online and based in Asia/ Southeast Asia countries as plus
Starting Date: as soon as possible
Consultant service: paid contract for 06 – 07 months.
The benefit package: depends on the expert profile which is negotiable
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your Resume, Cover Letter and/or Portfolio to ha.phan@iecd.org
[1] Eco-Guide for Hospitality Businesses and Schools in Mekong Region (unwto.org)
LinkedIn 
Facebook