Main purpose of job:

 This is an exciting opportunity at the heart of the growing UK-Brazil collaboration on Climate: forests and sustainable land use. You will be part of the International Climate Finance (ICF) team in the British Embassy, working closely with diverse UK Government Departments including the International Forests Unit.

UK International Climate Finance is an £11.6 billion portfolio of Official Development Assistance (covering the period 2021-26), which includes a range of programmes designed to support low- and middle-income countries achieve a low carbon transition, climate resilience and nature conservation. This includes supporting implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions through stronger policies and tangible progress on the ground. £3 billion of this ICF support has a focus on nature: halting deforestation and biodiversity loss, building sustainable supply chains, promoting a bioeconomy and mobilising private finance.

This role will manage ICF forest and land use programmes and support their integration with policy initiatives in Brazil. ICF manager will work as part of a diverse team to strengthen the forest pillar of the Brazil and UK Green and Inclusive Growth Partnership (GIG). You will also explore new opportunities for ICF partnering, build effective relationships with in-country stakeholders, and help guide the ICF Brazil Forest strategy.

Brazil is a major recipient of ICF, and this role will help to drive the impact of this funding by managing and providing strategic inputs into programmes and projects such as:

• REDD for Early Movers (REM) programme to support jurisdictions with results-based finance to strengthen forest governance and reduce deforestation.
• £10 million (approximately) of the Mobilising Finance for Forests (MFF) programme aiming to reduce deforestation rates by building private investment markets that either create value from standing forests and/or incorporate forest protection into agricultural production.
• UK contribution to Amazon Bioeconomy and Forest Management Multi-donor trust fund (AMDTF), aiming to assist Amazon countries in reducing pressure on forest ecosystems by improving environmental governance and fostering sustainable economic alternatives.
• £1.2 million UK PACT project working with Ministry of Environment and Climate (MMA) which aims to support the National Bioeconomy Policy and Plan and establish the National Sociobioeconomy Programme.
• £1.0 million UK PACT project working with Pará supporting the implementation of the State’s Bioeconomy Plan, aiming to develop a Sociobioeconomy Centre and unlock Amazon Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities’ Research, Development & Innovation potential
• 2 new projects under The Lab, an investor-led, public-private initiative that accelerates innovative well designed, early-stage climate finance solutions and instruments.
• Provide visibility to Partnerships for Forests (P4F) programme phase 1 outcomes and support phase 2 development.

This position will work directly with the implementers of ICF programmes, contributing to effective programme management by supporting risk management, managing stakeholders, enhancing programme visibility and ensuring that the programmes respond to evolving forest and land use policy dynamics, providing robust evidence of impact for the Brazil and UK GIG partnership.

ICF manager is expected to manage your own administrative tasks and support the wider team on administrative tasks as and when required, with limited management. You will report to the ICF Forest and Land Use Lead.

The candidate will ideally be based at the British Embassy in Brasilia, but we will consider applications from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Recife where the right candidate will be based at one of the British Consulates.

Roles and responsibilities:

1. ICF Portfolio management (50%)

• Monitor and provide programme management support to the ICF forest portfolio. This includes ensuring delivery partners are meeting agreed objectives, local and global results are maximised, risks are controlled and proper visibility. Help programmes exceed expectations: e.g., by building greater political momentum; integration with other policy and finance initiatives; and better outcomes for businesses and private investors.
• Leverage the ICF portfolio of programmes to develop effective relationships with the Brazilian Federal and State Governments, private sector stakeholders, civil society and Indigenous Peoples organisations.
• Contribute to coordinated engagement with Brazil between UK government Departments (FCDO, DESNZ, DEFRA).
• Work with other donors, government entities and regional stakeholders to effectively raise the profile of forest and climate programmes, supporting key events to showcase our work to reduce deforestation and increase the value of standing forests, enhancing the UK’s position as a major partner of strategic importance for Brazil.
• Support the development of a pipeline of potential new investment options that could deepen the UK and Brazil GIG partnership. Influence key organisations and individuals to help shape the initiatives to meet both the UK’s and Brazil’s needs.
• Lead on the preparation and coordination of key visits (monitoring missions to Brazil; ministerial visits) and senior-level meetings that will increase the profile of our programmes and help secure measures needed to strengthen their implementation. Publicly represent the Embassy and UK government as a credible interlocutor.

2.  Integrate programme and policy initiatives (50%)

• Assess potential policy barriers and opportunities to boost ICF profile in country and strengthen Brazil-UK GIG partnership.
• Regularly communicate Brazilian policy changes in a concise manner to UK-based colleagues and participate in the main discussion forums covering Brazil forest and land use.
• Guide ICF strategy and ensure coherence among forest and land use policy and programmatic initiatives under the UK’s ICF Brazil Strategy and Embassy Business Plan.
• Contribute to solid implementation of Brazil NDCs through stakeholder engagement, programme delivery, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Proactively seek collaboration opportunities amongst Embassy (in Brazil or abroad) teams to support the UK’s low-carbon agenda in Brazil by e.g., ensuring finance and policy initiatives interact effectively across UK Departments.
• Ensure alignment with regional initiatives to boost UK impact in the Amazon Region.
• Play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy (potentially also as a member of Embassy Committees) to maximise the overall well-being of staff.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Oversight of Brazil based programmes mentioned above. No staff.