Senior Associate, Climate

PURPOSE

• Support the Senior Officer, Climate and Carbon with the implementation of key Climate Unit projects in Lao PDR, with a focus on the Green Climate Fund and access to climate and carbon finance
• Ensure smooth operation of climate change mitigation and adaptation projects through both technical and operational activities
• Coordinate with key partners and project stakeholders across both central and sub-national government, private sector and research institutions as required by projects
• Support execution of assignments by project consultants for the delivery of high quality technical work including pre-feasibility studies and assessments

ENGAGEMENT 

• Support central government ministries and sub-national governments to articulate climate change mitigation and adaptation needs and requirements
• Engage in stakeholder mapping, support private sector engagement, and connect ministerial and sub-national stakeholders with the technical advice and support required for project implementation.
• Provide technical support and policy advice as needed by liaising with colleagues within GGGI and technical project teams, including the Senior Officer, Climate and Carbon
• Support various government stakeholders to facilitate consultation and capacity building.
• Engage and liaise with other project partners and ensure GGGI alignment to the project outcome.

DELIVERY 

• Deliver assigned climate change mitigation and adaptation project components including conceptualization, project implementation, stakeholder management, and project reporting.
• Contribute to identifying relevant information related to policy-driven issues, synthesis of best practices and lessons-learned directly linked to program goals through independent research.
• Assess delivery issues and work with government counterparts to build common understanding and coordination on project activities.
• Monitor project implementation, prepare periodic financial and narrative reports, and recommend adjustments to budget and work plan if necessary.
• Organize relevant meetings, focus group discussions, workshops, and trainings with key stakeholders.
• Prepare project reports on a monthly, quarterly, and annually basis in order to report to donors, resource partners and program stakeholders.
• Support consulting firms/consultants to deliver the work assignment in a timely manner.
• Support the preparatory work, and delivery of Climate Unit projects, outputs, activities, initiatives and needs as required by ongoing growth and evolution of the Unit’s portfolio and requests from Government of Lao PDR
• Support project managers in identification, conceptualization and development of new projects in the climate change mitigation and adaptation sectors

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, economics, environmental sciences or engineering or a relevant field.
• Minimum 4 years project experience in environmental management, climate change, carbon markets or other related sub-sectors
• Technical knowledge of climate change mitigation and adaptation and green finance
• Good understanding of technical analysis including technical feasibility studies and assessments
• Experience on cutting edge climate activities, such as Article 6 carbon transactions, will be an advantage.
• Ability to independently deliver high quality technical work and advisory, with a demonstrable track record of high quality technical assessments, analysis and written reports.
• Ability to engage the private sector and domestic financial institutions.
• Ability to mainstream gender in project cycle.
• Working fluency in English and Lao and ability to translate between the two languages.

FUNCTIONAL

• General understanding of green growth, sustainable development and climate change
• Ability to apply related concepts in the climate change mitigation and adaptation in the context of Lao PDR.
• Ability to communicate substantive issues and to engage technical staff, policymakers, and leaders.
• Prior experience or ability to engage the private sector will be a plus.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and to operate effectively in a team environment.
• Willingness to undertake domestic field travel within Lao PDR.
• Ability to build and manage complex multi-stakeholder relationships.

CORPORATE

• Able to effectively communicate, listen to others, and contribute to an environment for open communication.
• Understand and actively support GGGI’s mission, vision, values and green cities strategy.
• Excellent sense of client service and client relations management.
• Proactive and collaborative working relationships with stakeholders and colleagues.
• Able to work effectively with other people and teams with a high degree of cultural/professional diversity.
• Maintain a high degree of professional integrity.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Senior Associate, Climate is an X7 National Staff Level in GGGI salary scale. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.

ABOUT US

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as "green growth", which targets key aspects of economic performance such a poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and private sector to help build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change.

GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programs in developing countries around the world. These in-country programs, together with global products and services, focus on delivering results through an integrated approach of evidence-based green growth planning and implementation aligned to countries’ development priorities. The organization also focuses on knowledge development and management activities which build a strong theoretical and empirical basis for green growth, while providing concrete options and guidance for policymakers; as well as building the conditions for public and private green infrastructure investments. 

The GGGI Lao PDR program has been expanding rapidly in the areas of climate change, green cities and green investment mobilization. Since 2018, GGGI has been implementing a range of Readiness and Preparatory Support Program projects focused on building national capacity and policy for green finance, capacity building, climate modelling, energy efficiency, electric mobility and climate policy. GGGI has also undertaken a range of activities and projects to support Lao PDR’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), including in cooperation with the NDC Partnership. In addition, GGGI Lao PDR is working with a range of other partners to engage and implement climate solutions in Lao PDR. The country office has workspaces in the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport at central level, as well as the Vientiane Capital and Champasak Province governments.

GGGI Lao PDR’s Climate Unit leads implementation of projects and outcomes related to climate policy, green growth planning, climate action and carbon markets at a national level. Key projects within the portfolio include a national adaptation planning project, Nationally Determined Contribution implementation planning, and green growth planning activities conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Planning and Investment. In addition, the Climate Unit undertakes key sub-national activities, including supporting provincial governments with provincial policy and planning for green growth and green investment. Along with project delivery, the Climate Unit also engages in business development for the climate and carbon sectors, as well as climate-related knowledge sharing and capacity development at the national and local levels. To support this work, GGGI is seeking a Senior Associate, Climate to join the Climate Unit. 

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.