Ethiopia is one of the countries in the Eastern Africa Region affected by protracted droughts largely caused due to changes related climate crisis, thus continuously posing hazards to children, particularly those who are most deprived and marginalized. In light of its strong commitment to establishing effective humanitarian and development nexus, Save the Children International Ethiopia Country Office is in a strategic period to ensure that innovative climate approaches and actions are embedded in our programs so that we contribute effectively to survival, development, and protection of children with their full participation.

We are looking for an experienced climate change professional, with a commitment to children’s rights, who is able to think strategically about Save the Children’s potential to contribute in a more systematic and significant way to this global crisis. A strong commitment to evidence and impact is essential to help the organization identify the right opportunities building on existing work, but also developing new proposals – working with a wide network of interested members and country offices (see below).  She/he will be responsible for leading the development of a strategic approach to climate change for the Country Office, and scaling up climate resilience programming and advocacy, helping to position Save the Children as a leading Child Rights organizations on climate resilience.

As Senior technical expert on Climate, she/he will use their in-depth contextual understanding, technical expertise, and relationship building skills to provide a critical link between Save the Children’s global and country-level climate-related work, strengthening our technical offer to our partners including our government partners. She/he will contribute to building capacity on Climate Resilience and fostering networks across the country office technical experts. It supports the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems to demonstrate impact while documenting, synthesizing and sharing learning across and beyond the country offices, and ensuring the quality of our programs.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Thematic Director for Food Security, Livelihoods, Resilience and WASH

Dimensions: Save the Children works in all regions in Ethiopia with a staff complement of approximately 1,600 and current expenditure $80 million each year. Save the Children operates multi-million dollar humanitarian programs with a wide range of donors, supporting refugee populations as well as host communities throughout Ethiopia

• Education: Minimum of BA/BSc degree in environmental studies, geography, political science, development studies or equivalent.
• 10 years of relevant progressive experience nationally and internationally on Climate resilience issues in emergency or development settings.
• Experience in leading the creation and implementation of a strategy, demonstrating the ability to identify and prioritize the necessary steps towards an ambitious goal.
• Experience in designing and writing proposals, monitoring and evaluating development programs that build resilience to climate shocks with a focus on children.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence and negotiate both internally and externally – including in English.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Excellent analytical skills especially on social aspects and impact of climate change on children
• Experience in building networks, resulting in securing significant new partnerships and funding opportunities for the organization.
• Sound understanding of major issues in the Country and East African Region related to the climate emergency, nexus agenda between humanitarian and development - and a close focus on evidence-based approaches, and action learning/adaptation of programming.
• Experience of building, leading and developing colleagues and staff with different backgrounds and expertise.
• Commitment to Save the Children values – including gender equality and focusing on the most marginalized and deprived.

Desirable

• Strong child rights programming and commitment to the rights-based approach, environmental justice and sustainability, ecosystem-based approach, gender equality, inclusion, and community-based development.
• Experience of working within a complex and matrix organization structure.
• Excellent training, facilitation, and team-building skills.

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.