Policy and Engagement Officer – Water Adaptation Community/
Global center adaptationThe Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyze action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Adapting to impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security and economic growth. The work of the GCA elevates the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation and facilitates solutions, such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate-related threats. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) seeks a dynamic and ambitious Policy and Engagement Officer to support GCA’s role as a solutions broker in the field of climate adaptation, and in particular its Water Adaptation Community (WAC) and the WAC’s contribution to the International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas (IPDC).
Our ideal candidate combines outstanding communication and facilitation skills, with a desire to make an impact in the field of water climate adaptation. They are able to connect diverse stakeholders, convene impactful events, to arrive at new actionable insights and policy messages.
The WAC provides pro-active support to the International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas (IPDC). The IPDC is an initiative that responds to the urgent and critical need for special leadership to accelerate and scale up climate adaptation in deltas, coastal zones and Large Ocean/Small Island States. The IPDC had a soft launch at COP27 with a formal launch to be held at the UN Global Water Conference in New York in March 2023. The IPDC brings together the following stakeholder groups: high-level leaders, policy makers, scientists, and practitioners.
To support the IPDC, the WAC will be a supporting knowledge and action network. The WAC has an overarching goal to scale up and to accelerate water adaptation. It addresses key barriers related to fragmentation, understanding and knowledge management. It aims to bridge the cross-sectoral gap and connect sectors at an institutional level as they are connected by water at a physical level. In doing so, it aims to support collaboration, learning and practical action for water adaptation and resilience. The focus is on governance, finance and integration. It does this by engaging actors and Communities of Practice (CoP), including NGOs, scientists, experts, policy makers and decision-makers in the most pressing questions and adaptation issues. The candidate will be joining the team at an exciting and pivotal time following the launch of the IPDC, as we raise its profile and shape it to engage global audiences and stakeholders across a range of complex themes and geographies.
Responsibilities
Under the management of the GCA Water and Urban Lead the Policy and Engagement Officer will work closely with the Senior Program Coordinator and be responsible for the following:
Network Engagement
- Drive the overall development of the Water Adaptation Community, working with the Senior Program Coordinator of the IPDC to pro-actively support its work.
- Connect to and broker between networks, communities and groups working on water adaptation or themes related to this, ensuring a balance between initiatives from the developing countries and industrialized countries.
- Actively engage with and consolidate outcomes of groups, communities and networks that are connected to the WAC, including profiling adaptation solutions and projects undertaken by GCA and connecting with relevant teams and initiatives internally.
- Maintain and expand the WAC’s network of partners including policy officers, technical leads and other related expert officials from across Multilateral Development Banks, national and sub-national governments, private sector and civil society.
Communications and Events
- Utilize different formats specifically selected to elicit different forms of information, including for example online policy webinars, in-depth dialogues, or detailed group-led knowledge exchanges, and make the resulting insights accessible to a varied range of stakeholders.
- Ensure the efficient preparation and delivery of national and international events, through both in-person and hybrid formats, bringing together experts and policymakers in support of action-forcing impactful convenings.
- Coordinate and support the production of WAC publications and support the preparation of knowledge products (e.g. policy briefs, news stories, reports) relating to GCA’s activities supporting the WAC.
- Mobilize the WAC’s network and GCA’s broader global network of adaptation experts and practitioners in support of IPDC-related and other events and activities.
Knowledge Management and Administration
- Manage the WAC’s online platform, updating the website with relevant information, and partnering with network members to host engaging and relevant content.
- Facilitate online discussions and knowledge exchanges within the WAC, encourage members to participate, summarize discussions, invite responses, and so on.
- With the support of the Senior Program Coordinator of the IPDC, develop customized knowledge products – briefing notes, think pieces, policy briefs – that are targeted toward and drawing knowledge from the expertise within the WAC, with a focus on supporting National Adaptation Plan implementation.
- Lead the procurement and manage suppliers producing services and goods in support of the Water Adaptation Community and IPDC.
- Undertake consultations with partners and other relevant stakeholders in the water and adaptation sphere to ensure the WAC is demand driven, to ensure strategic positioning as well as complementarity and synergy with other like-minded initiatives.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
The Policy and Engagement Officer will operate from GCA’s global headquarters in Rotterdam (The Netherlands), on the world’s largest floating office, and will visit the IPDC office in Delft (The Netherlands) as and when needed.
- Master’s degree in public policy administration, international affairs, development studies environmental studies, civil engineering, or other relevant field.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in the implementation in the field of international development, international policy campaigns, and preferably water climate adaptation or water management.
- Outstanding facilitation and communications skills, backed by an excellent ability to communicate in English (both orally and with excellent writing skills).
- Experience preferred in updating WordPress websites and using online services such as Zoom, MailChimp and related network management tools.
- Conceptual and operational understanding of at least one key subject areas such as climate adaptation, international development, water resource management, and climate change.
- Possess outstanding written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information to various audiences.
- Proven ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders at different levels of seniority in a political complex environment.
- Strong planning and organization skills and a demonstrable sense of urgency and ability to achieve results under tight deadlines in a team setting while maintaining an empowering and solutions-oriented approach.
- Strong capability in articulating and presenting ideas to a diverse audience of stakeholders at technical and strategic levels.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with proven ability to function effectively and collaboratively as an empowering and supportive team member of multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams, working in multiple locations, and to resolve conflicts constructively.
WHAT WE OFFER
With our global headquarters in Rotterdam on the award-winning Floating Office Rotterdam, and regional offices around the globe, GCA offers a dynamic, high-profile and international working environment in a growing organization. You will be contributing to our global mission on climate adaptation. You will have the opportunity to draw upon the substantial expertise available at the GCA and its partner organizations across the world and you will be given an opportunity to support the shaping of international policies and global action on climate change, working at the highest governmental levels and collaborating with governments on all continents. A public transport travel card is provided for free commuting within the Netherlands.
Remuneration is aligned with salary structures in the Netherlands.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply at opportunities.gca.org by submitting your CV and cover letter in English before 26 February 2023. Kindly mention the date as of which you would be available to start in Rotterdam.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT
The GCA celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
We welcome applications from all candidates who meet the qualifications.
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