Climate Change (CC) Adviser At Adam Smith International

Position Title: Climate Change (CC) Adviser

Long-Term / Short-Term: Long-term (initial phase to June 2024)

Position Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Reports To: Lead DRRCC Adviser

This position is open to Thai nationals only.

Program Background

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is the Australian Government’s flagship infrastructure initiative for Southeast Asia. It partners with Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to foster inclusive growth through sustainable economic infrastructure (i.e. transport, energy, telecommunications, and utilities).

Delivered through a single cohesive team, the initiative is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in collaboration with EY, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One. The Program’s Head Office is in Bangkok.

P4I focuses on infrastructure prioritisation and planning, policy and regulation, and procurement and project preparation (P4I does not finance the delivery of infrastructure). All services aim to address gender equality and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change issues.

P4I can respond to rapid requests, but ultimately aims to develop longer-term infrastructure engagement.

Further information about P4I is available at www.partnershipsforinfrastructure.org

The Role

The CC Adviser will work closely with P4I’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change (DRRCC) Lead Adviser, DRRCC team, DFAT-appointed Executive Director of P4I, Delivery Partner organisations and other P4I staff to coordinate P4I’s integrated approach to DRRCC so that the P4I Program effectively incorporates CC principles into activities.

The responsibilities of the position will include, but not be limited to:

• Support the DRRCC Advisers to coordinate and drive implementation of the DRRCC workstream through the twin-track approach of standalone DRRCC activities and integrating DRRCC into the Program’s service delivery functions.
• Coordinate research and analysis to ensure: CC needs, barriers, opportunities and risks are identified and addressed during the design and delivery of Program activities
• Coordinate the identification, design and delivery of selected activities focused specifically on CC issues relating to infrastructure resilience across project cycles
• Support the CC team to: produce analytical products related to CC, which may include (but not be limited to) activity evaluations, thematic studies or country studies; and to identify and support appropriate activities to share these outputs (e.g. Knowledge based products and events)
• Collaborate with stakeholders on CC and infrastructure, including officers and programs at Australian Government posts, Southeast Asian government and ASEAN officials, other donors and civil society. Coordinate with P4I’s Delivery Partner organisations to align activities with their existing programs, training and networking activities
• Support the coordination and integration of CC with technical teams, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) team, Government to Government team and Knowledge and Learning team
• Coordinate the delivery of CC training for Program and DFAT staff to build the Program’s capacity to integrate CC into infrastructure issues in the region.
• Contribute to the preparation of Program reports and planning, including Workplans and six-monthly Program Performance Reports.

In undertaking all the above, the position will operate as part of P4I’s One-Team, contributing to well-coordinated planning and delivery across all members of the Delivery Partner organisations.

Selection Criteria

• Relevant qualifications related to Climate Mitigation, Climate Change Adaptation and / or Climate Finance.
• Demonstrated understanding of Climate Change issues in the context of infrastructure development.
• Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming Climate Change approaches in government policy, as well as experience working on policy and / or implementation of Climate Change projects in the international development context.
• Demonstrated understanding of disaster and climate trends across Southeast Asia and Australia.
• Strong communication, writing and analytical skills in English and preferably in at least one other Southeast Asian language.
• Demonstrated initiative, drive and creativity to support the establishment and delivery of a new program; and a proven ability to prioritise and coordinate multiple activities while producing high-quality outputs.
• Excellent liaison and coordination skills with demonstrated ability to (a) operate effectively in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation and (b) work effectively with a wide range of external stakeholders, including senior government officials.
• Ability to take initiative with limited oversight.

Desirable

• Experience in understanding CC projections, impact models and their implications for infrastructure and assets.
• Experience in developing adaptation action plans (asset/infrastructure specific a benefit), adaptation pathways or asset specific adaptation actions.
• Experience in applying resilience principles to infrastructure sector including knowledge of relevant global sector guidelines on Climate proofing and Paris alignment.
• Understanding of principles of emissions appraisal, efficiency management, and low carbon development.
• Understanding of international climate policy and agreements and their application and associated reporting systems