Save the Children – Climate Resilience Technical Advisor

ROLE PURPOSE:

As a member of the Programme Development Quality & Advocacy (PDQA) Team, the Climate Resilience Advisor will be responsible for developing and implementing sector relevant strategies for the country office with a primary focus on early recovery and development. In close coordination with the program operations team, the Climate Resilience Advisor will provide technical guidance and oversight to climate resilience activities, ensuring that they are implemented in a high quality and timely manner. The technical advisor will play an active role in providing technical leadership on developing high quality concept notes and proposals in close coordination with awards, partner organizations and the field teams. Key aspect is the development and maintenance of strong relationships with Government, donors, members, UN, INGOs and local partner counterparts.

The technical advisor will represent SCI Iraq at strategic internal/external forums (technical working groups, sector coordination platforms) and with key stakeholders such as line ministries (in Erbil and Baghdad), donors, UN agencies and sector partners. The technical advisor will work closely with Education, Child Protection, Livelihoods and Youth TAs to ensure integration/cross sectoral linkages with climate resilience programming. The Technical advisor will collaborate with SCI advocacy and communications team supporting advocacy initiatives and ensuring the impact of the work in these sectors is communicated widely.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

Programme Development and Support:

• Lead on Climate resilience multi-sectoral assessments in coordination with other thematic areas or partners (SCI/external). Ensuring findings are documented and include analysis of children’s needs
• Lead on implementing Climate resilience country strategic plan targets in close collaboration with other thematic technical advisors and contribute to Save the Children’s overall country strategy.
• Lead on fundraising efforts for climate resilience, including the development of high-quality and innovative concept notes and proposals, and engagement with relevant government ministries, donors, I/NGOs and SC global teams and member offices.
• Provide technical oversight to support implementation of climate resilient water, and environmental projects, such as, but not limited to; water shed management, water resource management, environmental engineering and other relevant projects.
• Provide technical advice to other thematic technical advisors for the design, implementation, and quality assurance of climate resilience activities, such as climate adaptation, climate mitigation, sustainable energy, natural resource management, ecosystem-based adaptation, anticipatory actions and disaster risk reduction, environmental impacts mitigation, or other relevant areas as needed.
• Oversee programme implementation to ensure high quality, timely delivery of programme activities, for example, monitoring against log frames.
• Develop technical standards/quality benchmarks for climate resilience programming for SCI Iraq in alignment with global standards
• Collaborate closely with and facilitate technical exchanges with SCI’s staff, partners, and collaborators on climate resilience.
• Develop tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components for climate resilience activities; ensure project implementation adheres to the appropriate global strategy and remains technically sound.
• Support program managers in the preparation of timely program and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Work closely with the operations team and identify Climate resilience staffing needs for programs, and ensure rapid recruitment, induction, and training of new staff.
• Identify climate resilience program supply needs and support program managers and the logistics team to put in place a sensible phased procurement plan for both areas.
• Work closely with the Ops team climate related anticipatory actions and linkages to the CO Emergency Preparedness Plan.
• Working closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation team, put in place climate resilience sector M & E plans, ensuring this links to reporting requirements and ensure accountability mechanisms for climate resilience, ensuring that feedback is incorporated into program design and learning disseminated to the wider sector.
• Ensure minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct and other applicable standards for relevant climate resilience activities.
• Support the implementation of the Environmental Social Screening procedure and provide technical advice to other thematic advisors on the development of mitigation plans.
• Ensure Child Safeguarding CSG is embedded in the education project cycle starting from assessment, design, implementation and monitoring in coordination with the CSG Coordinator/focal point.
• For each programme, the relevant community and affected populations are engaged in the programme design.

Capacity Building:

• Develop climate resilience learning need assessment and lead capacity building needs initiatives based on identified priorities (including linking capacity building initiatives to wider opportunities identified via coordination and networks)”
• Coach and mentor Save the Children managers, coordinators, officers as well as their national level counterparts on climate resilience.

Representation & Advocacy & Organizational Learning:

• Help shape broader sector strategies through influence of and leadership within inter-agency coordination forums.
• Take the initiative in documenting lessons learned, best practices and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches and contribute to broader sector learning.
• Pro-actively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies and research opportunities which link with wider organizational strategic objectives and turn these into action.
• Play a leadership role in shaping climate resilience communications and media priorities in line with thematic priorities, acting as a spokesperson when required.
• Safeguarding and its resourcing is considered in all relevant strategies and responses.

General:

• Demonstrate leadership in relation to Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Deliver high quality results and development effective relationships with country programme staff which enhances the reputation of Save the Children.
• Demonstrate leadership in relation to Save the Children policies and practices regarding child protection, Code of Conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Help be responsible for the security of all staff. Ensure that the security, health and well-being of staff are ensured, and staff management and other processes and policies and systems reflect Save the Children principles of equity and fairness.
• To perform such other responsibilities as agreed with the advisor line management.

QUALIFICATIONS 

BA/BS in engineering or equivalent relevant degree required. Master’s degree preferred.

Essential

• At least 5 years of experience in the early recovery/development WASH, environmental engineering and/or climate resilience sectors.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of climate change science, adaptation, and mitigation strategies, and their relevance and application to other sectors, such as health, education, livelihoods, and child protection.
• Demonstrated track record in successful bid design and submission across a variety of donors.
• Strong technical knowledge and experience in water and sanitation engineering, including the design and implementation of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene promotion interventions.
• Experience with project cycle management, including planning, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation.
• Experience in conducting multi-sectoral assessments, identifying climate-related risks and vulnerabilities, and developing integrated and cross-cutting strategies that address climate change impacts across different sectors.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and ability to translate technical information and data into practical and actionable recommendations and strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical colleagues, partners, and stakeholders, including donors, government counterparts, and community members.
• Experience in facilitating community engagement and participation processes, including the use of participatory methodologies, social accountability mechanisms, and other community-driven approaches to promote sustainable and equitable development outcomes.
• Familiarity with global and national policies and frameworks related to climate change and sustainable development, and ability to incorporate these into program design and implementation.
• Capacity to develop and deliver capacity building initiatives, including mentoring and coaching, to strengthen the technical skills and knowledge of staff and partners.
• Capacity to develop and maintain effective relationships with donors and partners, including identifying opportunities for partnership and collaboration, and represent the organization in external meetings and events. Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
• Capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of Save the Children’s mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable

• Experience in promoting children’s participation in programme design, implementation and evaluation.