View Vacancy - Head of International Climate Finance (ICF) Forests and Land Use Programmes - Bogotá

Main purpose of job

Under the UK-Colombia Partnership for Sustainable Growth, to lead and develop the International Climate Finance (ICF) Forests and Land Use programmes to halt and reverse the loss of tropical forests in Colombia.

The UK International Climate Fund (ICF) is a £5.8bn portfolio of Official Development Assistance activity (covering the period 2016-21) which includes innovative private sector pilot projects and innovative financial approaches to shift conditions and perceptions of risk in investments in low carbon activities in developing countries, including support to implement National Determined Contributions (NDCs, as agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015) through meaningful policy frameworks and investable plans that provide a credible pipeline of projects for investors.  The UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has £2bn of international climate finance to support mitigation activities.  The Forest Portfolio develops different flagship programmes in Colombia to support its NDC implementation, including:

a)  Amazon Vision: Colombian strategy that seeks to reach zero net deforestation in the Amazon region by 2020. This goal will be reached through five pillars: environmental governance, the sustainability of the sectors of development, agri-environmental activities, indigenous governance and enabling conditions.

b)  BioCarbon Fund: it promotes the reduction of greenhouse gases caused by the agricultural and forestry sector in developing countries, and the growth of best land use and sustainable agricultural policies and practices. In Colombia it focuses in the Orinoquía region.

c)  Sustainable Cattle-Ranching Project: it seeks to reduce effective greenhouse gas emissions, improve the living conditions of small rural producers, protect the local forests and increase biodiversity in cattle-ranching farms, promoting silvopastoral systems.

d)  Partnerships for Forests – P4F: an initiative that seeks to catalyse investments where the public and private sectors, civil society and local communities can achieve a shared profit of sustainable forest management and its derivative uses.

e)  Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 – Colombia Chapter: global public-private partnership in which partners take voluntary actions, individually and collectively, to reduce tropical deforestation associated with the productive chains of raw materials like palm oil, soy, beef, and paper pulp.  The UK participates in this platform as a founding member of the Colombia chapter.

This new position is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of a growing area of UK-Colombia collaboration.  The successful candidate will play a key strategic role in shaping the forest portfolio of the International Climate Fund, leading local delivery of the forest portfolio to support Colombia to make a successful transition to a low carbon economy in line with its NDC, and engaging external stakeholders including UK and Colombian government agencies, private sector institutions, think-tanks, academics and NGOs, among other relevant stakeholders. 

The role will report to the Economic Counsellor and Head of the ICF team in the British Embassy, work closely with Political, Economic, Science, Prosperity and International Trade colleagues across the Embassy and in London, as well as liaise with other relevant FCO sections, to ensure successful delivery of the portfolio.

This position is advertised on a fixed-term basis for one (1) year.  Subject to confirmation of future funding, it is expected that the position could be extended.

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

Co-reporting to a BEIS manager based in London in the Forest and Land Use Team:

Strategy, policy and planning (approx. 50%)

To lead forward planning and strategic programme development of the ICF forest and land use portfolio of programmes in Colombia, government, private sector partners and local communities  to identify demand, to strengthen forest governance and to grow sustainable food and land use economies.

To develop and engage in international policy initiatives and relationships within Colombia that complement these programmes and support the overall aim of increasing the contribution of nature-based solutions in Colombia to global climate, biodiversity, resilience and sustainable development goals. 

To develop and maintain strategic links with key Colombian actors from Presidency down and other relevant influencers; and carry out high-level policy influencing.

To ensure programme coherence of the forest and land use portfolio within the overall ICF Colombia portfolio and, thematically, with related Embassy policy/programme priorities including in science/research, peace, prosperity and human rights.

Delivery, engagement and impact (approx. 40%)

To lead and oversee stakeholder engagement in the operational delivery of existing forest and land use ICF programmes, using robust programme assurance approaches to ensure delivery partners utilise funding effectively.  In particular, this will involve close oversight of, and some direct involvement in, work to finalise delivery arrangements for a major new climate investment in the forest sector in Colombia.

To lead and promote collaboration and coordination with other donors working in Colombia on forest and land use, in coordination with the NDC Partnership. 

To ensure that ICF programming achieves maximum local impact in Colombia, by contributing to strategic communications planning.

To collaborate strategically with other UK posts that work on forest and land use in Latin America and the Caribbean, aiming for a coherent regional narrative on the UK offer to promote net-zero emissions economies.     

Management and Corporate (10%)

To lead a small team, including staff management/development.  Occasionally to deputise for the Head of the Economic, Climate & Science Team, including where necessary leading on Ministerial or other VIP visits. 

As a senior member of the Embassy management team, to contribute to Embassy Governance and corporate structures, ensuring the Embassy delivers the highest standards of financial, programme and people management.  To carry out other tasks as required by Embassy senior management. 

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line Manager for 1 x C4, 1 x B3 and 1 x A2; NB the precise configuration may change as team structures develop. 

Supervision of team travel and official entertainment budgets. 

The jobholder will be an expert in their field, with highly developed influencing, policy and programme skills, and extensive local and international networks, including in academia, civil society and government.

Essential on arrival:

• Bachelors or Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 4 years of experience engaging successfully with Colombian and international governments, private sector and non-governmental organisations to achieve results; and lobbying or influencing the development of public policy.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and relationship skills.
• Experience of strategic working on international climate issues with strong track record of relevant programme delivery.
• Strong knowledge of Colombian climate and development policies and related institutional frameworks.
• Ability to develop and work through a strong network of national and international stakeholders.
• Sound judgement in taking decisions without direct supervision, and working effectively in a team environment.
• Proven ability to write fluently and persuasively in English about technical and policy issues for a senior UK audience.
• Experienced user of MS Office.