Climate Change Adaptation Economist / Senior Economist

VACANCY TITLE: Climate Change Adaptation Economist / Senior Economist

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1

LOCATION: Netherlands or Kenya

LEVEL OF EFFORT: Full time

START DATE: As soon as possible

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 May 2024

ABOUT US

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is seeking an innovative and multi skilled candidate to join its offices in Groningen or Rotterdam in The Netherlands or in Nairobi, Kenya as a Climate Change Adaptation Economist.

GCA is a leading international organization dedicated to addressing climate change and promoting adaptation action for resilient development. We collaborate with governments, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), businesses, and communities to develop and implement innovative solutions that strengthen resilience and support adaptation to climate change impacts.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Join us as we grow our Research for Impact team, offering a pivotal role for experienced, creative, and highly motivated Climate Change Adaptation Economist. This role presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of climate adaptation, driving transformative change and making a lasting impact on global climate resilience. At GCA, you will have the freedom to innovate and the support to bring your ideas to life. We are on a mission to enhance global climate resilience. If you are excited about contributing to something impactful and building a sustainable future, we would love to have you on board.

GCA’s strategy in Africa is implemented under the flagship Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), launched by GCA and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to scale up adaptation efforts and mobilize finance for climate-resilient development in Africa. To date, GCA has integrated adaptation solutions into $9 billion worth of investments funded by IFIs across Africa. GCA’s work under the AAAP focuses on four pillars where investments in adaptation and resilience building can yield high economic dividends for African nations, including: Food security; Infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions; Youth entrepreneurship and adaptation jobs; and Adaptation finance.

The Climate Change Adaptation Economist will play a key role in leading GCA’s Research for Impact (R4I) work to pursue a high-quality research agenda in one or several areas pertinent to GCA, such as food security, resilient infrastructure, adaptation jobs, and/or structural economic transformation for climate prosperity. Furthermore, you will also provide intellectual leadership to the rest of the organization, including by providing input to strengthen GCA’s project design, provide inputs into policy dialogue and briefing notes, and to serve as a senior in-house advisor on technical issues pertinent to the economics of adaptation.

One area of focus in the first year will be on developing systems-based methodologies and tools for sustainable and resilient infrastructure development (from systems to asset level) in response to climate adaptation needs and support related finance program work. You will delve into the critical linkages between infrastructure disruption and broader societal dimensions such as food security, livelihoods, and overall wellbeing. Your expertise will be key in identifying how infrastructure resilience directly affects community resilience, uncovering complex interdependencies and providing actionable insights for resilience strategies. Through your research you will play a significant role in comprehending and articulating the effects that infrastructure disruption or development can have on societal stability and progress with respect to climate adaptation.

PROFILE

We are seeking a Climate Change Adaptation Economist to undertake critical economic and environmental modeling related to climate change, its impacts, and the effectiveness of adaptation policies. This role demands a special focus on Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) and Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models, applied in the analysis of climate policy implications and macroeconomic climate strategies. Ideal candidates will possess an advanced degree in economics, environmental or climate economics, finance, or a related field, combined with a solid foundation in CGE or DSGE modeling.

As the Climate Change Adaptation Economist, you will lead projects assessing and enhancing the robustness of adaptation investments in food, infrastructure, cities, and other sectors in the face of natural hazards and climate risks. Your work will inform climate policies and adaptation strategies, and you will collaborate with internal teams and external partners to accelerate adaptation in Africa, Asia, and Small Island Developments (SIDSs). You will provide technical expertise, guidance and support to project developers, governments, and other stakeholders in accessing and mobilizing finance for adaptation activities.

Additionally, you will also mentor other GCA staff, promoting the creation of innovative models, tools, and scientific outputs, nurturing an environment that values knowledge exchange and pioneering thought.