Climate Change Advisor, Ethiopia

Enhancing Capacity for a Low Emission Development Strategies

U.S. Global Climate Change Initiative

Industrial Park Development Corporation

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

In support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Ethiopia and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Office of International Programs, Management and Engineering Technologies International, Inc. (METI) seeks one full-time Climate Change Advisor to work with Ethiopia’s Industrial Park Development Corporation (IPDC) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MEFCC) to implement specific aspects of the Growth and Transformation Plan (2015-2020) in line with Ethiopia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This statement of work outlines activities and objectives for one full-time Climate Change Advisor to IPDC and MEFCC. The Climate Change Advisor will identify specialists to serve as short-term technical assistance consultants through USAID’s Enhancing Capacity for Low-Emissions Development Strategies (EC-LEDS) program to augment his/her deliverables as needs are identified.

Context

Over the past 10 years, Ethiopia has seen 10% annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth.  At the same time, its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have increased over the period—growing 11% alone between 2008 and 2009. More than 85% of emissions are due to agriculture and deforestation, while the power, transport, industrial, and building sectors contribute 3% each. Emissions generated by the industrial sector, however, are projected to grow, and are estimated to be the highest among all sectors in Ethiopia through 2030. 

Globally, Ethiopia accounts for less than 0.1% of emissions, yet it is already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change. Communities are suffering from greater variability and extreme weather events, increased temperature, and declining rainfall in a country where 85% of farmers are dependent on rain-fed agriculture. By 2050, estimates suggest that the adverse effects of climate change alone could dampen GDP by 8-10%.

In response, the Government of Ethiopia launched the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy, which provides an economy-wide blueprint to achieve middle-income status by 2030 without increasing their GHG emissions relative to 2010 levels. Since its launch, the CRGE has been fully mainstreamed into the Government’s Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) (2015-2020). Following the path outlined by GTP II and Ethiopia’s Nationally Determined Contribution, Ethiopia will avoid 255 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) by 2030, while increasing per capita income.

Industrial Sector

Emissions generated by the industrial sector are projected to grow under GTP II, driven in large part by Government’s strategic focus on rapid industrial development—including through the Industrial Park Development Corporation (IPDC). In fact, industrial sector GHG emissions are projected to be the highest among all sectors in Ethiopia through 2030. Under business-as-usual assumptions, GHG emissions will rise from 4 metric tons (Mt) CO₂e in 2010 to 71 Mt CO₂e in 2030; however, the CRGE strategy identified a number of abatement measures—including energy efficiency procedures, fuel-switching, alternative production processes, and carbon capture for productive use—that together would yield a total gross abatement potential of 22 Mt CO₂e in 2030. 

To evaluate and implement appropriate mitigation policies within the federal industrial parks, IPDC and MEFCC are seeking a Climate Change Advisor for a two-year secondment. At the end of two years, it is anticipated that MEFCC will have developed four new policies and initiatives in support of climate change mitigation for implementation by IPDC within the federal industrial parks, mobilized $200 million in international climate finance (including private and public) to implement them, and contributed to the mitigation of over 5 Mt CO₂e.

Position Description: Climate Change Advisor

The primary objective of the Climate Change Advisor is to serve as the focal person within IPDC and MEFCC on greening the federal industrial parks in Ethiopia.  The Advisor will be seconded within IPDC and MEFCC for two years in order to build capacity and develop and implement relevant policies.  Specific responsibilities and deliverables are described below.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Climate Change Advisor will include but are not limited to:

1. Develop and launch a Green Manufacturing Policy and Action Plan with IDPC and MEFCC colleagues that promotes CRGE-compliant industrial park investment through financial and fiscal incentivizes (tax holidays, exemption in duties and taxes, etc.), and norms;
2. Produce detailed mitigation and adaptation strategies for key industrial parks to be determined in consultation with IPDC and MEFCC;
3. Develop CRGE/GTP II indicators and optimal metrics, as well as MRV systems, for IPDC that will gauge progress and challenges accurately;
4. Create training materials to assist IPDC and MEFCC staff to implement, monitor and report on the performance of CRGE-related initiatives within the federal industrial parks;
5. Work to mobilize $200 million in private and public investment, including through the Green Climate Fund, carbon markets, etc. to support implementation of policies and strategies identified above; as relevant, develop new activities for CRGE Facility funding;
6. Develop a strategic communication plan to communicate the benefits of low-emissions growth within the industrial parks—including to national and local authorities, and the private sector and private sector associations—to build and sustain support for low-emissions development;
7. Work on a daily basis with designated counterpart staff in IPDC and MEFCC, as well as the Ministry of Industry, in order to support IPDC and MEFCC build capacity for critical pieces of GTP II including technical analysis, inter-ministerial coordination and climate change or industrial policy capacity building, as relevant; and
8. Identify and provide, if relevant, appropriate technical assistance and training opportunities for IPDC staff to build capacity on CRGE and MEFCC staff to build capacity on industrial development.

Qualifications

Required skills and experience:

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in economics, business, engineering, climate science, environment, engineering, etc. preferably with an emphasis in the Ethiopian context;
• At least five years of substantive experience in sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Ethiopia, with stakeholder engagement and national-level development planning, preferably on industrial zones;
• Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis;
• Strong communication, analytical and writing skills; and
• Knowledge and experience working with high-level Government of Ethiopia officials, preferably on climate change policy.

Language:

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is a requirement.  Knowledge of Amharic or another local language of Ethiopia would be an advantage.

Period of Performance and Location

• The Climate Change Advisor will be contracted for a two year position, expected to start May 2^nd2016;
  • The Climate Change Advisor will be located at IPDC (with time spent weekly at MEFCC) and together with IPDC and MEFCC staff will travel within Ethiopia and regionally, as needed, to support IPDC’s implementation of CRGE/GTP II.

Communications and Reporting

Monthly update notes containing highlights of work and progress are expected, as well as more detailed reports on specific training events (such as workshops and study tours) the Climate Change Advisor participates in and/or organizes.  The Advisor will also produce quarterly and annual work plans, as well as annual progress reports and a final report.  The Advisor will engage in timely performance reporting, which will describe achievements in terms of progress toward meeting the indicators, as well as the goals and objectives of this initiative. The Advisor will report to the USFS/IP Ethiopia Program Coordinator in coordination with the USAID/Ethiopia Climate and Water Advisor.  At IPDC and MEFCC, the Advisor will work in close coordination with designated counterparts to be determined.  The reporting structure within IPDC and MEFCC will be commensurate with the incumbent’s experience. 

USAID Global Climate Change Initiative: Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies

Through the U.S. Global Climate Change Initiative, the United States’ is working with partners around the world to promote resilient societies, catalyze low-carbon growth, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  A core program within the Initiative is the Enhancing Capacity for Low Emissions Development Strategies (EC-LEDS)—a flagship U.S. program that partners with over 20 countries around the globe that are planning and implementing low emission development strategies.  Led by USAID and the Department of State, EC-LEDS advances the international goals of the U.S. Climate Action Plan and enhances partner country efforts by providing targeted technical assistance and building a shared global knowledge base on LEDS.

Recruitment Process

• The Climate Change Advisor will be identified through open recruitment, and will be a contract employee hired by METI, Inc (in support of USFS) through funding provided by USAID.  METI, Inc will be responsible for recruiting and managing the CRGE Advisor with input from USFS and USAID/Ethiopia, MOI, and participating agencies from partner countries.  USAID/Ethiopia will not be required to provide logistical support to the Climate Change Advisor.
• The IPDC and MEFCC will provide office space and logistical support (IT connections, modest staff assistance) to the Climate Change Advisor. METI, Inc and USFS will provide the necessary work tools to enable an effective work environment and maximize the positive impacts of this position.

Note:  The USFS with USAID funding will provide the Advisor with a laptop for work purposes.  It is incumbent upon the Government of Ethiopia to provide a suitable work environment for the Advisor, including the necessary work tools within IPDC and MEFCC, in order to both maximize the potential of this investment and ensure sustainability of the effort.

Application Instructions

Please email your resume or CV and a cover letter to: IPJobs@meticorp.com by April 1^st 2016. Please include “Climate Change Advisor” in the subject line. In the body of the email, please indicate where you saw this posting.  METI is an Equal Opportunity Employer (www.meticorp.com).