Senior Specialist – Climate Adaptation Policy

Position description

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyze action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Adapting to impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security and economic growth. The work of the GCA elevates the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation and facilitates solutions, such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate-related threats. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam.

PROFILE

Join GCA as Senior Climate Adaptation Policy Specialist! You will play a vital role in GCA’s mission as a solutions broker in the field of climate adaptation by supporting GCA’s ongoing assistance to IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), which aims to provide affordable long-term financing to countries for undertaking reforms to reduce risks to prospective balance of payments stability, including those related to climate change and pandemic preparedness. You will also pro-actively support the team’s activities under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) and in South Asia, with a specific focus on analytics and transformative technical assistance on climate adaptation policies that accelerate and scale up climate adaptation.

You will have the opportunity to shape a climate resilient future for Africa and South Asia, by promoting and guiding integration of climate adaptation into national policy reforms, public financial management approaches, and investments by cultivating close collaboration with IMF, national governments, and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

We value diversity and inclusivity, offering a supportive and empowering work environment for all team members.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Climate Adaptation Policy Specialist will support GCA’s technical assistance to the IMF in preparation and implementation of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) and drive the agenda on climate adaptation and resilience becoming an integral part of macro-economic and human development policy reform agendas.

You will report to GCA’s Water and Urban Team Lead under the oversight of the Director of Programs. The responsibilities of this role will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Program Management

• Support the highly innovative and transformative technical assistance projects on national-level policy dialogues for identifying, developing, and implementing policy and public financial management (PFM) measures to scale up and accelerate climate adaptation.
• Foster strong partnerships with IMF task teams, high-level government officials, and other relevant RSF stakeholders which are working on economic and human development policies and PFM.
• Represent GCA in relevant high-level meetings and contribute to GCA’s climate adaptation mission.
• Oversee the procurement of external expertise (individual consultants, firms) and implementation of their work.

Business Development

• Support the development of a pipeline of technical assistance projects in close collaboration with IMF task team leads and managers.

Knowledge Management

• Develop analytical work that conceptualizes and communicates the linkages between climate risks, macro-economics and economic sectors, and human development with policies and PFM.
• Lead the preparation of knowledge products (e.g. policy briefs, news stories, reports) on GCA activities, in line with recent developments and trends in climate adaptation.
• Quality assure knowledge products and other outputs from external experts.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in development studies, macro-economics, public administration, development policy, climate adaptation, climate finance, or a related field.
• A minimum of 12 years of experience working on policy development, public financial management, and climate change.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in working in Africa with international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, or other International Financial Institutions. (Experience in Asia is considered to be of additional advantage.)
• Hands-on experience working on climate adaptation policies and/or adaptation finance with national-level stakeholders.
• Proven track record of developing high quality knowledge products.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English, with French being of significant advantage, backed by an ability to articulate complex ideas into clear outputs to effectively engage key stakeholders at different political, strategic, and technical levels – senior local and national government officials, representatives of IFIs, implementation partners, and so on.
• Willingness to travel to project locations in Africa or Asia, at least 4 to 5 times a year for the duration of at least one week (tentatively).
• Demonstrable experience in procurement and contract management of advisory services.

Desired competencies, mindset, and values

• Skilled at navigating complex and sensitive partnerships and international environments.
• Effectively collaborates in multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams, and in multiple locations.
• Resolves disagreements constructively and diplomatically with a positive approach.
• Able to work under tight deadlines in a team setting while maintaining an empowering and solutions-oriented approach.
• Committed to improve people’s lives through climate adaptation.

A sense of humor is always a great asset but is not a requirement.
 

Application instructions

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