Long Term Consultant:National Specialist: Climate Change Adaptation Specialist - ADB LAO Sustai[...]

Marshall Street; Thaba Chweu Local Municipality; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Part time

Job summary

A leading global development organization is recruiting a National Specialist: Climate Change Adaptation Specialist to contribute to a transformative project focused on sustainable agrifood systems in Laos. The role requires strong technical expertise in climate resilience and involves extensive collaboration with local communities and stakeholders to enhance climate adaptation strategies. Candidates should possess tertiary qualifications in related fields and have at least 10 years of professional experience in agriculture or rural development. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong communication skills are essential.

Benefits

Equal opportunity employer

Commitment to empowerment and sustainability

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in agriculture and rural development projects.
• At least 5 years in climate change studies/assignments.
• Experience working with ADB and in ASEAN countries is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical inputs on climate resilience.
• Develop climate change profiles for project provinces.
• Create recommendations for climate adaptation approaches.

Skills

Technical inputs on climate resilience

Community engagement

Public speaking

Project management

Education

Tertiary qualifications in agrometeorology or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Advanced Excel

Job description

Position

National Specialist: Climate Change Adaptation Specialist

Background

Winrock International is recruiting a National Specialist: Climate Change Adaptation Specialist for an Asian Development Bank (ADB) opportunity in Laos focused on Sustainable Agrifood systems. The project will contribute to food security and nutrition improved, and agricultural value addition increased in a climate resilient and gender‑responsive manner in Lao PDR. This position will be a part‑time consultancy that will require a commitment of 12 person‑months over a 5‑year period.

Location

Laos

Major Responsibilities

Support the International Climate Change Adaptation Specialist with:

• Provide technical inputs on climate resilience to the ToRs of consultants engaged by the project for implementing activities under Output 1 and Output 2, ensuring that the proposed activities and approaches are technically sound, coherent, well‑sequenced and aligned with project’s climate adaptation objectives.
• Develop climate change profiles for the project’s provinces and districts building on the project CRVA and other relevant studies, highlighting specific climate risk and vulnerabilities in the context of the project’s outputs and outcome.
• Develop a set of key recommendations for applying integrated and practical approaches for adapting to climate change across the project outputs based on a review of agriculture, nutrition and rural infrastructure interventions in the mountainous areas of Lao PDR and neighbouring countries (where possible).
• Develop and implement a strategy/procedures for integrating climate risk information into the project decision‑making structures and core activities, including a workplan that ensures a holistic and integrated approach to climate adaptation and aligns the technical inputs for project implementation.
• Develop and implement a strategy for coordinating with relevant linked climate change activities supported by ADB in Lao PDR, specifically the Greater Mekong Subregion Cross‑Border Livestock Health and Value Chains Improvement Project (Project Number: 53240-002) to optimize the outputs of the ADB‑funded climate change activities.
• Support the project and the consultants in establishing and promoting climate resilient production/commercialization techniques to smallholders, and nutrition services, MSMEs, under Output 1 and Output 2. Where appropriate coordinate and leverage the expertise of ADB projects and relevant development partners projects to enhance the effectiveness and scalability of these interventions.
• Develop and use eligibility framework and checklists for assessing and verifying that subprojects, particularly small‑scale infrastructure‑irrigation and connectivity roads (Output 3) and incorporate climate‑resilient designs and nature‑based solution features.
• Provide technical inputs on the design of the baseline study and support implementation of the MEL plan including progress reports, midterm report, project completion report (PCR), and other required documents, including applying simple qualitative assessment approaches to compliment quantitative data collection.
• Periodically produce project briefs that document good practices and lessons learned from climate‑related project interventions that can be used for knowledge sharing, inform future programming, and contribute to broader learning on climate adaptation and resilience.

Qualifications

Education

Tertiary qualifications in agrometeorology, climatology, agriculture and natural resources, rural development from a recognized institution in Lao PDR or the region.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of general professional experience in projects oriented towards agriculture and rural development, including at least 5 years working on climate change related studies/assignments
• Knowledge of ADB and Government policies on environment protection is required
• Proven ability to effectively engage and collaborate with local communities, contractors, and government agencies.
• Familiar with the requirements of the international development agencies requirements in financial intermediary designed projects.
• Experience working in Lao PDR preferred
• Experience working with ADB preferred.
• Experience working in ASEAN countries – particularly in Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Cambodia considered as an advantage

Computer Skills

Proficiency in using Microsoft Office software, including Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Advanced proficiency in Excel is preferred.

Communication Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, including effective public speaking and the ability to communicate complex issues both verbally and in written form.

Language

Fluent in English (written and spoken), Thai or Lao language skills (preferred)

Physical Demands

Regional travel may be required.

This position is based on‑going donor funding.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law.

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.