Job Highlight:
As Climate Resilient Cities Lead in Africa, your role will be to anchor and coordinate WRI’s research, engagement, and technical support on climate resilience in Africa. You will work with WRI Africa Cities Director and Global Leads for Urban Resilience and Cities4Forests to develop and implement the regional strategy and projects for equitable and climate resilient cities. You will work closely with the cities team in Africa and global office as well as stakeholders to identify priority projects and funding opportunities for climate resilience initiatives. You will also be working with other WRI initiatives, such AFR100. You will be responsible for identifying and building working relationships with local authorities, community, policy, private sector, and other partners to collaborate with in developing climate resilience initiatives/programs.
You will report to Director, Thriving Resilient Cities, WRI Africa.
What you will do:
Leadership, Coordination and Engagement (40%):
Serve as the point contact and lead for project/program development and implementation as well as research work of the climate resilient cities initiative in Africa
Liaise with government, donors, academic institutions, and other external stakeholders to expand WRI Africa Cities portfolio, specifically the climate resilient cities initiatives
Serve as WRI Africa cities strategic team member as well as a national focal person for WRI’s cities work in your respective location
Provide guidance on research agenda of climate resilient cities in Africa
Identify outside engagement opportunities and work with communications and other program team members to set the communication and engagement plan for the project (this includes designing and implementing events)
Lead work with team members to develop a knowledge product publication and dissemination plan for the project, seek approval from project directors on the same. Coordinate with Research, Data & Innovation (RDI) teams to set the work flow and approach to manage publications
Coordinate with communication team and project leads on setting the overall communication agenda in coordination with project directors
In coordination with the project directors, continue to develop partnership approaches with other programs like International Climate Action, World Resources Report, Economics Center, Equity Center and RKE to expand and deepen research and engagement work to achieve key project objectives
Program Management (40%):
Coordinate the climate resilient cities initiatives on a day to day basis across all workstreams (baseline and MEL development, project prioritization, NBS design and financing and implementation) and with all team members (Cities, Water, Data, UWR, C4F). Lead in setting up project schedules, meeting agendas and manage deliverables as per commitments to donors as well as monitor and evaluate progresses against WRI targets for climate resilience
Engage with Regional Cities Director and Global Directors (UWR and C4F) to prepare and lead on donor reporting including developing reports and presentations for quarterly and annual basis as required.
Lead on the preparation of action plans and budget for climate resilient projects in Africa which includes internal financial reviews (quarterly reviews) to assess spend down versus allocation to adjust budgets as needed (to be coordinated with Global and Africa GFS leads)
Get approvals from Cities and Project Directors, lead on refining and updating the staffing plan and budget for the project to ensure adequate capacity for delivery of the program.
Develop job descriptions for hires aligned with the roles and responsibilities needed to deliver key components of the program. Get HR approvals and conduct hiring processes as per WRI protocols
Develop a delivery plan for scaling the city level work to five other cities and work with the project directors to support implementation of the same
Work with WRI’s equity experts to ensure gender and social equity integration into NBS projects, including in proposals, workplans, and MEL frameworks
Manage, draft, partnership agreements and contracts for local partners and consultants as needed for project implementation
Fund mobilization (20%)
Support fundraising through the identification and development of joint cities programs and projects proposals, which also includes leading responses to calls and Requests for Proposals identified in consultation with project directors. Respond to the same by formulating concept notes in coordination with team members. Engage project directors as needed to lead on LPR processes to seek WRI proposal approvals on key elements like CAPGaps, TOC, MEL, etc.
Work with the Cities Director in Africa and global project directors to identify, respond to and lead on WRI’s internal flex funding processes and internal bilateral funding proposals to address new project research and analysis needs.
What will you need:
Education: You have a master’s degree in urban development, urban governance, environment, urban economics, climate resilience, water wise development or another related field
Experience: You have 8+ years of relevant, full-time work experience
Experience in project management, including working with donor reporting requirements
Experience working with peers and managers in matrixed environment
Experience collaborating across organizations, practice areas, disciplines
Demonstrated knowledge of urban climate resilience landscape and related equity issues in Africa
Demonstrated knowledge of architecture, urban planning, urban development, climate resilience, water resources management and environment, and related social equity issues
Experience communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences in presentations and in writing
Prior experience of working in the international NGO and development sector is preferred
Willingness to travel both throughout Africa and internationally
Languages: You are proficient in spoken and written English
Please submit a resume with cover letter by September 6, 2023. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.
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