35-005 -1 | Senior Urban Specialist

VACANCY TITLE: Senior Urban Specialist

LOCATION: Rotterdam, The Netherlands

TERM:  Initial contract duration 1 year with possibility of extension

INTENSITY: 40 hours per week, 5 days per week

ANTICIPATED START DATE: As soon as possible

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30 March 2024

SALARY INDICATION: 85,000 – 100,000 EUR (Yearly – all inclusive)

ABOUT GCA

The 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

Profile
Join GCA’s Water and Urban Team as Senior Urban Specialist Africa! You will take on a leading role to pursue and implement transformative technical assistance projects on urban climate adaptation and resilience under GCA’s Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), which aims to scale up and accelerate climate adaptation and locally-led adaptation in Africa. The AAAP is a comprehensive climate adaptation program to accelerate and scale up climate adaptation in Africa. The AAAP aims to mobilize $25 billion to support Africa's adaptation plans. It will support all African countries in designing and implementing transformational adaptation of their economies and post-COVID recovery development paths. The AAAP is an Africa-owned and Africa-led response to the climate crisis. African leaders have asked for this Program and have endorsed its design.

You will have the opportunity to shape a climate resilient future for Africa, by promoting and guiding integration of climate adaptation into a wide range of investments and programs by cultivating close collaboration with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), such as the World Bank and Africa Development Bank, and national and local governments across Africa. You will be prompted to innovate climate adaptation strategies and solutions that are inclusive and scalable.

Responsibilities
The Senior Urban Specialist Africa will operationalize and implement AAAP through projects on urban policies, urban spatial planning, nature-based solutions, housing, and informal settlements, as well as activities at the urban-water nexus such as urban water and flood management, urban services and infrastructures.

They will report to GCA Water and Urban Team Lead and work closely with the enitre team members. The responsibilities of this role will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Project Management:
• Conceptualize, design, implement, and supervise highly innovative and transformative technical assistance projects to accelerate urban climate adaptation and resilience, particularly in Africa.
• Foster strong partnerships with MDB task teams to support the integration climate adaptation and resilience solutions in their urban projects, programs, and investments.
• Coordinate with international, regional, and local partners to build climate risk informed decision making capacities of national and local governments and non-governmental stakeholders.
• Oversee the procurement of external expertise (individual consultants, firms) and implementation of their work.

Pipeline/Business Development:
• Develop a pipeline of technical assistance projects on urban climate adaptation and resilience in close collaboration with partner MDB task team leads and managers.
• Explore and promote innovative approaches to climate adaptation in urban areas and sectors.
• Expand and maintain GCA’s network of international, national and local stakeholders in the water-urban adaptation sector.

Knowledge Management:
• Lead the preparation of knowledge products (e.g. policy briefs, news stories, reports) on GCA activities, in line with recent developments and trends in climate adaptation and urban development.
• Quality assure knowledge products and other outputs from external experts.
• Promote capacity strengthening internally among GCA staff and externally with partner organizations.
• Represent GCA’s Water and Urban Team in relevant workshops, capacity building events, and meetings to promote GCA’s agenda, strategy, and programs.