Regional Senior Climate Change Expert at World Resources Institute (WRI)

About the job

Job Summary:

WRI is recruiting a WRI secondee position to the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The person in this role will be stationed at the Netherlands Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. The initial contract is for 3 years with a possibility to extend.

Job Responsibilities:

You will lead on the following tasks:

Strategic, analytical and advisory functions (50%)

• Provide expert analysis and advice on environment and climate across policy themes for the next round of Multi-Annual Country Strategies of the MFA, in close consultation with relevant local and international partners
• Proactively and on-demand advise and support staff of the embassies and central departments about practical ways of integrating environment and climate adaptation and mitigation into programs and projects with the aim to promote sustainable development
• Advise on climate risk assessment, allocation of climate policy markers, results frameworks and other tools for improving the quantity of climate finance and quality of climate integration into programs
• Provide technical advice on the development of new embassy and central programs on integration of climate adaptation and mitigation, including input to drafting of ToRs, assessment of proposals and joining monitoring and country team visits with policy officers
• Assist embassies and departments in developing effective climate diplomacy strategies at multilateral or bilateral levels and across climate-related thematic areas
• Work with local partners and networks in identifying ways to translate ambition into action and by doing so contributing that the climate diplomacy takes the on the ground lessons into account.

Training and capacity development (25%)

• Create a learning environment to identify and share key challenges, risks and opportunities with regard to environment and climate for colleagues across departments and embassies and including the range of policy themes
• Conduct training and learning sessions at annual thematic coming home days, regional learning journeys, Ambassadors and Heads of Development Cooperation conferences. Where necessary, provide bespoke training and capacity development to specific staff and/or embassies
• Provide inputs to the Climate mainstreaming Tool Box
• Liaise with existing and new knowledge institutions in the area of climate (including WRI, IIED, Red Cross Climate Centre, UNEP and others) and development partners (EU, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, UK, US, multilateral development banks, UN agencies and others) and ensure lessons learned in academic and research institutions as well as by other donors related to climate integration and climate diplomacy are translated into MFA policy measures and, where possible, into concrete instruments for policy officers.

Communication and engagement (25%)

• Network with local partners and networks to ensure and monitor local input
• Share the results and experiences at international conferences and via international media and relevant international knowledge exchange platforms
• Strengthen the relationship between MFA and WRI, by identifying and realizing synergies between WRI and MFA and inputting into annual consultations and other bilateral meetings.

Job Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience (climate change, adaptation)
• Experience of working in a developing country, preferably in Africa
• MSc level qualification in relevant subject
• Extensive network in the international development sector
• Experience in designing, implementing or evaluating development projects desirable
• Strong analytical and writing skills incl. translating technical information into plain language, developing briefings etc.
• Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills: ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders (governments, civil society, academia, private sector etc.)
• Pro-active and strong organizational skills: ability to set priorities, manage your time effectively and help drive projects to completion
• Genuine team spirit and experience working with multicultural teams (intercultural sensitivity)
• Proven track record in building and deepening strategic relations and networks, strong networking and cooperation skills
• Ability to adapt quickly to new environments and interdisciplinary subjects.