Job information

1. Background

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP) is an institute-wide centre of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) that provides resources for policy setting towards sustainable development, acting as a science-policy interface by processing and assessing information and knowledge for governments, local communities and other stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region. RRC.AP has over 25 years of experience working with various bilateral and multilateral aid agencies in dealing with regional environmental issues and is also serving as secretariat for several intergovernmental networks/initiatives in the region, supporting policy and strategy development as well as facilitating international and intergovernmental symposiums and workshops. RRC.AP is also one of the four core technical partners of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN). The AIT campus is located in Pathumthani province, 42 km north of central Bangkok.

RRC.AP currently serves as an Operational Unit/Secretariat of Climate Change Asia (CCA) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). CCA was launched in January 2016 as a regional flagship initiative at the AIT to contribute to preparing countries of the region for the successful delivery of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Development Agenda. The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in its decision 1/CP.21 “recognizes the urgent need to enhance the provision of finance, technology and capacity-building support by developed country Parties, in a predictable manner, to enable enhanced pre-2020 action by developing country Parties”. The recognition is valid in the Asian context.  Climate funds are available, but countries in Asia are unable to produce ‘bankable’ project proposals partly due to lack of personnel and technical capacity to prepare and submit proposals for funding. Similarly, technologies that can address national targets for climate change mitigation and adaptation are available, but the technology information is not well disseminated to, or well understood by, decision-makers of both the public and private sectors in Asia. Responding to these limitations, CCA intends to provide various stakeholders in Asia with a wide range of services with an aim to enhance national capacities required to prepare, secure financing for, and implement ‘bankable’ mitigation and adaptation projects on low carbon technology options.  The Coordination Group and the External Experts Group should be mentioned here.

Under the supervision of Head of Climate Change Cluster, the incumbent will perform following duties and responsibilities.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Support to Climate Change Asia (70% of time)-

    1.1.CCA Secretariat operations (10% of the time):

• Prepare, organize and coordinate the Coordination Group meetings and other relevant meetings for CCA. Prepare meeting minutes and other documents as needed 
• Assist in facilitating the communication between the CCA and stakeholders.
• Assist in refining the concepts on the operational structure, modalities of operation, and functions of CCA in its full operation under the guidance of the Coordination Group in order to best contribute to the regional needs and to identify the like-minded partners and donors.
• Prepare annual reports of CCA
• Assist in liaising with AIT faculties and various partner organizations
• Assist in drafting an annual work plan of CCA, including options for effectively mobilizing AIT’s and other regional institutions’ expertise as well as strategies on capacitating AIT as a whole for the quality delivery of the activities.

   1.2. Activity management (35% of the time):

• Conduct comprehensive analysis of lessons learned from each implemented activity with a view to proposing options for improving the delivery of activities and enhancing their impact on the ground
• Assist in implementing and monitoring various activities of CCA under the guidance of the Coordination Group and, when needed, in consultation with the External Expert Group
• Conduct comprehensive analysis of lessons learned from each implemented activity with a view to proposing options for improving the delivery of activities and enhancing their impact on the ground Develop a “Climate Change Asia Talent Bank” of leading practitioners in the region (e.g. private sector, local authorities, NGOs) who can contribute to various CCA activities

 1.3 Development of project proposals (15% of the time):

• Take stock of ongoing relevant activities in the region and of reports and documents submitted by countries of the region to the UNFCCC to identify gaps and needs that can be addressed by CCA 
•  Develop project proposals to mobilize resources for CCA activities

1.4 Enhancement of the CCA outreach (10% of the time):

• Identify potential areas of CCA’s contributions to the climate change processes and priority setting at the regional and global levels, including inputs to the work of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building, the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism and the Standing Committee on Finance
• Develop partnership strategies with relevant institutions in the region and implement them as appropriate
• Organize events, maintain a dedicate web page and develop outreach materials to enhance the visibility of CCA in the region and globally

2. Support to climate change cluster (30% of time)-

• Assist in preparing and delivering Climate Downscaler training Workshop through communications to participants, training material and proceeding development, among others.
• Assist in implementing the adaptation monitoring initiative in Thailand and Vietnam through preparation of national and provincial workshops, literature review, development of adaptation monitoring tools and indicators as well as policy recommendations and journal articles among others.
• Assist in preparing and delivering follow-up activities of Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) Forum, including literature review of topics discussed at the Forum, development of policy-oriented knowledge products and preparation of regional workshops
• Assist in APAN's outreach activities, including drafting of monthly e-newsletters
• Assist in developing outreach materials of the adaptation component of the Climate Change Cluster and updating the Cluster's website content 

3. Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Climate Change Cluster

4.   Required Competencies:

• Work Experience: Minimum 2-3 years of experience in climate change related issues. Previous experience of working in Asia and the Pacific an advantage.
• Professionalism: Understanding of concepts of climate change and familiarity with intergovernmental climate change. Knowledge of concepts, arrangements and processes relating to the provision of finance, technology and capacity-building for climate action an advantage.
• Ability to apply theory to the specific policy context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations. Ability to identify data sources, analyze information, develop policy recommendations and write reports. Shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Communications: Fluency in spoken English and excellent drafting skills; demonstrated skills in having two-way communications; openness in sharing information and keeping people informed; ability to tailor language, tone, style and format to match audience.
• Planning & Organizing:  Ability to formulate clear goals, priorities activities and assignments; to allocate appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work, and to monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary.
• Good networking skills
• Experience on proposal preparation an advantage
• Experience on note taking and report preparation