Climate Change and Ageing Adviser At HelpAge International

Location: Global. Based anywhere as long as you have the legal right to live and work in that country

Department: Global Impact

Reports to (Line Manager):Portfolio Lead, Income Security

Grade: UK Grade ‘E’ Salary £43,000 per annum but adjusted to the cost of living of country in which you are based so the amount may be lower than this

Contract: Fixed Term, 2 years

About HelpAge

HelpAge International works with partners and a diverse global network of more than 170 organisations over 90 countries, supporting millions of older people to live safe, dignified, and healthy lives. Through our partnership and collaborations, we work to ensure the inclusion of older people across society and strive to deliver a just and fair world for everyone, whatever their age.

About the Job

The role will report to the Portfolio Lead on Income Security but will work across portfolios and regions to lead on the delivery of strategic climate crisis priorities.

Key areas for impact/influence and responsibilities

The Adviser would have the responsibility of providing technical, policy, and programme implementation leadership and support, and knowledge and capacity development to HelpAge.

The Adviser will work with global teams, country teams, partners and network members to:

• Provide thought leadership on the intersection of population ageing and climate change across the HelpAge network.
• Drive strategic Climate Change and Population Ageing priorities across HelpAge and the network. Lead the positioning of HelpAge International as a thought leader on the climate crisis and population ageing, and serve as a credible voice on technical, programming and policy issues.
• Provide strategic oversight, guidance and support in the development and implementation of programming tools related to the Climate Crisis and its impact on older people, across the portfolios.
• Lead HelpAge knowledge management activities in climate change internally and in collaboration with research institutions and collaborators
• Develop the capacity of HelpAge staff, partners, and network members through training (including coaching and mentoring), developing tools, training materials, webinars and focused guidelines.
• Develop and disseminate articles, papers and think pieces on Climate Change highlighting intergenerational approaches and older people’s engagement
• Promote and follow up on coalitions and broader social movements, highlighting the engagement of older people and their organisations
• Support, through the network and partners, older people and their organisations to be active agents of the diverse movements for climate action
• Drive and develop existing and new strategic partnerships with multilateral; and civil society organisations, academia and other key stakeholders in support of our climate change strategy.
• Connect and influence the UNFCCC and other UN system organisations, as well as other multilateral and bilateral agencies, in coordination with portfolios where relevant
• Explore and connect with potential sources of funding for climate-related action for HelpAge and Network members, in coordination with the Business Development Department
• Provide senior Climate Change representation on behalf of HelpAge International internally, across the network and externally in relevant events, conferences and other thematic networks, and meetings.

Skills and experience required

• Significant experience in an international development organisation in a senior position working on climate change. Understanding of population ageing, its trends and challenges, as well as of the rights of older people.
• Strong understanding of climate justice, and intersectional issues – such as how inequality and discrimination, including gender equality and disability and older people inclusion, and the rights of indigenous peoples – are critical to the climate change discourse.
• Significant experience of advocacy and policy influencing climate-related work with governments, donors, UN agencies, CSOs or multilateral agencies
• Track record in policy analysis, research, report writing, dissemination of good practices in development or humanitarian contexts
• Experience engaging with donors and different sources of funding
• Ability to engage in and contribute to high-level policy dialogues and advisory functions involving civil society, governments, multilateral agencies, UNs and other stakeholders
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the global debate on climate change and experience in environmental debates and dialogues and processes
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and dependably with colleagues, fostering innovation, teamwork and sharing a sense of joint learning
• Ability to communicate clearly complex issues related to climate change to diverse audiences
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, prioritize and get things done
• On-the-ground experience with grassroots organisations and local actors with the understanding of and commitment to principles of locally-led development
• Excellent writing, communications, facilitation, capacity building and networking skills in English.
• Strong ability to mobilise, build partnerships, solve problems, guide and motivate people toward the achievement of agreed goals.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English. Knowledge in Spanish or Arabic is an asset.

Key Behavioural Competencies

At HelpAge International, we believe in the importance of empowering our people to be change makers and leaders at all levels. We expect our people to embrace and live our values, challenging themselves every day to identify issues that are most important to older persons and their communities, and to make an impact that matters.

In addition, as an HelpAge employee you are expected to:

Working Collaboratively with Others: Work collaboratively, building mutual trust and respect, with external organisations and partners to achieve our strategic aims and objectives; being accountable for the work we do together.

Adaptability and Flexibility : Adapt to new directions or opportunities arising within the organisation and in our work area; being flexible in our role, constantly using the feedback to learn more and evolve further.

Supporting and Facilitating Change: Lead behavioural and cultural change through embracing a supportive, collaborative and highly inclusive environment where everybody feels supported, respected and engaged.

Extend HelpAge’s Reach and Impact: Extend HelpAge’s reach and impact by creating and identifying new business development opportunities and building relationships with new partners.

Diversity and Inclusion: Lead and promote a culture of including the voices of older people across our support, convening and thought leadership roles, in a way that is transformative, empowering and highly inclusive of those marginalised by gender, economic status, disability and other factors of discrimination.

Leading Others (for managers): Demonstrate strong leadership to own unit/department and manage people in a well and reputable manner. Create an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

Safeguarding

HelpAge International is committed to safeguarding the communities with which we work, our partners, staff and any others who we come into contact with. The post holder will also be responsible for:

• Preventing harm and abuse from our people, operations and programmes to anyone that encounters our work.
• Reporting all safeguarding incidents you see, hear, hear about or suspect, using our internal reporting mechanism.
• Complying with all safeguarding framework policies and practices.
• Completing mandatory training courses relating to our safeguarding policy framework and complying with HR vetting procedures.

SAFER RECRUITMENT

All employments at HelpAge International will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include misconduct disclosure schemes and terrorism finance checks.