Climate Change Consultant

We are looking for a professional with proven experience in climate change sectoral issues for the position of Climate Change Consultant. As a consultant you will provide technical support and advice to sectoral specialists and external clients across different sectors and climate change thematic areas through the bank project cycle including the elaboration of country strategies and the preparation and support execution of operations with climate components.

Established in 1959, the Inter-American Development Bank (“IDB” or “Bank”) is the main source of financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides loans, grants, guarantees, policy advice and technical assistance to the public and private sectors of its borrowing countries.

In light of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Climate Change Division partners with stakeholders within the IDB Group and across Latin America and the Caribbean to mobilize resources, generate and disseminate knowledge, and help build institutions to achieve low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

To achieve this mission, CSD/CCS has developed a strategic work force plan to implement its Action Plan 2021-2025, which is based in the MDB common approach to addressing climate change, structured around the following building blocks: provide policy support; alignment of operations to the Paris Agreement; mitigation and temperature goals; adaptation and climate resilient development pathways); accelerate contributions to the transition through climate finance; reporting; and align internal activities.

You will work for the Climate Change Division (“CSD/CCS”), which is part of the Climate Change and Sustainability Sector (“CSD”). This team is responsible for advising IDB management and developing policies, strategies, operational guidelines, and programs on issues relevant to the sector, as well as related areas. In addition, CSD carries out relevant sector research, analytical work, sector practices and case studies on climate change and sustainability. As a division of CSD, CSD/CCS provides support: (i) in the mainstreaming of climate change in the actions and operations of the IDB group and (ii) in the mainstreaming of climate change in the regional countries of the IDB group through support to the ministries of environment, planning, and economy and finance of the region. Both axes share the objective of strengthening climate policy at the subnational, national, and regional levels.

What you’ll do:

You will help provide technical support and advice to Mexico country office management, specialists, and external clients across different sectors and climate change thematic areas through the bank project cycle including the elaboration of country strategies and the preparation and support execution of operations with climate components. Help engage with the executing agencies from ministries of environment, economy, agriculture, finance, education, labour, etc., as well as national development banks, to develop and execute interventions that seek to create effective climate action.

The main activities are listed, but are not limited, to the ones below: 

Climate change policy analysis and recommendations to mainstream climate change in the country portfolio

As part of the support to be provided by CCS to the mainstreaming of climate change in the country portfolio, when applicable provide analytical inputs to strategic documents. Tasks include: (i) review and distill the most relevant CC related literature and national policies and regulations regarding sectors that are addressed in the current country portfolio, (ii) develop analysis on the climate change impact in relevant sectors, as necessary, NDC sectorial implications, and provide policy recommendations. 

Project pipeline review

• Support engagement with the focal points responsible for country programming (in Mexico country office and within sectors as needed) to review the proposed project pipelines for climate change, biodiversity and natural capital impacts and potential opportunities.
• Apply the Scan methodology to identify operations where the participation of climate change and sustainability specialists in the project team would add value (particularly for climate adaptation or resilience) and ensure the participation of specialists in project preparation as needed.
• Apply the IDB Group climate finance, and green finance tracking methodologies, as well, as IDB Group Paris Alignment Implementation Approach to the Bank operations in Mexico.

Operations preparation and implementation

• Support the Team Leader and team members in the preparation of operations to include CC, biodiversity and natural capital considerations and identify actions that support activities that promote carbon neutrality, climate resilience and nature-positive across sectors.
• Support the Team Leader and team members in the execution of operations that consider the implementation of climate change actions. This includes the generation of inputs for donor’s reports, monitoring of compliance with climate change indicators, support in the review of outputs generated under the operation and other required activities.

Capacity building

• Support the implementation of the annual Capacity Building Program in order to create internal capacity among the different sectorial divisions to build better understanding of climate change opportunities and risks in relevant sectors.
• Support generation of knowledge products and training materials.
• Follow up on the activities and analytical aspects related to climate change in CCS technical cooperations in Mexico, in preparation and execution, and facilitate the fulfillment of their objectives, including the technical review of the deliverables, preparation of notes conceptual, among others.

Dialogue and Stakeholder coordination:

• Support the climate change dialogue with government, private sector and civil society stakeholders.
• Coordinate activities related to the implementation of climate change operations with different stakeholders to advance the expected results of the operations.

What you’ll need: 

Education:

• Master’s degree o equivalent in climate related Environmental Studies, Economics, Engineering, Biology, Public Policy, International Development, or similar discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience in development of climate, sustainability, biodiversity related analysis as well as the design and execution of projects that contribute to low-carbon, resilient and nature-positive development (mitigation or adaptation) is required. Work experience with climate change issues in international institutions, preferable at UN agencies or development banks, or governments is a requirement. Knowledge of sustainable agriculture/livestock, forestry, sustainable infrastructure, climate resiliency, Nature-Based Solutions, Mexican CC public policy and regulatory framework, and green procurement is an advantage.

Languages:

• Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

Source: https://iadbcareers.referrals.selectminds.com/jobs/climate-change-consultant-6496