British Embassy Harare

Climate Adviser – Mitigation and Finance

Environmental, Forestry Jobs
Salary
TBA

Job Description

The British Embassy in Harare is looking for a dynamic and capable climate adviser to join its Green Growth Team. This team leads the Embassy’s policy and programme work across a range of thematic areas including climate, renewable energy, macroeconomics, private sector development, trade, investment and humanitarian/resilience.

Climate change is a critical priority for the UK in Zimbabwe, with its devastating effects already being felt across the country. Zimbabwe is acutely vulnerable and is set to experience increasingly volatile weather events (droughts and floods) and less dependable seasons with higher temperatures and reduced rainfall. COP26 provided important opportunities to deepen the UK-Zimbabwe relationship and our joint commitment to fighting climate change. We continue to work with Zimbabwe to deliver the Glasgow Climate Pact and range of commitments made at COP26 and beyond, and this new role will support that delivery.

Specifically, the role will lead on all aspects of climate mitigation – helping Zimbabwe reduce emissions and transition to a net-zero growth path– as well as on climate finance. Zimbabwe has committed to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030 in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and has published a long-term low emissions development strategy (LEDS). Energy, agriculture and forestry/land use are the key drivers of Zimbabwe’s greenhouse gas emissions, while finance – from global funds, development banks and the private sector – is critical to enabling Zimbabwe to meet its ambitions. The successful candidate will bring expert knowledge in these areas and have or develop key relationships in government and with external partners to engage on policy, channel resources and leverage the full range of UK instruments (technical advice, investment, networks) to support Zimbabwe on its green growth path.

The post-holder will work closely with another climate adviser that leads on adaptation and resilience, disaster risk management and biodiversity.

Duties and Responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities:

Lead on all aspects of understanding, engaging on and implementing policy related to climate mitigation, such as the NDC, LEDS and the Forests and Land Use Declaration. The adviser will undertake and engage on policy analysis; build networks and coordinate stakeholder engagement; draw on UK centrally managed programmes and expertise and harness the UK’s relationship with development finance institutions and climate funds to deliver impact in Zimbabwe. They will have or be able to build a deep network of sector contacts (government, business, development partners, civil society), and keep abreast of local and global climate policy developments to ensure the UK stays well engaged in Zimbabwe on climate issues.
Lead engagement on clean energy – supporting Zimbabwe’s commitment to transition away from fossil fuels and into renewable energy. This will involve understanding the key policy frameworks – such as for power purchase agreements – and working with colleagues to help remove barriers and unlock investment from development finance institutions and private developers. It will also involve leading on issues such as the Green Grids Initiative, which seeks to support infrastructure development for mini-grids, green power transmission and electric vehicles.
Lead engagement on climate finance – understanding the local, regional and global opportunities and working to secure more finance towards Zimbabwe’s climate ambitions. This will include helping to unlock funding from sources such as Green Climate Fund, development finance institutions and private sector investors. It will also involve building a strong understanding of carbon markets and working with partners and policy makers to unlock carbon finance for Zimbabwe.
Cross-cutting – Climate is an important cross-cutting issue and the postholder will need to work closely with colleagues across the embassy providing expert advice and support. The post-holder will work particularly closely with the adaptation and resilience lead adviser to shape deliver of the embassy’s climate strategy, and support where necessary delivery of climate programming and international climate finance (ICF) monitoring and reporting for the mission. The post-holder will contribute to corporate objectives within the Embassy.
The above list is not exhaustive, and you will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential qualifications, skills and experience
Strong understanding of the pressing climate issues in Zimbabwe, with particular expertise on mitigation and climate finance issues, and practical experience of working to tackle these. Demonstrable expertise in designing, implementing or influencing policy in relevant areas including renewable energy or use of nature-based solutions to reduce emissions in Zimbabwe is highly desirable.
Excellent knowledge of the climate policy framework in Zimbabwe, particularly areas linked to mitigation, energy transition and low carbon development.
Good understanding of global policy issues, particularly around climate finance and global funding mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund.
The ability to build external networks and harness these to engage on policy and deliver on share UK and Zimbabwe objectives on climate change.
The ability to communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way and explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand.
The willingness to be flexible and responsive to changing priorities, and the resilience to manage multiple projects concurrently.
At least 7 years’ professional experience working on climate/environment policy in Zimbabwe.
Minimum of a Master’s in a relevant field linked to climate and environment.
Required behaviours
Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
Application deadline
20 November 2022

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