The role is carried out in close collaboration with the three project countries- Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast. The Climate Change Advisor acts as a resource person in carrying out specialized advisory support mandates with project teams and partners, and contributes to innovation and the development of new approaches to climate change adaptation with an emphasis on taking into account women and vulnerable populations. The advisor is also responsible for providing content leadership on nature-based solutions (livelihoods and biodiversity)for the project and its partners.

Project Advisory and Technical Assistance

• Serve as a project regional technical focal point for the NBS project, keeping the project and its partners up-to-date with emerging information on nature based solutions, including climate change and biodiversity issues in the region, as well as planning strategies .
• Ensure collaboration with project partners in Ghana, Guinea and Cote D’Ivoire on aspects of their workplans relative to the strategic planning, development, implementation and reporting on biodiversity and climate change activities,
• Provide technical leadership for the project on all aspects of NbS, biodiversity and climate adaptation including, preparing training materials / manuals, conducting training activities and providing other forms of technical assistance to address important technical and programmatic competences among project partners and staff in the area of NbS, biodiversity,climate adaptation and strategic planning.
• Serve as the project key resource person in providing technical guidance to partners on procurements needed to implement project NbS, biodiversity,climate adaptation and strategic planning activities.

Knowledge Management and stakeholder collaborations

• In collaboration with project partners, develop relevant research concepts that support the project’s efforts around climate adaptation and biodiversity in the region and translate project research findings into knowledge products, and to guide implementation strategies
• In collaboration with the project Regional Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning advisor, using project data, contribute to the process of preparing knowledge products including policy briefs, frameworks, methodologies in connection to the climate adaptation and biodiversity aspects of the project.
• Periodically organise and take part in online and in person events to share knowledge on project lessons learnt, leveraging their expertise to advance the project and WUSC-CECIs position as a knowledge leader in the area of climate adaptation and biodiversity.
• Actively collaborate with other project technical team members, particularly with the project’s Gender Equality Advisors, to ensure activities are planned and implemented through the lens of gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and the social inclusion of vulnerable groups in the project target areas.
• Participate (remote) in the Community of practice on NbS facilitated by Global Affairs Canada

Overall Project Support

• Liaise periodically with the program development team to provide subject matter inputs to internal proposal development processes
• Liaise with government, civil society organisations, private sector organisations and women’s associations to keep abreast of any evolving trends with relevance to climate adaptation,biodiversity and strategic planning.
• In collaboration with the NBS national project coordinators, provide expert support to partners in their implementation of project activities
• Ensure the coordination of the Project’s working groups on biodiversity and restoration.
• Perform other tasks inherent to the position, such as drafting sections of annual work plans, narrative reports and analysis.
• Undertake follow-up field visits at the national level and in the region to support efforts to implement climate adaptation and biodiversity activities for the project.
• Perform other duties inherent to the position, such as drafting parts of annual work plans, narrative reports, analysis and any other relevant duties

Key Qualifications

• Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in climatic sciences, environment, sciences related to the agroforestry or agri-food sector, or in a related field.
• Experience of at least seven (7) years (or equivalent) in program design, project development, advisory support in the field of climate change and sustainable development with an emphasis on participatory approaches.
• Experience in food systems resilience.
• Experience in climate adaptation projects or programs in Africa and of preference in West Africa
• Relevant experience in representing and developing programs with donors – foundations, multilateral and/or bilateral agencies – and strong networking skills
• Advanced level of knowledge in one or more of the following themes and strong familiarity with the others: ecosystem-based adaptation and biodiversity conservation, nature-based solutions, adaptation of agri-food systems, food security and climate change, agroforestry, gender equality in adaptation to climate change.
• Experience in designing, implementing and/or monitoring projects that include promoting gender equality in climate change adaptation.
• Familiarity with several financing mechanisms in the field of climate change (Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, Climate Change Adaptation Fund, etc.).
• Strong writing and speaking skills in French and English.