The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 120 people, plus over 150 associates and consultants, come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.
IISD’s Resilience Program is a multidisciplinary team of policy researchers who work with governments, civil society, communities, and businesses to help them manage climate- and conflict-related risks. Its work on climate change adaptation focuses on planning, people, and nature—preparing for a different or uncertain future, making sure different genders and social groups influence and benefit from adaptation investments, and harnessing the role of ecosystems to help communities manage climate risk. Within this portfolio, the Resilience Program hosts the secretariat for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network, an initiative focused on accelerating adaptation planning and action in developing countries. The program’s work on environment, conflict, and peacebuilding supports policy-makers and practitioners working in conflict-affected and high-risk areas to ensure their work is sustainable in a changing climate and supports the transition from fragility to peace.
The Position
The policy advisor will provide project oversight, research, and communication support for IISD’s Resilience Team and its work related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) for climate adaptation. The successful candidate will understand and be able to support initiatives that involve researching and building capacity—particularly of government institutions and civil society organizations in low- and medium-income countries—to track progress in adaptation, particularly as part of the NAP process. The successful candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary team, working closely with IISD staff, affiliates, consultants, and partners in different parts of the world.
Responsibilities
The successful candidate’s key areas of responsibility will include but not be limited to:
- Project leadership and implementation:
- Initiating and coordinating projects of various sizes with the support of team members, including recruiting and supervising consultants and ensuring the highest quality of all deliverables.
- Convening, facilitating, and contributing to workshops, meetings, dialogues, and other events of various sizes.
- Contributing to the preparation of narrative and financial reports to funders.
- Engagement:
- Working collaboratively with partners in government, the private sector, and research and non-governmental organizations, as well as with consultants in implementing MEL initiatives.
- Establishing and actively maintaining a network of partners and contacts engaged in MEL regarding climate adaptation, including individuals from governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and academia, to advance the strategic objectives of IISD related to MEL regarding climate adaptation.
- Strengthening IISD’s involvement in relevant networks and initiatives around the world, aligned with its objectives.
- Research:
- Undertaking substantive reviews and background research on MEL regarding climate adaptation, such as: designing effective MEL systems for adaptation, data and information management for MEL systems, and adaptation indicators.
- Delivering analyses and writing reports, papers, case studies, and issue briefs that accurately synthesize and assess research findings.
- Following and summarizing news and events pertaining to MEL regarding climate adaptation.
- Communications and outreach:
- Preparing blogs and presentations that summarize IISD’s work on MEL regarding climate adaptation with limited oversight and editing.
- Sharing research results through webinars, workshops, conferences, and other events.
- Representing IISD at national and international forums.
- Business Development:
- Supporting other IISD personnel with the development of new project ideas and proposals on climate change adaptation.
Required Skills
The policy advisor will bring the following set of skills to the position:
- Good understanding of—and practical experience in—MEL related to climate change adaptation.
- Knowledge of climate change adaptation, climate risk management, and/or resilience-building more broadly, particularly as it pertains to developing countries and to policy and planning processes.
- Strong research skills and analytical capacity, and ability to become familiar with new topics quickly.
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills; capacity to clearly and succinctly communicate policy issues and research findings to different audiences via different platforms.
- A motivated self-starter with an ability to work independently and to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Be results focused, with an ability to work quickly and accurately to meet tight deadlines.
- Demonstrated organizational and planning skills, including ability to coordinate complex, multi-partner projects in multicultural contexts.
- Strong interpersonal and networking skills.
- Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office applications, and experience in handling of web-based communications and management systems.
Qualifications
The policy advisor should possess the following qualifications:
- A minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent in international development, environmental studies, geography or in another similar area.
- Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in the field of climate change adaptation.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in MEL, ideally related to climate change adaptation.
- Fluent written and spoken English as well as ability to work (read, write, speak) in French and/or Spanish.
- Knowledge of international development and experience working in developing countries.
- Prior experience working with national governments in developing countries.
- Availability to travel internationally.
- Must be currently eligible to work in Switzerland.
Location: Geneva
Term: Full-time
Salary: CHF 90,000 – 100,000
Start Date: As soon as possible
Closing date: October 29, 2021
Application Procedure
Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR
- A CV (no longer than two pages)
- A one-page letter of motivation
All submissions must be in English.
Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Switzerland.
Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for one year.
IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQ+ to apply for the Policy Advisor position.
