Country Engagement Specialist (Pacific)

The Country Engagement Specialist (Pacific) will lead country engagement for the NDC Partnership Support Unit's Pacific member countries, facilitating implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and coordinating with regional institutions. The role involves building relationships with stakeholders, supporting matchmaking of country needs with partnership offerings, and contributing to knowledge sharing and communications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of the context of NDC implementation and international efforts to support it for all countries within their portfolio.
• Support the request for support processes by guiding focal points in identifying priorities and preparing documentation for support requests and calls for proposals.
• Conduct Quality Assurance and Quality Control of requests for support forms prior to circulation.
• Facilitate capacity-building for the usage of the NDC implementation plan online tool and support countries in procuring partner support.
• Match country needs to potential Partner members of the NDC Partnership services and funds, with guidance from the Regional Manager.
• Support and lead exchanges on available funding opportunities between the Support Unit, government focal points, and partners.
• Provide technical support and act as end-to-end owner of country technical and high-level workshops.
• Evaluate proposals submitted under Partnership Action Fund Calls for Proposals and other procurement.
• Supervise embedded advisors including in-country facilitators and experts.
• Review and advise on embedded advisors’ and consultants’ deliverables coordinating approval with governments.
• Build and strengthen relationships with country focal points and in-country partners to understand climate agendas and funding priorities.
• Lead in delivering timely responses and preparing information materials on country-specific engagement progress and results.
• Plan and report on country missions ensuring impactful experiences and communications.
• Represent the country engagement team in external meetings and events.
• Collaborate with Support Unit teams to shape solutions and maximize knowledge exchange.
• Liaise with Knowledge and Learning counterparts and partners to support analyses and knowledge products.
• Guide NDC In-Country Facilitators to ensure effective coordination and quality outputs.
• Provide feedback to Regional Manager and Country Engagement Management on engagement practices and challenges.
• Participate in internal and external meetings, workshops, conferences, and dissemination activities.
• Build, update and systematically capture country insights in dedicated systems for impact stories and knowledge products.
• Ensure contact details of focal points and partners are up-to-date and provide onboarding to new contacts.
• Maintain and update Support Unit tools and platforms including Monday.com, SharePoint, and websites.
• Develop and co-author communications materials such as blog posts, presentations, talking points, infographics, and brochures.

Requirements

• Master's degree preferably in international relations, climate change and environment, international development, economics, finance, or a related field with 5 years of experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with 7 years of relevant work experience.
• Project Management Certification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) is desired.
• At least 5 years of experience in climate change, environmental and natural resource management, development cooperation, climate finance and related fields.
• At least three years of continuous residence and professional practice working on climate change, development cooperation or related fields in Pacific Small Island Developing States.
• Established working relationships with national governments in the Pacific region and a working understanding of Pacific regional institutions and processes (e.g. PIF, SPREP, SPC).
• Good knowledge of international climate policy and of national climate policy development.
• Demonstrated skills in building effective relationships with government officials from both developed and developing countries and navigating the complexities of working across the whole of government, including in countries with limited institutional capacity.
• Experience in communication and management of complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with other bilateral and multilateral donors, consulting, research institutions, private sector, think tanks and other civil society actors.
• Complementary experience in Southeast Asia, including familiarity with ASEAN climate and development processes, is a strong asset.
• Experience in the origination, design, management and/or implementation of climate/development programs and projects is a strong asset.

Skills

• Project Management Certification
• Climate Change Expertise
• Environmental Management
• Natural Resource Management
• Development Cooperation
• Climate Finance
• International Climate Policy
• National Climate Policy Development
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Government Relations
• Pacific Regional Institutions Knowledge
• Multilateral Donor Collaboration
• Bilateral Donor Coordination
• Complex Project Management
• Program Design
• Program Implementation
• Communication Management
• Relationship Building
• Knowledge Sharing
• Climate-related Programs