Climate Adaptation Associate

This position will be based out of WRI Kenya, WRI Ethiopia, or Rwanda. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor visa work authorization for this position.

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About the Program:
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The Resilience and Adaptation Mainstreaming Program (RAMP) is managed by WRI's Adaptation Finance team. RAMP builds the institutional capacity of vulnerable country governments to better manage climate change risks and access adaptation finance. It helps build capacity in ministries of finance, planning and economics in climate vulnerable countries, and it does so in full partnership with local universities and institutional technical partners such as the World Bank, UNDP, NDCP and others. RAMP’s pilot countries for 2023 are all in Africa, and include Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. WRI’s Adaptation Finance team is part of the Climate Resilience Practice, which is under the Center for Equitable Development. We work with governments, academia, and the private sector to build climate risk management and adaptation solutions into all investment, budgeting, and policy decisions. We also work with the IMF, World Bank, and other DFIs on diagnostics, tools, and financing. Finally, we work with civil society organizations and local communities to better leverage and manage climate funds to build climate resilience. For more details, please explore these links on Adaptation Finance, the Climate Resilience Practice, and the Center for Equitable Development.

RAMP is also fully integrated into WRI’s Africa program, especially its third strategic pillar called Institutional and Economic Transformation.  We maintain a regional hub office in Ethiopia and offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.

**Job Highlight:
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As Climate Adaptation Associate, you will contribute to creating an active adaptation finance program in Africa working with both Ministries of Finance and local universities. With governments, you will help design and manage programs to build capacity in managing climate change risks. With universities, you will help design and execute programs to improve their curriculum, teaching and research on climate change adaptation and resilience. You will have three primary responsibilities:
In RAMP countries in Africa, you will be responsible for overseeing implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure that it achieves the intended targeted impacts. The current countries for 2023 are Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. You will help execute capacity-building programs tailored to the countries in which you work, together with the government central ministries, national universities, RAMP technical partners, and the RAMP Secretariat.
You will help build strategic knowledge partnerships with governments, donors, CSOs, and academic institutions. You will report to both the Senior Associate of the Adaptation Finance team in the Climate Resilience Practice and the Director for Climate Resilience, WRI Africa.
You will be supported by the Adaptation Finance team, the Climate Resilience Practice, and WRI Africa, all of which are made up of seasoned climate adaptation, resilience, and finance professionals.

**What will you do:

Program Design and Management (50%):**

• Manage RAMP program design and implementation in selected pilot countries in Africa, ensuring that desired outputs are delivered and that outcomes are achieved in accordance with the program/project plan
• Proactively identify and address opportunities and challenges to the program arising internally or externally, including by adjusting programmatic strategies and approaches, resolving issues, and initiating appropriate corrective action
• Manage at least one junior staff to help on RAMP country engagement
• Ensure effective coordination and information flows within team
• Provide input for the development of projects’ workplan, budget, and reporting together with the Grants & Finance Coordinator
• Coordinate activities with WRI Africa team to ensure alignment and effective partner management

**Stakeholder Engagement (35%):
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• Manage strategic engagement and communication with stakeholders (including government agencies, universities, CSOs, and multi-donors, research and other partners) for the purpose of designing and implementing RAMP programs
• Understand the local political economy and build relationships necessary for successful partnerships in support of RAMP objectives
• Serve as the primary liaison on a day-to-day basis with partners and facilitate their ownership of workplans in-country
• Help build the profile of RAMP with Ministries of Finance, donors, and universities
• Develop communications materials, such as concept notes and presentations, targeting existing and prospective partners and stakeholders of program.

Research (15%):

• Conduct and/or review applied research related to RAMP training programs benefiting government, the private sector, and universities
• Prepare presentations related to the above research, and present work to counterparts in governments, private sector, universities, donor organizations, and foundations
• Author or co-author knowledge products (e.g., reports, issue briefs, working papers, technical notes and blogs), and coordinate the publication process
• Mentor junior researchers and interns

What will you need:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in economics, finance, international development or other relevant subject
• Experience: Minimum 7+ years of full-time work experience in relevant field, with program implementation and project management experience
• Experience working with climate adaptation and resilience issues, climate economics, climate finance generally, and climate risk management specifically
• Experience working with institutional challenges associated with mainstreaming climate capacities, planning, and finance in central government ministries such as Ministries of Finance and Planning
• Existing government network or network related to climate sector.
• Direct hands-on experience in project management (e.g., planning, implementation, budgeting)
• Ability to deftly manage projects with strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills and balance attention to detail with big-picture thinking
• Ability to manage professional relationships and to effectively communicate with people at all levels, from various backgrounds, and working across multiple time zones
• Ability to travel internationally as needed.
• Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with universities

**Potential Salary:

**Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of March 28, 2023. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US.
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organisation with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work.
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI.
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

About Us:

Founded in 1982, 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 to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.     
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.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.

Our culture:

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. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our Human Resources team carefully reviews all applications.