Climate Consultant

Published on: 23/01/2023

Location: global, with ability to travel to Netherlands

IRC desires to expand its influence in the climate debate. To help us drive new initiatives, IRC seeks a climate professional with a great network, a strong understanding of the current climate emergency, and a passion to drive climate action across sectors.

About IRC

IRC is an international NGO and think tank that works with governments, civil society organisations, entrepreneurs and people around the world to strengthen and support public systems for water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery. Our mission is to drive change that leads to everyone in the world having access to safe and climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. We work to influence from district to global levels, and in 2023 IRC is organizing a globally recognized sector leading symposium All Systems Connect.

The assignment

To support new initiatives, we are recruiting an individual consultant to provide guidance and support to the development of our climate action initiatives. The position is location independent but ability to travel to the Netherlands is essential.

Background

IRC believes that the goals of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) will not be achieved by the current practice of the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector and that wider more powerful soft and formal power networks, leaders and influencers need to be engaged to drive improvements. We are working, with our partners, to develop a wider network of experts and activists (from areas such as climate) to champion ‘WASH’ within the context of their own systems, work across intersectional interests, and create change. Our focus over 2022 -2024 is to build our CONNECT alliances with experts and activists in climate, economic development, social justice and health. 

Responsibilities

• Support the design and delivery of climate-related sessions at the All Systems Connect Symposium, and the development of networks related to climate action that build on that event
• Provide advice to drive expansion of our long-term partnerships related to climate and develop new climate action initiatives related to WASH with our country and regional programmes
• To devise a light action-oriented strategy that can be used to build alliances, positioning and support to the focus of the work to the end of 2024. This should seek to engage and drive climate sector ownership in the nexus between WASH, climate and water.

Core competencies

Professional with at least five years experience in the climate sector, a strong professional interest in water and passionate about the nexus between climate, water and WASH.

• MSc or relevant qualification in a climate related area (climate change, environment, public policies, water resources etc.)
• Informed interest in a systems approach and strong motivation to take on the challenge of placing WASH sector into climate discussions
• Track record of delivering actionable strategies on time to a high quality
• Proven ability in facilitation
• Strong network-building abilities and experience in creating long-term strategic partnerships ‘across sectors’
• Strong interpersonal skills, and good oral and written communication skills in English. French and other languages, particular Spanish, an advantage
• Eager about multi-lateral collaboration and motivated by the issue of improving water, sanitation and hygiene services within the context of climate change
• Self-starter with ability to work independently and remotely (virtually) with colleagues located in other offices or countries and ability to manage your time and tasks as well as those of other team members.

Details of the position

This position is offered as a consultancy contract with an expectation of about 20-40 working days in 2023. The consultant will work with IRC’s communications and influencing unit, part of the Change Hub delivering our global and regional programmes. The consultant will work with our focus country teams, regional teams and strategic partner Water For People.

Candidates should submit:

1. A letter specifying how you can bring your climate change network and expertise to drive systems change in WASH, and how you would approach the challenge of positioning WASH within climate debates and action
2. Specified daily rates including all necessary taxes
3. A concise curriculum vitae

Please submit by 9 am CET 6^th of February 2023 to IRC, attn. Marion Giese at recruitment@ircwash.org. Interviews will be scheduled online in the week starting 13^th February 2023. For additional information please visit our website at www.ircwash.org.