Climate Change and Environment Expert

Expertise France is a public agency part of the AFD Group, merging six agencies under the supervision of the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy and Finance with a strong inter-ministerial vocation.MISSION DESCRIPTION Expertise France (EF) is looking for a Climate Change and Environment Expert. home based. Potential travels to Erbil or North Syria.

The general objective of the project is to empower Syrian Civil Society actors to become actors of change able to actively engage in policy shaping and dialogue and echo the aspiration of Syrian communities’ vis-à-vis local and national-level decision-makers.

These objectives will be reached through achieving two connected outputs that will be implemented in parallel:

• Output 1: Non-state actors are strengthened and able to engage in local-level policy dialogue on technical/sectorial issues.
• Output 2: Dialogue, coordination and sector-based initiatives are established, experimenting sectorial dialogue and geographical coordination

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close coordination with the Program Director and other project members at HQ, the incumbent will be responsible for providing advisory, technical support, policy development, and consultancy for the ENSAAC project on the Climate Change/Environment activities and initiatives in north Syria. He/she will carry out the following activities:

• Identify potential initiatives (Dialogue, coordination and sector-based) in the field of Climate Change/Environment, that could be implemented by identified NSA.
• Assess feasibility of suggested Climate Change/Environment
• Providing technical and advisory support and mentoring for promoting Climate Change/Environment concepts for NSAs that are engaged in Climate Change/Environment of promotion.
• Strengthening NSAs’ capacity for developing the Climate Change/Environment related policies by reviewing the current policies and developing them.
• Explore options for connecting NSAs with resource networks and other peer actors in the field of Climate Change/Environment.
• Assist non-state actors in planning and implementing advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and drive action on climate and environmental issues.
• Assist non-state actors in developing advocacy tools (e.g., policy briefs, petitions) tailored to their specific contexts and target audiences.
• Guide them in crafting impactful messages and formulating clear policy asks.
• Identify potential risks related to Climate Change/Environment and develop mitigation strategies.
• Conduct focus group discussions and interviews with selected NSAs concerned with Climate Change/Environment to understand:
• Existing knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Climate Change/Environment.
• Specific needs, issues and gaps in capacity for Climate Change/Environment.
• Priorities and areas for capacity building.
• Design and deliver interactive workshops and training sessions on, for example but not limited to:
• Climate change impacts (drought, floods, etc.) in Northern Syria
• Environmental issues (water scarcity, soil erosion, Waste and effects of primitive oil refineries etc.)
• Adaptation strategies, and sustainable practices specific to the context of Northern Syria
• Climate-smart agriculture and resource management
• Advocacy strategies for environmental issues
• Integrating gender considerations into climate action
• Identify and share relevant resources on Climate Change/Environment, such as:
• Climate Change/Environment-related tools and materials
• Toolkits (in Arabic) on specific Climate Change/Environment topics.
• Case studies showcasing successful interventions in similar contexts.
• Online platforms and networks for continued learning and collaboration.
• Identify strategies for promoting sustainability, such as:
  • Advise non-state actors on integrating environmental sustainability and climate resilience into their ongoing and future projects.
  • Encouraging peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange among participating NSAs.
  • Collaborate with non-state actors to develop detailed action plans addressing specific environmental challenges and promoting climate adaptation strategies.
  • Fostering a culture of environmental awareness and climate resilience within NSAs through ongoing advocacy and awareness-raising efforts.
• Capacity Building and Mentoring action plan for each targeted NSAs, including a brief needs assessment, a list of priorities and suggested support modalities.
• Coaching and training report,
• Lessons learned paper based on project implementation reports, including on project’s benefits according to the Climate Change/Environment.
• Draft final report of the consultancy.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

• Advanced Degree in environmental science, climate change, sustainable development, or a related field.
• Proven experience working in the humanitarian and development sectors.
• At least 5-7 years of experience in climate change adaptation, environmental management, or related areas, particularly in conflict-affected or fragile contexts.
• Familiarity with international frameworks and policies related to climate change and environment.
• Understanding of the environmental and climate challenges specific to Northern Syria.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity building programs and workshops.
• Strong training and facilitation skills, with proven experience in capacity building for local organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement effective advocacy strategies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent writing skills with high proficiency in English and Arabic.
• Sensitivity to cultural contexts in northern Syria.
• Ability to do the documentation and prepare publications, reports, and presentations.
• High level of flexibility required.