New Climate Economy: Senior Adviser for Land Use

THE GLOBAL COMMISSION ON ECONOMY AND CLIMATE
London - United Kingdom
S: commensurate with experience

Location: London or Washington DC (with a preference for London)

Length: This is an initial 7 month assignment from September 2015 – March 2016, with the possibility of extension.

THE GLOBAL COMMISSION ON ECONOMY AND CLIMATE

The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate is a major international initiative to analyse and communicate the economic benefits and costs of acting on climate change. Chaired by former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón, the Commission comprises former heads of government and finance ministers and leaders in the fields of economics and business.

The New Climate Economy (NCE) is the Commission's flagship project. It provides independent and authoritative evidence on the relationship between actions which can strengthen economic performance and those which reduce the risk of dangerous climate change. The Commission published its inaugural report Better Growth, Better Climate Report in September 2014. It published its second report Seizing the Global Opportunity in July 2015.

The project is undertaken by a global partnership of research institutes and a core team led by Programme Director Helen Mountford. The majority of the NCE secretariat is based in London and Washington DC, and are working with 8 partner institutes in undertaking its work. These partner institutes are World Resources Institute (WRI), Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), London School of Economics (LSE), Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), and Tsinghua University.

We are working with a number of other institutions in various aspects of the research programme, including the World Bank and regional development banks, the International Monetary Fund, International Energy Agency, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations agencies and a variety of other research institutes around the world.

The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate was commissioned by seven countries – Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom – as an independent initiative to report to the international community.

OVERVIEW OF ROLE

From August 2015 to March 2016, the NCE will carry out cutting edge research and spearhead high level political engagement in 2-3 African countries related to land use as part of the NCE's wider program on Africa.

To take forward this work in Africa, the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate is seeking a full time Land Use Senior Adviser for the New Climate Economy project to lead and drive forward this element of its work programme, working closely with the relevant experts in the NCE institutions and partners. The successful applicants will join a world-class team of economists and policy and business experts. This team is drawn from, and supported by, a partnership of leading global economic and policy institutions.

The Senior Adviser will develop the work programme, and co-ordinate the delivery of any substantive analysis through the core NCE land use partnership, including experts from the Overseas Development Initiate (ODI), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), connecting to other partner institutes with in country presence and expertise as relevant.

The contribution of more efficient land use to better growth and a better climate forms an important focus of the NCE's work. The NCE report recommended four land-use strategies for countries to adopt to support better land use for a better climate:

Climate-smart agricultural intensification to enhance food production, while using fewer natural resources.
Restoration of degraded forest landscape to improve water and food security while sequestering carbon.
Conservation of natural forest to maintain the natural capital that forests provide.
Restoration of degraded agricultural lands to boost the resilience of food production while scaling yield increases.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Land Use Senior Adviser will report to the Programme Director of the NCE.

Their responsibilities will include:

• Leading scoping of the overall program of research for land use, including developing the engagement strategy and key research questions in collaboration with the partner institutes and members of the Global Commission on Economy and Climate.
• Coordinating further research to develop recommended land use strategies, working in partnership with land-use experts in NCE partner institutes to develop and deliver a high impact land-use programme in two-three African countries.
• Managing and strategically deploying the expertise of NCE partner organisations in order to deliver this programme of research and in-country engagement and advisory services.
• Close co-ordination and co-operation throughout the Project with the relevant experts in associated organisations (e.g. World Bank, IMF, etc).
• Presenting NCE's land-use programme at national and international events and through bilateral meetings with relevant decision-makers.
• Providing support to other NCE work programmes and activities as appropriate.

REQUIREMENTS

• A post-graduate qualification in economics, agricultural development, public policy or another relevant discipline (a working knowledge of the economics of land use change and reform is strongly preferred);
• Minimum 7-10 years experience demonstrating extensive, world-class and deep knowledge of key issues and organisations in low carbon development, land use, and climate change and international development more broadly;
• Broad experience and knowledge of land-use issues including agriculture, land tenure, forests and REDD+, in developing countries and Africa in particular;
• Substantial programme management experience including demonstrated ability to coordinate across multiple countries and research partners;
• Relevant developing-country experience, including that of working with high-level decision makers in African countries;
• Experience of working with government and philanthropic donors;
• Fluency in a language other than English and competency in others. Portuguese or French would be desirable;
• Prior supervision and mentorship of one or more junior staff;
• Exceptionally good communication and interpersonal skills;
• Strong quantitative, analytical research skills;
• Detail-oriented and organized thinker who can juggle multiple, competing priorities;
• Ability to travel when needed.

HOW TO APPLY 


Interested candidates should send a covering letter and resume to recruitment@newclimateeconomy.net, ensuring their name and position they are applying for feature in the subject line of the email. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.K. if applying for a position in London. 


The deadline for applications is 9am GMT September 4th 2015, however interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

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