Job Vacancy: Environmental and Climate Change Adaption Coordinator

Overall Purpose of the Role:

The regional office of DRC East Africa & Great Lakes (DRC EAGL) is looking for a dynamic, ambitious, and well-experienced specialist on environment and climate change within the humanitarian or development sector who will support DRC’s progression towards becoming an organization which proactively complies with sustainable and environmentally sound principles and practices.

The position is based in Nairobi / Kenya at the DRC EAGL office, which covers international humanitarian and development work and situations of displacement in whole East Africa and the Great Lake region and has been funded until the end of the year. Continuation of the position is contingent upon available funding.

About the Job
East Africa has always been prone to extreme weather conditions, namely droughts and floods, which climate change is expected to worsen in future and thus, make East Africa a “climate hotspot”. The impact of natural disasters is strongly interrelated with man-made environmental changes that may interfere with coping strategies traditionally applied and with natural resource-based livelihoods more generally. Thus, the importance of migration as a response to environmental and climatic stressors in combination with other societal developments is likely to grow in the future. It is expected that climate change will become the single largest root cause of displacement, increasingly undermining the capacities of local communities to achieve sustainable development pathways and resilience to shocks that force people to move. According to OCHA, climate change and environmental degradation could bring internal displacement figures to 140 million people by 2050.

Therefore, the intersection of climate change, environmental degradation and displacement requires comprehensive solutions to the multidimensional challenges it creates. DRC EAGL aims to strengthen its programming with more tailored approaches to meet these upcoming challenges and hence, is looking for a strong candidate to support this complex, future direction of DRC EAGL.

Main Duties and Responsibilities will be:

• Provide technical support and mentoring to program managers and team members in ensuring high-quality, impactful implementation in environment and climate change projects, documenting technical strategies and learning, and taking initiatives systematically to scale.
• Design and deliver technical support and mentoring to program managers and team members throughout the program cycle and especially at critical program milestones to embed a strong environment and climate change approach in programming, including: conducting risk, vulnerability and environmental assessments and analysis; refining program logic to incorporate environmental issues; designing interventions and activities that build resilience towards climate change  at household, community and systems-levels
• Support the technical capacity building of local disaster management structures and access to climate information systems to issue early warnings and coordinate anticipatory actions to feed into exploration of forecast based finance approaches
• Keep abreast of new thinking, research and innovations in environment and climate change and synthesize and regularly communicate findings for country teams in the EAGL region
• Facilitate cross-region environment and climate change learning groups to expand and deepen capacity and exchange across DRC EAGL teams, develop and facilitate cross-country training and guidelines for conducting environmental screenings and assessments and promote country teams’ work within the organization.
• Contribute to regional environment and climate change knowledge management and communications and to raising our external profile regionally, regularly sharing out findings and updates through appropriate internal and external channels.
• Represent DRC EAGL in appropriate learning and policy forums relevant to the EAGL region. Support country teams to identify and participate in opportunities for external representation and thought leadership.
• Support country, regional and HQ teams with environmental-related research initiatives, and create and disseminate learning and advocacy documents that demonstrate our programs’ impact, innovation and influence on environment and climate change.
• Explore innovative ways of integrating environmental screenings and assessments within existing needs assessments and tools used in DRC, complementing the classic conduct of environmental screenings and assessments, as well as undertake testing.
• Source and document new ideas and innovations from within country programs, private sector partners, researcher and academics and link them with appropriate implementing partners and funding sources to begin to scale up ideas that are proven in programs
• Support exploring alternative green funding opportunities and building relationships in the green finance ecosystem as well as development of concept notes for innovative approaches such as forecast based finance, bankable nature solutions and environment innovations relevant to displacement settings
•  Support exploring opportunities in alternative energy including solar and fuel-efficient stoves

Qualifications

To be successful in this role we expect the following experience and technical competencies:

• Advanced degree in environmental studies, geography, earth sciences or similar with a specification in climate change adaption and mitigation
•  At least 7 years technical cross-sector (public / private sector and NGOs) working experience in the context of climate change, resilience, and environment
•  Strong understanding of environmental and climate change policy and practice, multilateral agreements as well as environmental frameworks relevant to the region
•  Well elaborated know-how and experience in humanitarian programming
•  Experience designing and implementing disaster- and climate-resilience activities to support targeted households to better manage environmental risks as well as predictable disaster- and climate-related risks, such as flooding and droughts and other natural hazards, with experience in forecast-based finance an advantage
• Proven experience and knowledge about the conduction and challenges of environmental and climatic (impact) assessments, preferably with different tools (e.g. NEAT+, CVCA, CRiSTAL etc.)
•  Solid understanding of early warning systems, weather forecasting tools, food security vulnerability, and ability to link analysis to program design. Demonstrated field experience desirable in development and management of early warning and early action, including awareness raising and training and capacity strengthening.
• Experience in risk analysis and risk modelling, product development and environmental and climatic data management
• Strategic thinking ability, to capacity to develop innovative policies, systems and new eco-systems
• Excellent communication and networking skills with existing relevant contacts among experts and across different sectors
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility and willingness to travel
• Strong organizational and work prioritization skills
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Further donor languages such as French, German and/or Spanish are a strong asset
• Advanced training, experience and knowledge of relevant fields such as nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation
• GIS and remote sensing skills are highly desirable
• Experience in project management as well as writing project documents, country reports and publications
• Knowledge of green finance and a network in this space is an advantage

Moreover, in this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:
•    Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
•    Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
•    Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
•    Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
•    Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Duration:    Until 31st December 2021 renewable subject to Performance and Funding.
• Contract:    Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment Band Non-Manager G level 1
• Start Date:    1st September 2021
• Duty Station:     Nairobi – Kenya with travel with frequent travel
• Reporting:     Technical Sector Manager and Regional Protection Coordinator
• Commitments:     DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).  All DRC staff must be committed to the Red Cross Code of Conduct, as well as the Core Humanitarian Standards.
• Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels.  In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.
• Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer.  We value diversity and we are committed   to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees.  We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, color, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.

Applications 
Applicants must send a cover letter (max 1 page) and an updated CV (max 3 pages) in English. Cover letter should outline your personal motivation for applying and your key qualifications for the position. Apply online on our page Current Vacancies at www.drc.ngo. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 1st August 2021

You are welcome to contact Elisabeth Koek, Technical Sector Manager and Regional Protection Coordinator at elisabeth.koek@drc.ngo for more information about the position. Applications should not be sent to this address.