Senior Advisor for Land Use, New Climate Economy - World Resources Institute - Washington, DC

T he Global Commission on the Economy and Climate is a major international initiative to analyse and communicate the economic benefits and costs of acting on climate change. Chaired by former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón, the Commission comprises former heads of government and finance ministers and leaders in the fields of economics and business.

The New Climate Economy (NCE) is the Commission’s flagship project. It provides independent and authoritative evidence on the relationship between actions which can strengthen economic performance and those which reduce the risk of dangerous climate change. The Commission published its inaugural report Better Growth, Better Climate Report in September 2014. It published its second report Seizing the Global Opportunity in July 2015.

The project is undertaken by a global partnership of research institutes and a core team led by Programme Director Helen Mountford. The majority of the NCE secretariat is based in London and Washington DC, and are working with 8 partner institutes in undertaking its work. These partner institutes are World Resources Institute (WRI), Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), London School of Economics (LSE), Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), and Tsinghua University. We are working with a number of other institutions in various aspects of the research programme, including the World Bank and regional development banks, the International Monetary Fund, International Energy Agency, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations agencies and a variety of other research institutes around the world.

The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate was commissioned by seven countries – Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom – as an independent initiative to report to the international community.

From August 2015 to March 2016, the NCE will carry out cutting edge research and spearhead high level political engagement in 2-3 African countries related to land use as part of the NCE’s wider program on Africa.

To take forward this work in Africa, the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate is seeking a full time Land Use Senior Adviser for the New Climate Economy project to lead and drive forward this element of its work programme, working closely with the relevant experts in the NCE institutions and partners. The successful applicants will join a world-class team of economists and policy and business experts. This team is drawn from, and supported by, a partnership of leading global economic and policy institutions.

The Senior Adviser will develop the work programme, and co-ordinate the delivery of any substantive analysis through the core NCE land use partnership, including experts from the Overseas Development Initiate (ODI), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), connecting to other partner institutes with in country presence and expertise as relevant.

The contribution of more efficient land use to better growth and a better climate forms an important focus of the NCE’s work. The NCE report recommended four land-use strategies for countries to adopt to support better land use for a better climate:

Climate-smart agricultural intensification to enhance food production, while using fewer natural resources.

Restoration of degraded forest landscape to improve water and food security while sequestering carbon.

Conservation of natural forest to maintain the natural capital that forests provide.

Restoration of degraded agricultural lands to boost the resilience of food production while scaling yield increases.

Responsibilities

The Adviser’s main areas of responsibility will include the following:

Leading scoping of the overall program of research for land use, including developing the engagement strategy and key research questions in collaboration with the partner institutes and members of the Global Commission on Economy and Climate.

Coordinating further research to develop recommended land use strategies, working in partnership with land-use experts in NCE partner institutes to develop and deliver a high impact land-use programme in two-three African countries.

Managing and strategically deploying the expertise of NCE partner organisations in order to deliver this programme of research and in-country engagement and advisory services.

Close co-ordination and co-operation throughout the Project with the relevant experts in associated organisations (e.g. World Bank, IMF, etc).

Presenting NCE’s land-use programme at national and international events and through bilateral meetings with relevant decision-makers.

Providing support to other NCE work programmes and activities as appropriate.

Qualifications

Masters in economics, agricultural development, public policy or another relevant discipline

Relevant developing-country experience, including that of working with high-level decision makers in African countries;

Experience of working with government and philanthropic donors;

Minimum 7-10 years of full-time work experience in relevant field, with program implementation and project management experience, including demonstrated ability to coordinate across multiple countries and research partners.

Demonstrated extensive, world-class and deep knowledge of key issues and organisations in low carbon development, land use, and climate change and international development more broadly;

Broad experience and knowledge of on land-use issues including agriculture, land tenure, forests and REDD+, in developing countries and Africa in particular;

Prior supervision and mentorship of one or more junior staff

Exceptionally good communication and interpersonal skills

Strong quantitative, analytical research skills.

Detail-oriented and organized thinker who can juggle multiple, competing priorities

Ability to travel when needed.

Preferred Qualifications:
Fluency in a language other than English and competency in others Portuguese or French would be desirable;

A working knowledge of the economics of land use change and reform is strongly preferred.

Final candidates will be required to take a writing/analytical test.

Salary and Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous, comprehensive benefits package

Duration: 7 months with possibility for extension

Location: Washington, DC

How to Apply and more information about WRI

For positions in London , interested candidates should send a covering letter and resume to recruitment@newclimateeconomy.net, ensuring their name and position they are applying for feature in the subject line of the email. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.K. if applying for a position in London.

For positions in Washington, D.C., qualified applicants should apply online at www.wri.org/careers. All applications for Washington, D.C. must be submitted online through this career portal in order to be formally considered. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. if applying for a position in Washington, D.C.

The deadline for applications is 9am GMT September 4th 2015, however interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis

The World Resources Institute ( http://www.wri.org/wri ) is an environmental and development research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people’s lives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI’s policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.

About WRI

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