Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics Food Security Group

The African Union (AU) adopted the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032); and the AU Green Recovery Action Plan, in 2022, to facilitate coordinated and successful implementation of country Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI), on behalf of the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (AUC- DARBE) under the Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (AUC-SEBE), therefore, seeks to recruit a Senior Climate Change Advisor, to support the Department’s work toward advancing and tracking the implementation of country NDCs and NAPs in AU Member States.

The Senior Climate Change Advisor will be based at AUC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The mandate of AUC-DARBE is to initiate, develop and promote continental policies, frameworks, and programs to contribute to agricultural transformation, rural development, blue economy, and sustainable environment in line with AU Agenda 2063. The Department has two Directorates as follows: (i) Agriculture and Rural Development Directorate; and (ii) the Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy. AUC- DARBE is leading efforts to support AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to strengthen implementation of the Paris Agreement, including, among others, strengthening the areas of data and analytics, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Director of AUC- SEBE, the Senior Climate Change Advisor will perform the following duties:

• Provide support to countries to facilitate the successful implementation, monitoring, and reporting on NDCs, NAPs and other relevant climate change frameworks.
• Facilitate access to data, analytics, and other knowledge products needed to guide the implementation of NDCs, NAPs, the Africa Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and the AU Green Recovery Action Plan.
• Work closely with ReNAPRI and AKADEMIYA2063 and mobilize the necessary local expertise and develop the methodology and tools as well as the platform to assemble, store and make available such data and analytical products for use by AUC, AU member states and Regional Economic Communities.
• Advise the Directorate on any other technical aspects related to data and analytics and support of the effective and successful implementation of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and the AU Green Recovery Action Plan.

Qualifications

Post-graduate Degree in Environmental Economics, Econometrics, Natural Resources, Climate Change, Geography, or related field.

Essential Work Experience

• Minimum of 10 years demonstrated experience working in Africa on issues of environment, climate change, disaster risk reduction, or adaptation.
• Proven experience in providing support to policy and program planning and implementation at national and/or regional level.

Desired Work Experience

• Knowledge of country commitments made under the Paris Agreement, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Experience of working in multinational teams to implement programs involving different funding and implementing agencies.
• Familiarity with the development and implementation of National Adaptation Plans.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English (essential)
• Knowledge of French or any other AU languages is desirable

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity with good values and ethical standards.
• Excellent inter-personal skills, including the ability to establish strong cooperative relationships with senior government officials and development partners.
• Flexibility and ability to operate in diverse cultural settings and with a variety of stakeholders, culturally and gender sensitive.
• High-level planning, organizational, and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• High computer literacy (in particular, word processing and presentation software).
• Analytical and problem-solving skills of high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advise senior management on tackling difficult situations.
• Leadership qualities, including the ability to make sound judgement, meet challenges constructively and creatively
• Ability to quickly adapt to change and to operate in a fast-paced environment.

Renumeration

Remuneration will be commensurate with experience

Application Details

Position No. ReS0001/AUC

Application Closing Date: August 5, 2022 17h00 EAT

Start Date: September 25, 2022

Duration: 12 Months (1 year) with possible extension, subject to performance and availability of project funds

To apply for this position, please send your detailed application to info@renapri.org. Please include a cover letter indicating the position title and position number in the subject line, and addressed to:

The Executive Director

ReNAPRI Secretariat

Lusaka, Zambia

Attach your CV with details of three referees, and copies of your relevant certificates.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the available position. ReNAPRI and AUC-DARBE reserve the right to change, revise, omit, and add in part / in whole, to this document.

Qualified women are encouraged to apply.

To find out more about ReNAPRI, visit our website at https://renapri.org/

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