Main purpose of job:

The Pacific Climate Policy Attache will deliver the UK’s climate change programme work and objectives across the Pacific Island Countries, working on climate issues important to Pacific Island Countries, collaborating with UK High Commission teams across the region and in the UK to provide strategic advice on UK-Pacific climate partnerships as part of an ambitious and active global network.  

Based in BHC Suva, the Attache will primarily have responsibility for working with Pacific Governments to drive the UK’s climate adaptation policy and programme partnerships, supporting strategic climate action and promoting the UK‘s global leadership in implementing the Paris Agreement.

The UK has four climate priorities in the Pacific: access to climate finance, renewable energy transition, climate adaptation and ocean resilience, and protecting nature and biodiversity. Working with the Pacific Climate and Energy Counsellor, this role has responsibilities focussing on access to climate finance and climate adaptation but will also support work in the renewable energy transition and protecting nature and biodiversity priorities.

The post holder will be responsible for a broad range of activity spanning policy and programmes, including liaising with and learning from Pacific Governments and regional institutions, representing the UK at events and supporting other senior UK representatives when they visit. They will keep pace with academic and industrial advances and science in the region, following the COP series of meetings and supporting UK and Pacific preparation, delivering some projects and carrying out monitoring, evaluation, learning and communication around these. They will contribute to policy development and advice. and build networks across a diverse range of Fiji and wider Pacific stakeholders. They will find new opportunities to engage UK expertise and offers in Fiji and across the Pacific, and work with teams in the UK to leverage UK programme offers where relevant and providing project management support to smaller UK offices across the Pacific to deliver regional climate programming. The post holder will work closely with colleagues in London to provide briefing and analysis on climate issues, and timely and accurate responses to requests requiring Pacific expertise. 

We need someone who can work collaboratively as part of a regional team to deliver high quality work, meet long-term goals whilst responding promptly to diverse short term commissions. You must be passionate about climate, energy and the environment and have strong communication skills and an ability to build relationships, including remotely. The successful candidate should have strong existing knowledge of global, Fiji, and Pacific climate change issues and have a strong climate network in Fiji and across the region. You should also understand project management principles and willingness to learn the UK processes.

It would be an advantage to have experience in broader development and humanitarian work, and adaptability and willingness to support other areas of the mission.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Climate Policy and Programmes

• Work as part of the UK’s Regional Climate Team (a cross-site team in Suva, Wellington and Canberra) to collaborate with the British High Commissions in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea as the Pacific Climate Adaptation policy lead.
• Support the coordination of UK programme effort across the Pacific, including providing project management and strategic advice to the UK’s International Climate Finance programmes and projects, particularly those focussing on climate adaptation.
• Support effective reporting, monitoring, evaluation and learning of British partnerships operating across the Pacific.
• Manage relationships with existing ODI Fellows, the Climate Finance Absorption Adviser embedded within GGGI-Ministry of Finance, and other UK-supported embedded advisers across Government of Fiji, ensuring their regular engagement with the British High Commission team.
• Promote the UK’s Pacific Islands-focused climate change activities to the regional audience and domestic audience, to ensure maximum impact.
• Maintain relationships with climate change bodies, including PIFS, SPC and SPREP, to support UK International Climate Engagement and climate advocacy strategies across the Pacific. This will include leading UK engagement with Fiji and other Pacific Governments in preparation for COP30.

Global climate network reporting

• Providing timely updates on climate policy development in the region to UK-based leads.
• Providing high quality briefing for Senior Officials and Ministers to enable effective communication with their Pacific counterparts at global climate events.
• Flexibly supporting other UK High Commissions in the Pacific Region on local climate issues as part of the global climate network, this will include opportunities to travel across the region.

Development policy and programme management

Whilst this role focusses on climate change, there is scope to provide support to the UK’s broader development and humanitarian objectives including disaster risk finance, multilateral reform, and democratic governance. Support could include policy development, programme design and delivery, and communications.

• Undergraduate degree in relevant subject, or other academic study of equal standing, and / orA minimum of five years work experience in a climate, science, government or connected field.
• Knowledge of and experience working on international climate change policy and sound understanding of Pacific climate change issues
• Project management experience
• Strong climate change network within Pacific
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong relationship management skills
• Excellent research and analysis skills (including accuracy and strong attention to detail)