Climate Change Specialist – Asia

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

This is a national position and this position is eligible to work from any location in Asia where IRC is registered.

Job Overview/Summary

Climate change continues to negatively impact the Asia Region. This affects Asia regional growth trajectory and the socio-economic opportunities people may otherwise enjoy. Building resilience to climate change has featured in the national dialogue and political commitments for over a decade in almost all the countries in the region. Recognized as an acute challenge for Asia, Governments and partners have committed to mainstream climate action in their planning and delivery. Despite all these efforts, Asia continues to account for large-scale climate change impacts. Just under half of all disasters globally between 2000-2017 occurred in the Asia-Pacific region, and this area also accounts for 85% of global disaster-affected people. In 2016 alone, disasters in the Asia-Pacific region resulted in 5,000 fatalities, 35 million affected people, and $77 billion USD in damage. IRC is committed to prioritizing climate change action including reducing the climate impact of our operations, reducing the impact of climate risks on communities and clients we serve, and strengthening the resilience of populations we work. We are looking for a Climate Change Specialist who can guide this work systematically across Asia while also contributing to the evidence base on what works to minimize climate risks.

IRC’s Strategy 100 plan includes climate priority to build the climate resilience of 10,000 communities in 10 countries by 2030.

I. Asia Regional Program

The climate change Specialist will be supporting at least five countries across Asia – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand. Each countries has a variety of climate change programmes and priorities. The Climate Change Specialist Asia will be responsible for working closely with counterparts in the IRC country offices and/or regional teams – including a designated climate focal point for the Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan country offices, and the Deputy Director of Programs for Myanmar and Thailand – to provide technical support to the countries based on their needs and priorities. IRC Asia country programmes have started developing their respective climate change strategies based on their Strategy Action Plans. Climate Change Specialist, Asia will provide technical guidance to the country programmes to finalize and implement these climate strategies.

Major Responsibilities

The Asia Climate Change Specialist will be responsible for both mitigation and adaptation actions. Specific duties include:

Technical and strategic support to finalize the country climate change strategies.

• Review and update existing climate change strategy as necessary. Ensure county climate change strategies are in line with national climate change and adaptation plan, donor climate change strategies and community priorities.

• Work closely with technical Specialists (Health, protection, ERD etc), climate resilience specialist and climate change Specialist to ensure their technical input are included into the country strategy.

• Socialize the country climate change strategies with Asia regional leadership, country SMT and partners.

• Design DRR, locally led adaptation and resilience strategies in consultation with the country progemmes. Document the best practices and share it widely with the country programme and regional team.

• Work with Technical Advisors on global research and learning initiatives. Work closely with Technical Advisors for their engagement in the implementation of the climate strategies, as necessary and relevant.

Lead the implementation of IRC Asia regional Go Green Initiative

The Specialist will work closely with the country offices in the implementation of Go Green Initiatives defined by each country office which include:

• Work closely with the DDO’s and sustainability senior Specialist, net zero climate action to develop comprehensive carbon emission baseline for IRC offices in Asia. This will include provide training to staff in the country programme on carbon emission calculation, develop methodology for the baseline assessment, preparing the report and sharing the finding with wider audience include country, regional and HQ team

• Support go green initiatives identified by the country programme. Develop monitoring plan to capture the impact of the go green initiatives.

• Develop quarterly go green initiative report and its impact and share it with the wider audience within the organization.

Regional climate change discussion, training, and business development

• Chair the Asia regional climate change working group. Ensure climate change working group meets on a quarterly basis to provide strategic advice to the climate change initiatives in Asia region.

• Collaborate with other climate change partners to highlight the importance of climate actions in humanitarian actions in national, regional, and global climate events.

• In consultation with DDP’s undertake the capacity assessment in the country programme and develop a capacity building plan for each country programme.

•Work closely with DRD and AMU team to map out the regional funding opportunities on climate change and pro-actively develop project ideas / concept note.

• Act as a key technical focal point for the country programme in business development related to climate change / resilience building projects.

• Organize quarterly knowledge and awareness raising session with regional team, Technical Advisors and country programme representatives on climate change practices and skills.

Internal and external coordination

• Act as a key focal point with the climate change structure within IRC. Ensure to participate in the regular meeting with global climate change team and thematic sectors as relevant.

•Map out the regular regional climate change meetings takes place and identify the important and strategic forums for IRC to attend and contribute. Attend external regional climate change meeting organized by other actors such as UNDRR, ICVA and represent IRC. Update the regional technical team and country programme about the various discussion happening in the region around climate change priorities

• Identifying synergistic partnerships with other organizations working in climate, DRR, resilience, across the region as potential strategic partners for collaboration

Gender and social inclusion

•Ensure strategic, policy and implementations have strong component of gender and social inclusions.

• Promote Nature-based Solutions for climate resilience and adaptation which are accepted and supported by local communities and local culture/ traditions. Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Regional Emergency Director – Asia with a matrix reporting line to DRD Position directly supervises: N/A Other

Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Climate change Specialist will maintain a close coordination with Regional Emergency Director, Deputy Regional Director, Country Directors, and climate change focal points of each country and Global Climate and Resilience Specialist

External: Interaction with implementing partners, donors, and other relevant stakeholders.

Job Requirements

Education:

•Master’s Degree or equivalent experience in Environmental, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, Emergency Management, Humanitarian or related fields.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience working with developing countries on Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation strategies in Asia.

•Proven experience in leading climate change adaptation planning and implementation in Asia.

•Experience working in multinational teams to design and implement programs involving different funding and implementing agencies.

•Experience working in Asia, specifically in one / few IRC operational countries in Asia.

•Experience in organizing and representing in regional or international meetings/ conferences.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

•Able to communicate complex scientific and technical concepts and messages, verbally or in writing, to diverse non-expert audiences including senior leaders

•Strong facilitation coordination and analytical skill

Language Skills:

•English language proficiency is a must.

•Written and spoken proficiency of local languages of target countries preferred.

Working Environment: IRC Asia Field Offices (Thailand, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan with standard office work environment.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Please DO NOT include your photograph or salary history with your resume or CV submission

Qualifications