Climate Change Expert at CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International)

THE ROLE:

• CABI is committed to increasing the use of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, tools, and technologies among smallholder farmers. This will be delivered through improved training opportunities, bespoke communications campaigns, digital advisory, and decision-support tools, technological innovation in plant health products, and entrepreneurship support for women and youth.
• The Climate Change Expert, Africa, will work to develop and implement CSA-focused activities in Africa, for instance, through the PlantwisePlus programme. The job holder must have strong experience in delivering CSA projects with low-income communities in Africa and support the uptake of CSA practices and technologies among risk-averse and low-income stakeholders.
• The job holder will work in the Climate Change Department and with other CABI colleagues around the world, to support the technical implementation of CSA interventions, building on CABI’s core skills in pest and disease management, natural sciences research, development communications, and ecosystem management. The Change Expert will also support the Climate Change Manager and regional teams to implement the CABI MTS goal on climate change and support the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Team to track climate impacts across the organization.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

•  Support the implementation of the CABI MTS goal on climate change and support the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
• Team to track climate impacts in Africa-related projects/programmes;
•  Lead the in-country stakeholder engagement processes in Africa (such as CABI member countries, but not only) and identify country needs for the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);
•  Lead the technical implementation of CSA objectives and related activities in the PlantwisePlus global programme, across Africa;
•  Engage and collaborate with a wide range of in-country stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, public & private sector advisory services, agro-input suppliers, and smallholder farmers to identify practices for implementation;
•  Contribute to developing new partnerships to help CABI deliver its climate resilience and adaptation aims in its 2023-2025 MTS, and engagement in relevant networks and alliances
•  Support the identification of climate funding mechanisms and support the development of new climate change projects and programmes across CABI’s international development teams, in close collaboration with CABI’s Project Development Group
•  Provide technical input and support in exploring under-analyzed and; emerging areas of adaptation, and support robust adaptation monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning;
•  Contribute to the publication of scientific research on climate adaptation and resilience in scientific, peer-reviewed journals;
•  Collaborate with CABI’s communications team to highlight key successes and highlights from project/programme implementation in Africa;
•  Ensure adherence to CABI policies and procedures, including HR and health and safety requirements, financial and project management procedures, and IPR procedures.

ABOUT YOU:

•  Master’s degree related to climate change mitigation and adaption
•  At least 5 years of experience in climate change adaptation, food security, sustainable development, or other relevant technical experience;
•  Demonstrated technical knowledge in climate smart agriculture; digital advisory tools; and extension/advisory communications campaigns;
•  Demonstrated understanding of project-level monitoring, evaluation, and learning methodologies for CSA;
•  Experience working with agricultural stakeholders in Africa;
•  Ability to communicate key findings and insight to project partners;
•  Experience conducting business development and project proposals;
•  Fluency in English is essential.
•  Fluency in at least one other language would be an advantage.
•  Excellent understanding of adaptation and resilience options in smallholder agriculture value chains in Africa;
•  Strong experience in delivering CSA interventions and communication campaigns with smallholder farmers and supporting services;
•  Experience of working with agricultural SMEs, farm cooperatives, and community-based organisations in Africa;
•  Experience in supporting CSA technology adoption by agricultural SMEs;
•  Experience in digital innovation and human-centered design principles;
•  Understanding of integrated pest management approaches and interlinkagesbetween climate change and biodiversity;
•  Experience in developing proposals for CSA projects is desirable.
•  Willingness to travel to project implementation locations, international meetings, or stakeholder events, and to CABI projects, programmes, and offices worldwide.

Personal attributes

•  Capacity to be a team member, to operate across organizational boundaries, and maintain a resilient, positive, and results-focused mindset in a dynamic environment;
•  Ability to work well in a multicultural environment;
•  Flexible and creative in planning and problem-solving.
•  Demonstrated facilitation skills;
•  Resourceful and able to develop and implement strategies to achieve outputs and outcomes;
•  Strategic thinker able to connect with the organisation’s mission and vision;