View Vacancy – Forest and Climate Officer

Main purpose of job:

To drive forward and maximise the potential of the Forest and Land Use programmes of the International Climate Fund (ICF) in Colombia. To ensure the effective delivery of UK’s investments in the forest agenda. To work under the Forest & Land Use Team in BEIS, and collaborate closely with other relevant ICF and non-ICF teams in the Embassy and in London, to ensure the coherence of the forest and land use investments.

The UK International Climate Fund (ICF) is a £5.8bn portfolio of Official Development Assistance activity (covering the period 2016-21) which includes innovative private sector pilot projects and innovative financial approaches to shift conditions and perceptions of risk in investments in low carbon activities in developing countries, including support to implement National Determined Contributions (NDCs, as agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015) through meaningful policy frameworks and investable plans that provide a credible pipeline of projects for investors.

The UK Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has £2bn of international climate finance to support mitigation activities. The Forest and Land Use Portfolio develops different flagship programmes in Colombia to support its NDC implementation and deforestation reduction, including:

1. Amazon Vision: Colombian strategy that seeks to reach zero net deforestation in the Amazon region by 2020. This goal will be reached through five pillars: environmental governance, the sustainability of the sectors of development, agri-environmental activities, indigenous governance and enabling conditions.

2. BioCarbon Fund (ORINOCO2): it promotes the reduction of greenhouse gases caused by the agricultural and forestry sector in developing countries, and the growth of best land use and sustainable agricultural policies and practices. In Colombia it focuses in the Orinoquía region.

3. Sustainable Cattle-Ranching Project: it seeks to reduce effective greenhouse gas emissions, improve the living conditions of small rural producers, protect the local forests and increase biodiversity in cattle-ranching farms, promoting silvopastoral systems.

4. Partnerships for Forests – P4F: an initiative that seeks to catalyse investments where the public and private sectors, civil society and local communities can achieve a shared profit of sustainable forest management and its derivative uses.

5. Territorios Forestales Sostenibles – TEFOS: it seeks to support the Colombian government in the implementation of the multipurpose cadastre, tackle environmental crime and provide sustainable economic alternatives; aiming to reduce deforestation in conflict-affected areas.

6. Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 – Colombia Chapter: global public-private partnership in which partners take voluntary actions, individually and collectively, to reduce tropical deforestation associated with the productive chains of raw materials like palm oil, soy, beef, and paper pulp. The UK participates in this platform as a founding member of the Colombia chapter.

7. Green bucket of the UK-COL Partnership for Sustainable Growth: UK is supporting the Colombian government to halt and reduce deforestation, while enforcing and environmental rule of law.  

This position is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of a growing area of UK-Colombia collaboration. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the Forest and Land Use Team in effective delivery of the programmes and strategic thinking for forward planning to continue to position the UK as a key partner in Colombia, and the forest agenda as a key political issue. The role will also support the International Climate Fund programming for Colombia to make a

successful transition to a low carbon economy in line with its NDC, and engaging external stakeholders including UK and Colombian government agencies, private sector institutions, think-tanks, academics and NGOs, among other relevant stakeholders.

The role will report to the Head of ICF Forest & Land Use Programmes in the British Embassy, working closely with Political, Security, Economic, Prosperity and International Trade colleagues across the Embassy, as well as liaising with other relevant FCO sections, to ensure successful delivery of the Partnership and whole ICF portfolio.

This position is advertised on a fixed-term basis for one (1) year. Subject to confirmation of future funding, it is expected that the position could be extended.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

Forest & Land Use (85%)

• To support the Forests and Land Use Team in local oversight of specific ICF programmes as required. To support the implementation phase of a major new climate investment in the forest sector in Colombia, and support UK’s COP26 strategy for the F&LU sector for Colombia.
• Lead the strategic communications of the Forest and Land Use portfolio of the ICF in Colombia.

Policy advocacy (10%)

• Working closely with political, climate & biodiversity policy, prosperity, trade and communications colleagues, to maximise impact of the Forest and Land Use portfolio. This will include building relationships, and lobbying when required, with political and technical level contacts in government, sub-national authorities (cities, states, provinces), representatives of businesses, academia and civil society
• To support the London-based HMG colleagues on engagement with Colombia in the Forest and Land Use agenda, on local sensitivities and how to respond to Colombia’s priorities in this portfolio.
• To manage Ministerial and official visits from the UK related to the Partnership and related climate events in Colombia. To plan and advise on visit agendas, coordinate with media colleagues, and support/lead specific events.

Management/Corporate (5%)

• To play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy, including where relevant as a member of Embassy committees (crisis, L&D, Brilliant Bogota) to maximise the overall well-being of staff.
• To manage administrative tasks as required within the Economic, Climate & Science Team, and actively to participate in meetings and briefings of relevance to the role.
• To carry out other tasks as required by Embassy senior management.

Essential on arrival:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, for instance, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Relations, Climate and Environment Science etc., or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of two years of experience working in a strong, collaborative team environment for an organisation in a relevant field, for example, working for/with national or regional government, international organisations or agencies, preferably in climate change.
• Strong record of delivering international climate change policy and programming, with relevant experience including from university and/or preferably from previous professional work experience.
• Strong background and track record of success in programme management and strategic communications.
• Experience of negotiation ideally around climate or environmental issues.
• Well-developed organisational, policy and influencing skills, especially in forest and land use issues. Wide network of contacts with a relevant climate stakeholders both internally and externally: national and local government, private sector, NGOs.
• Experience of managing diverse and senior level relationships.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people both orally and in writing; good judgement to inform decisions and provide advice.
• Ability to research, organise and analyse facts and data, and the ability to turn them into compelling presentations.
• Sound judgement and ability to determine work priorities, work methods and budget allocations.

Must have the legal status to live and work in Colombia

Language requirements:

Language: Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish.

Level of language required: minimum level required C2 (under the CEFRL or equivalent).