LOCATION: Rotterdam (Netherlands) or Dhaka (Bangladesh)
TERM: Initial contract duration 1 year with the possibility of extension
INTENSITY: 40 hours per week, 5 days per week
ANTICIPATED START DATE: As soon as possible
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 07 July 2023
ABOUT GCA
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.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Profile
Join us at the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) as Senior Program Officer Urban Resilience South Asia. As part of the Water and Urban team, you will play a vital role in GCA’s mission as a solutions broker in the field of urban climate adaptation. You will actively engage in and provide leadership on policy advocacy and programs for urban climate adaptation as well as provide technical, content-focused support to advance GCA’s overall policy and advocacy work. You will have the opportunity to cultivate and manage relationships with external partners and parties as well as to support the team’s ongoing work around implementation of the Urban program. Your expertise will shape and realize climate adaptation strategies for urban resilience at a scale that works for all. We value diversity and inclusivity, offering a supportive and empowering work environment for all team members.
Responsibilities
Under the oversight of the GCA Water and Urban Lead, the Senior Program Officer will carry out the following:
- Support (and operationalize) the conceptual development of GCA’s City Adaptation Accelerator (CAA) in Bangladesh specifically and South Asia generally, particular in relation to scaling up, acceleration of adaptation, and locally-led adaptation.
- Develop and implement a pipeline of technical assistance projects in the urban climate adaptation and urban resilience sectors that shapes and expands GCA’s partnerships with leading Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank – to drive, scale up and accelerate on-the-ground urban climate adaptation. This will include established adaptation practice while creating the space and energy for innovation as well.
- Closely collaborate with MDB task teams to support the integration and implementation of climate adaptation in urban development projects that may include urban water management, housing, spatial planning, informal settlements, urban flood management and associated planning tools. This work will be done in collaboration with other GCA Water and Urban team members involved in integrated water resource management (IWRM), irrigation, urban service delivery, et cetera.
- Take a proactive role in the conceptualization, design, implementation and supervision of highly innovative and transformative technical assistance to urban climate adaptation and urban resilience building investment projects and programs of MDBs, in particular the ADB. This will include frequent and in-depth interactions and coordination with task team leaders/managers of MDBs.
- Drive a multi-faceted program, in coordination with regional and international partners, to build capacity of national and local government and non-governmental stakeholders.
- Support the operationalization of knowledge development related to urban water resilience and participate in relevant workshops and meetings to keep abreast with ongoing trends in climate adaptation, urban development, and their implications on the GCA agenda and strategy.
- Further expand and maintain GCA’s network of international, national, and local stakeholders in the water-urban adaptation sector.
- Support the procurement of external expertise (individual consultants, firms).
- Support the preparation of knowledge products (e.g., policy briefs, news stories, reports) on GCA’s activities.
- Support on-the-job strengthening of capacity of GCA staff and partner organizations.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Job requirements
- A master’s degree in urban planning, a field related to urban planning, or a field related to climate resilience. Training should be complemented by experience in urban climate resilience as described below.
- Minimum of 7 years experience in the implementation of large-scale projects or programs related to urban resilience working directly for or with city or urban authorities, or multilateral development banks. These projects and programs could be in any of the areas below.
The ideal candidate will have a deep expertise in at least one area and working exposure to others:
o Climate resilience in urban planning (including any of master planning; integrated planning; spatial planning; land use planning and governance).
o Climate resilience in urban infrastructure development and urban development (including housing; water supply and sanitation; drainage; green spaces and Nature Based Solutions;)
o Climate hazard specific projects or programs for urban adaptation to: floods and storms; sea-level rise; coastal erosion; water scarcity and droughts; and extreme heat.
Preferred experience
- Working experience in Bangladesh or South Asia.
- Experience with a Development Bank or other financing institution.
- Experience in procurement of advisory services.
- Climate resilience in informal settlements upgrading, including community involvement.
Desired competencies, mindset and values
- Strong communication: Excellent written and spoken English to effectively engage key stakeholders (such as city/urban authorities and financiers at technical and strategic levels).
- Collaborative process facilitation: Skilled in building and maintaining collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
- Multicultural teamwork: Able to prioritize tasks, deliver on time, and support team members so that workflows and the team portfolio are collectively executed efficiently.
- Constructive conflict resolution: Positive approach to resolving disagreements.
- Flexibility and travel: Willingness to travel at least 5 to 7 times a year for the duration of one week (tentatively).
- A commitment to improve people’s lives through climate adaptation.
- A sense of humor is always a great asset but is not a requirement.
WHAT WE OFFER
The GCA offers a dynamic, high-profile and international working environment in a growing organization. You will be contributing to our global mission on climate adaptation. You will be given professional develop opportunities, by having the opportunity to draw upon the substantial expertise available at GCA and its partner organizations across the world and to support the shaping of international policies and global action on climate change, working at the highest governmental levels and collaborating with governments on all continents.
Remuneration is aligned with salary structures in the Netherlands.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply at https://opportunities.gca.org by submitting your CV and cover letter in English. Kindly mention the date as of which you would be available to start.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT
The GCA celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. GCA does not discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, nationality, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
