32-016 | (Senior) Specialist, Food Security and Rural Well-being

VACANCY TITLE: 32-016 | (Senior) Specialist, Food Security and Rural Well-being

TEAM: Food Security and Rural Well-being  

LOCATION: Rotterdam, the Netherlands or Nairobi, Kenya

LEVEL OF EFFORT: Full time – 40 hours per week

START DATE: As soon as possible

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20 March 2025

WHO WE ARE

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is a leading international organization dedicated to addressing climate change and promoting adaptation action for resilient development. We collaborate with governments, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), businesses, and communities to develop and implement innovative solutions that strengthen resilience and support adaptation to climate change impacts.

Founded in 2018, our organization operates with two headquarters: our Global North headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, housed in the world's largest floating office, and our Global South headquarters in Kenya. We also have regional offices in Cote d’Ivoire, Bangladesh, and Beijing, along with a dedicated knowledge and research hub in Groningen, the Netherlands. Our work encompasses high-level policy development, research, agenda-setting and advocacy to drive faster and deeper climate adaptation. We collaborate closely with partners to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of results where they are most needed.

GCA’s activities are implemented through three key pillars focused on: 1) advocacy; 2) programs; and 3) research for impact. This role sits within the food security team under programs. GCA’s largest flagship program is in Africa, where GCA and the African Development Bank (AfDB) launched the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) to scale up adaptation efforts and mobilize finance for climate-resilient development in Africa. To date, GCA has integrated adaptation solutions into $10 billion worth of investments funded by IFIs across Africa. GCA’s technical work on these investments is delivered through six global programs focused on: food security; infrastructure and nature-based solutions; urban and water, youth entrepreneurship and adaptation jobs; locally led adaptation, and adaptation finance. The AAAP model is now being scaled for other region programs in Asia and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

WHAT WILL YOU DO

Climate and weather patterns highly influence the food security, nutrition, and income of millions of people, especially women and resource-poor rural households, because most farm operations are heavily dependent on rainfed agriculture. One of the ways to respond to the challenges is to contribute to scaling up appropriate technologies from research (e.g., CGIAR, NARs) through engagement in upstream work on investment planning of MDBs.

Under the AAAP Food Security Pillar, GCA’s goal is to influence at least USD 10 billion in investments by 2025 to build climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems to support food security for at least 38 million farmers and herders in 26 African countries. To achieve this goal, GCA designs and mainstreams the adoption of climate smart adaptation technologies into food security investment projects and programs funded by different MDBs.

In 2025, the work program and portfolio of projects will focus on impact through solutions that bring resilience-building technologies, digital services, and practices into the hands of farmers. Specific project outputs will be designed around three broad categories of solutions in the CGIAR research portfolio, including:

·       Adapting livestock management to climate change

·       Climate-resilient crop production

·       Developing agroforestry and tree crops as a buffer against climate change

Within this context, GCA is seeking passionate and driven individuals to join our Food Security Program as (Senior) Specialist. You will play a key role in mainstreaming climate adaptation into the design and implementation of large-scale agricultural and food security investments financed by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). This work will involve collaborating closely with MDBs, governments, private sector stakeholders, and technical partners to ensure that investment projects are climate-resilient and deliver strong adaptation benefits for vulnerable communities.

This role offers a unique opportunity to advance sustainable development and climate adaptation solutions, impacting millions of farmers and rural communities across Africa, Asia, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

RESPONSIBILITIES

You will report to the Global Program Lead and work closely with a multidisciplinary team at GCA. In this role, you will provide high-level strategic and technical expertise to shape policies and investment frameworks while ensuring hands-on involvement in program implementation and operational execution. Your contributions will be critical in driving impactful, scalable, and sustainable outcomes.

Project management and technical engagement to influence investments

• Provide technical support to integrate climate risk assessments and adaptation solutions into the design of large-scale agricultural and rural development investments.

• Conduct in-depth analysis of climate risks for food systems and identify actionable adaptation measures tailored to specific projects and geographies.

• Develop tools and frameworks to ensure that adaptation considerations are embedded throughout the project cycle, from concept to implementation.

• Manage procurement and other tasks required to support project implementation.

• Supervise and manage service providers, contractors and consultants as required.

• Provide technical reviews of project proposals and investment plans, ensuring projects align with climate-smart agriculture and resilience-building objectives.

• Develop effective capacity-building support programs for project stakeholders, sharing technical knowledge and best practices to advance climate adaptation goals.

Engage with MDBs and other partners

• Engage with MDBs, governments, private sector stakeholders, and technical organizations to integrate climate adaptation into agricultural investments, balancing technical input and strategic guidance.

• Represent GCA in working groups, policy dialogues, and stakeholder engagement to influence policies, strengthen partnerships, and enhance GCA’s visibility in climate adaptation.

• Organize and participate in workshops, advocacy campaigns, and knowledge-sharing events to promote climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems.

• Foster and manage relationships with key stakeholders, including IFIs, governments, private sector partners, and NGOs, to promote collaboration and resource mobilization.

Internal Reporting and Monitoring

• Track and report on project progress, challenges, and outcomes to GCA’s leadership, including contributions to internal dashboards, reports, and briefings.

• Prepare high-quality internal progress updates, ensuring alignment with GCA’s programmatic targets and strategic goals.

• Support the development of key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor results to demonstrate program impact.

Generate and Communicate Evidence for Action

• Conduct impact and evidence base of GCA's activities to promote adaptation solutions

• Identify, document, and disseminate best practices for climate adaptation in agriculture and rural development to inform project design.

• Contribute to the preparation of high-quality knowledge products, policy briefs, and case studies showcasing successful approaches to mainstreaming adaptation.

• Carry out reviews of reports and other documents prepared by service providers, among others