Adaptation team
While the climate crisis raises an urgent need to scale up adaptation efforts, serious delays in adaptation planning and implementation remain, and there is scarce evidence of effective risk reduction. IDDRI’s adaptation work has explored the role of international policy processes in reinforcing adaptation ambition including i) the assessment of progress against the global goal on adaptation as part of the 2023 Global Stocktake, ii) the need to consider transboundary climate risks and policies and build international cooperation on adaptation, due to the interconnected nature of our societies, economies and ecosystems, iii) the technical and political implications of addressing losses and damages from climate change.
IDDRI’s adaptation team aims to carry out impact-oriented research on adaptation policy and planning from local to global scales and influence policy- and decision-makers. On average, two staff members of IDDRI’s eleven-strong climate team focus on adaptation challenges.
For 2023 and beyond, the adaptation team’s key objectives are to:
- Further develop IDDRI’s theory of change and impact strategy on adaptation
- Contribute to addressing transboundary climate risks and governance arrangements, through the Adaptation Without Borders Initiative (founding members: IDDRI, SEI and ODI)
- Contribute to adaptation progress tracking and drive policy engagement by developing further the Global Adaptation Progress (GAP) Track project in view of bringing forward first results ahead of the Global Stocktake in 2023
Job description
Under the supervision of the climate programme director, and in close collaboration with the senior adaptation research fellow, the Policy officer will:
- Design an international policy dialogue on adaptation evaluation in the context of the UNFCCC’s Global Stocktake and the Glasgow Sharm-el-Sheikh work programme
- Be responsible for project management, including coordinating IDDRI’s contribution to the Adaptation Without Borders initiative in close cooperation with ODI and SEI through a joint secretariat, reporting to project funder
- Lead the preparation of events (workshops, bilateral exchanges) and publications (reports, blogs, concept notes)
- Represent IDDRI at adaptation-related seminars and workshops as well as high-level events as needed (e.g. OECD Adaptation Task Force, participation to UNFCCC COP28), or through media interventions
- Refine IDDRI’s theory of change on adaptation, and propose impact objectives, as well as strategies to achieve them; conduct necessary strategic reconnaissance and intelligence gathering
More generally, she or he will:
- Join a dynamic team of researchers
- Contribute to fundraising activities and the exploration of emerging political or scientific issues
- Develop and maintain relevant networks and partnerships with researchers and other stakeholders internationally
Required qualifications
The successful candidate should:
- Have 2-4 years of professional experience, with a qualification in economics, geography or political science
- Have a command of climate adaptation issues
- Have some experience of policy or intellectual influence within government, NGO or think tank, including a demonstrable track record of papers and policymaker workshops
- Have some experience of managing multi-partner projects and meeting reporting expectations of institutional funders
- Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize and present complex analyses for a non-technical audience
- Be fluent in English and willingness to learn French
- Have the capacity to work independently as well as in a team, in an international, multicultural environment
- Have the willingness to travel internationally
Contract details:
- A fixed term contract from 24 months (CDD OD in French) starting in May-June 2023, with a possibility of extension
- Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, determined in accordance with IDDRI’s established salary scale and policy (38-43k€ + 10% over gross at the end of contract).
- Position based in Paris
- Homeworking policy: 2 days/week
- 40 days off/year
IDDRI is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds
To apply please send a CV and cover letter with the heading “Adaptation Policy Officer” before 15 March 2023 to lisa.dacosta@iddri.org and alexandre.magnan@iddri.org
