Country Engagement Specialist, NDC Partnership Support Unit

Job Summary:

In this role, you will support the Country Engagement Team within the NDC Partnership in francophone countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region. As part of the Partnership’s Country Engagement process, you will engage directly with ministries and other stakeholders to assess climate-related needs and identify opportunities for collaboration around these needs—across sectors, regions, and international partners. You will provide targeted and coordinated technical assistance, along with members of the Partnership support countries. For example, policy and strategy formulation for NDC mainstreaming, development of NDC implementation plans and resource mobilization, NDC revision and enhancement, or green economic recovery post-pandemic.

This position can be based in either our Hague or London office.

Job Responsibilities:

Job Responsibilities Research, Analysis & Engagement (60%)

• Under the supervision of the Regional Manager, lead:
• The development of country engagement plans (Partnership Plans/NDC Implementation Plans ), target setting, action planning, and performance tracking, including designing tools, guidance documents, and training materials.
• Exchanges with NDC Partnership focal points, other government officials, and implementing partners. o The organization of technical and high-level workshops (Partnership Plan consultations, review and assessment meetings, and launches).
• Formal communication between country, intuitional and associate members of the Partnership (i.e. circulation of country requests for support, consolidated partner responses, or Partnership Plan circulation).
• Conduct related in-depth analysis to support scoping, results reporting, and updating Rapid Situational Assessments on a regular basis.
• Support, or even lead under direction, efforts to strategically link NDC Partnership knowledge products with in-country engagement efforts.
• Support, or even lead under direction, exchanges and fund mobilization between the Support Unit and institutional or developed country members.
• Represent the country engagement team in external meetings and workshops contributing to country mission planning, and provide innovative ideas, strategies, and input with minimal supervision.
• Contribute to or lead other relevant NDC Partnership initiative or programme.

 Reporting/ad HOC (30%)

• Developing reporting materials for Institutional Members and Development Partners on country engagement progress, such as updates on the development Partnership Plans, implementing partner mobilization, and other country requests.
• Developing and maintaining tools to streamline internal processes of the SU, involving contributions to Monday boards, archiving and updating of Drobox and SharePoint folders.

 Communications & Administrative (10%)

• Organizing internal and external meetings, workshops, conferences and other dissemination activities (COPs, Peer-to-peer exchanges, regional meetings)
• Support the development and/or maintenance of content related to country engagement on NDC Partnership and affiliated websites.
• Develop and co-author blog posts, presentations deck, infographics, brochures, and other online and offline communications materials.
• Facilitate coordination among Support Unit teams, including Washington D.C office, Bonn office, and regionally based managers.
• Liaising with external partners and WRI/UNFCCC colleagues across programs and countries
• Supervise in-country consultants, and interns as requested

Job Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international relations, international development, economics, finance, or a related field, or bachelor’s degree with an additional two+ years of relevant work experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in international cooperation and/or project management related matters focused on the target region as well as experience with other bilateral and multilateral donors, consulting, research institutions, think tanks and other civil society actors is an advantage
• Proficiency in English and French are required. Further language skills are an asset (Arabic and German in particular)
• Good knowledge of international climate policy, international cooperation in the field of climate, environment or energy policy
• Demonstrated skills in building effective relationships with government officials from both developed and developing countries and navigating the complexities of working across the whole of government, including in countries with limited institutional capacity
• Demonstrated skills in managing and aligning diverse groups of stakeholders, including development agencies, non-state actors/civil society, financial institutions, the private sector, and others
• Strong project planning and management skills
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills in French and English.
• High level of organization, flexibility, ability to work in a team, to work well under pressure and successfully manage multiple deadlines and competing demands

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with cover letter. Resume and cover letter must be submitted in English to be considered. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. 

Program Overview:

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition that works with national governments, international institutions and civil society, to fast-track climate and development action. To date, the Partnership’s membership is at 193 members and growing, including 114 countries, 43 institutions, and 36 associate members. Through the Partnership, members leverage their resources and expertise to provide countries with the tools they need to implement their NDCs in order to combat climate change and build a better future. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

These historic accords presented countries with an unprecedented opportunity to align the climate and sustainable development agendas to spur economic growth and improve the livelihoods of all people. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (or NDCs) – each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resiliency against the negative effects of a changing climate. One of the unique value propositions that the NDC Partnership brings through its in-country work is leveraging the support from a consortium of partners towards a common objective set by the government.

WRI Overview:

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean.

We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.
 
We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $150 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of 1,000+ people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.  

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.