Low-Emissions Development Strategy Advisor, Winrock International – Malawi
Organization: Winrock International
Position Title: Low-Emissions Development Strategy Advisor
Location: Malawi
Hours and Compensation: Full-time; commensurate with experience
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Description: Winrock is seeking Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) Advisor candidates for the USAID-funded program entitled Protecting Ecosystems and Restoring Forests in Malawi (PERFORM). The program is focused on advancing Malawi’s low-emissions development through a suite of nationally-focused policy and capacity efforts coupled with site-based efforts to reduce deforestation and improve land management. The goal of the project is to assist in ensuring that Malawi’s forest and soil resources are managed more efficiently, equitably, and sustainably. The program is expected to work at the regional, government and community levels, and will involve broad-based policy dialogue and technical capacity building. Winrock is responsible for leading PERFORM’s work on assisting Malawi to develop a low-emissions monitoring and analysis system. The Advisor will play a key role in supporting this work and toward ensuring PERFORM delivers lasting results with respect to Malawi’s low-emissions analysis and investment priorities. The LEDS Advisor will be embedded within the Environmental Affairs Department and will coordinate very closely with Department personnel on a day to day basis. The LEDS position will work in close association with Winrock’s USA-based technical experts in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) accounting and mitigation analysts. The position will also be responsible for working with EAD to track and pursue opportunities for Malawi to access funding, including the development of public-private partnerships.
Responsibilities:
• Lead and coordinate Low Emission Development work taking place under the PERFORM project
• Support and facilitate improved coordination among Government of Malawi departments for the effective implementation of a national GHG inventory
• Develop and implement GHG Inventory capacity building, communication, and outreach efforts
• Assist EAD (GoM Environmental Affairs Department) to develop their capacity to compile, analyze, and conduct quality control and assessments of greenhouse gas accounting information and
• Assist in the development of an annual training program to promote coordination and build understanding of issues surrounding GHG inventory development and monitoring
• Develop GHG Inventory capacity-building plans specific to Malawian context. Given their overwhelming contribution to total GHG emissions in Malawi, the agricultural and forestry sectors are particularly high priority sectors.
• Develop and adapt training GHG inventory and Low Emission Development materials for use in Malawi.
• Pursue opportunities for sharing LEDS information with regional programs
• Assist in the development of a GHG Management System
• Assist Winrock’s technical team and EAD to develop sector specific protocols for data collection, management and storage for priority sectors
• Together with Winrock’s technical team, train government ministry staff in GHG data collection and baseline establishment
• Support GoM in Low Emissions Development planning
• Assist EAD to assess LED, GHG mitigation, and climate change adaptation options
• Together with PERFORM team, develop and implement capacity building efforts on the use of selected LEDS planning tools
• Develop tools and/or analytics that can aid in attracting and tracking finance and investment opportunities from public or private sources
• Coordinate and communicate on a regular basis with Winrock’s Home Office.
• Establish contacts with partners and clients to ensure coordinated implementation of project activities and represent the Winrock Team at key meetings.
• Work closely with Winrock’s USA-based technical team
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) required in environmental policy, environmental economics, forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, conservation, natural science, sustainable development, climate change related fields or other relevant international development field.
Work Experience:
- Knowledge of Malawi’s forestry and agricultural sectors and climate change policies
- Minimum five years of combined experience working in forestry, environmental and economic policy, climate change policy, environmental and/or climate change finance, GHG emission accounting, and/or Low Emission Development Strategies.
- Extensive experience developing training programs and working to build institutional capacity of government counterparts at the national and/or local level
- Proven understanding of GHG inventories and management systems
- Familiarity with international climate change policy and financing
- Experience in development of private-public partnerships (preferred)
Skills:
- Proven ability to successfully work with key forestry and agricultural sector government agencies, institutes, NGOs and experts (Malawian experience preferred)
- Ability to build coalitions and networks that can provide synergies and sustainable solutions to forest management issues.
- Must be comfortable in high-level representational role as well as interacting with beneficiaries.
- Strong managerial skills.
- Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written.
- Excellent computer skills (word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases).
- Experience in Malawi (preferred) or surrounding countries
- Fluency and/or familiarity of Chichewa (desired)
How to Apply: Apply at the Winrock International careers website.
