Senior Policy Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL). Open for Switzerland, Canada, UK, Germany or Portugal

About Us

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 270 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.

IISD’s Resilience Program is made up of a multidisciplinary team of policy researchers who work with governments, civil society, communities, and businesses to help them manage climate- and conflict-related risks. Its work focuses on planning, people, and nature—preparing for a different or uncertain future, making sure people of different genders and social groups influence and benefit from investments in resilience, and harnessing the role of ecosystems to help communities manage risks. 

Within this work, the Resilience Program hosts the Secretariat for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network, an initiative focused on accelerating adaptation planning and action in developing countries.

One of the consistent areas of interest among Network participants is monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) for climate change adaptation. This includes areas of work across the full scope of developing, implementing, and revising MEL systems for climate change adaptation, with an emphasis on expertise at the national and sub-national levels. IISD is looking for an individual with solid experience across several areas of MEL for adaptation to (i) provide ongoing technical support to the NAP Global Network and (ii) provide complementary support to the NAP Global Network’s other areas of work and the Resilience group when needed.

The Position

The Senior Policy Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) will oversee the development, implementation, and communication of technical support and original research for IISD’s Resilience Program and, specifically, the NAP Global Network. This will include working with country partners to articulate their priorities and address technical needs related to different aspects of MEL for climate adaptation. The successful candidate will also build upon their substantive knowledge in the fields of MEL and climate change adaptation to lead and contribute to relevant research and the development of knowledge and communications products, informing national and global policy processes on climate change adaptation.

The Senior Policy Advisor will be expected to work with a network of resource people who might be called upon to provide support to countries seeking technical inputs on MEL for climate change adaptation within the frame of national adaptation planning and implementation.

Key Areas of Responsibility Will Include But Not Be Limited To

Strategy

• Work with the Lead for MEL to oversee the implementation of the NAP Global Network’s strategy on MEL for NAP processes, recognizing challenges, opportunities, and solutions relating to MEL for climate change adaptation; help define and execute appropriate response strategies.
• Support the design, scope, content, and expansion of IISD’s work on MEL for climate change adaptation in a way that aligns with the strategic direction of the NAP Global Network and the overall Resilience Program.
• Strengthen IISD’s involvement in international networks and initiatives that are aligned with its objectives.
• Participate in IISD’s wider work to strengthen its ability to achieve its mission; work with other senior staff to build synergies across IISD.

Research

• Lead and/or contribute to the delivery of high-quality primary and secondary research, knowledge products, communication materials, and other project outputs that accurately synthesize and assess research findings.
• Support institutional collaboration by serving as a peer reviewer, advisory committee member, or thematic expert on projects and deliverables throughout the organization.
• Remain up to date in both specific and general areas of expertise related to MEL for climate change adaptation and NAP processes.
• Track issues related to MEL and NAP processes at the national and international levels.

Technical Support and Operations

• Oversee and/or provide technical backstopping to government and civil society partners in the implementation of activities related to MEL for climate change adaptation, including designing and revising MEL systems; managing data, evidence, and knowledge for MEL, including climate risk assessments; developing indicators for climate adaptation; progress reporting and evaluations; and learning from monitoring and evaluation.
• Collaborate with NAP Global Network and Resilience staff, supervising and supporting the professional development of more junior staff.
• Support the design and management of work plans and funder reports.
• Ensure project compliance with IISD’s policies and that projects are actively monitored against financial, legal, and reputational risks.

Communications

• Develop relevant materials to communicate the work of the NAP Global Network and Resilience Program related to MEL for NAP processes and climate change adaptation to target audiences in collaboration with the IISD Communications team.
• Represent the NAP Global Network to clients, stakeholders, and policy-makers, including at national and international forums, conferences, and public events.
• Share program results through webinars, workshops, conferences, and other events.

Business Development and Donor Relationships

• Work with other IISD personnel on the identification of new fundraising opportunities and the development of new project ideas and proposals.
• Build relationships with existing program funders and participate in donor and partnership engagements and networking activities as needed.

Experience Sought

Please note that our Resilience team works across multiple time zones. We are looking for someone with a “can-do” work attitude who can work autonomously while proactively engaging with other team members.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent in international development, economics, environmental and ecological studies, geography, or another similar area.
• The ability to travel overseas on a regular basis.
• Currently eligible to work in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or Canada; exceptional candidates located in other countries may be considered.

Experience and Knowledge

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience in key areas of work in MEL for climate change adaptation.
• Knowledge and experience in designing and implementing MEL systems for climate change adaptation, including the different concepts, approaches, and related methodologies.
• Expertise and experience across key areas of MEL systems for climate change adaptation at the national level with country partners.
• Knowledge of climate change adaptation in developing countries:
  • A strong understanding of the NAP process is considered an asset.
• A solid understanding of development policy processes and dynamics, particularly in developing countries.
• Work experience in developing countries, particularly related to MEL for climate change adaptation.
  • Desirable: Relevant experience in sub-Saharan Africa, least developed countries, and/or Small Island Developing States is a strong asset.
• Experience with external communications.
• Experience in stakeholder management and outreach.

Skills

• Ability to effectively communicate policy issues and research findings to different audiences via different platforms.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Strong research and analytical skills and the ability to become familiar with new topics quickly.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to lead research and knowledge production from start to finish.
• The ability to design, fundraise for, and implement policy-oriented research projects from start to finish.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
  • Desirable: Ability to work (read, write, speak) in French is considered an asset, along with Spanish or both.

Behavioural Competencies

• Results-focused; able to work quickly and accurately to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of the results.
• Strong interpersonal skills and networking skills; ability to work comfortably across different cultures; ability to be an inclusive, positive, and effective communicator.
• Curious and committed to learning and working to understand the people, concepts, and issues that drive our work; asks questions and seeks answers.
• A positive work attitude and the ability to work independently and independently in a multidisciplinary, internationally distributed research team.
• Flexibility to take on tasks ranging from highly complex to basic in nature.

Location: Geneva, Switzerland or Canada, where IISD has offices in Winnipeg, Ottawa, or Toronto. Remote locations will be considered in Germany, Portugal, or the United Kingdom.

Term: Full-time 

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and location 

Start Date: As soon as possible 

Closing Date: August 16, 2024 at 4 PM CST

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for locations where they expect to be based without any sponsorship from IISD.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. 

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. 

• A CV (no longer than two pages) 
• A one-page letter of motivation 
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional) 

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

Selected candidates will be asked to submit a written test and interviewed by IISD.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.  

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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