View Vacancy - International Climate Finance/UK PACT Officer (09/21 PTA)

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Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
(BEIS) Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Main purpose of job:

Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing our world, and South Africa is both vulnerable as an emerging economy, and a significant contributor to global greenhouse emissions. The High Commission is strengthening its ability locally to work with partners across government, civil society and business on climate change issues including resilience and the low carbon transition.

As part of the British Government’s global response to the climate challenge and its commitment to help deliver the aims of the Paris Agreement (UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2016), the International Climate Finance (ICF) team in UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is responsible for £2bn of UK International Climate Finance. Within ICF UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) is a £60 million technical assistance programme that has been established to support partner countries accelerate their clean growth transitions and reduce carbon emissions in line with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).  The UK has recently committed to doubling its international climate finance offer to £11.6 billion over the next 5 years.

South Africa is a key strategic climate partner for climate change generally, and specifically for UK PACT with its bilateral £3.4 million programme in 2021/22. This is in addition to the over £200 million of UK ICF that flows into South Africa from central funds through International and Development Finance Institutions.  The UK is looking to deepen its relationship with South Africa and is keen to bring to bear its skills and expertise from decades of low carbon leadership to help support the delivery of its NDC.  Climate and Energy is a priority focus sector under the new Country Business Plan and UK PACT and ICF is central to its delivery.

This position will support the C5 ICF/UK PACT in managing a complex set of relationships with multiple suppliers and the London team to deliver through others, and communicating overall the impact of our ICF programmes.  In particular the role will have day-to-day contact with the UK PACT Programme delivery partners, and also with the key project implementers to provide input in terms of project progress and activities.  The job holder will manage the stakeholder database and lead on targeting and setting up senior management meetings and lead on ICF/PACT visit programmes (both for High Commission Board members, as well as incoming senior visitors)

In addition to the above support function, the position will have specific responsibility for the operational management of UK PACT skill shares including support the ICF Head/Lead in identifying opportunities and preparing business cases.  The position will also work closely with the Climate Policy/Campaigns lead, leading on event design, management and delivery to support both the visibility of the various programmes and supporting senior management influence in pressing for higher low carbon ambition.

The role will require an ability to engage with confidence stakeholders from Government, business, civil society, consultancy and media.  The holder will work closely with the BEIS International Climate Finance team and the various ICF programme leads in London, as well as act.  They will also be expected to develop strong links with other colleagues across the 4 pillars of Business Plan Priority and with those providing cross-FCDO support  including the Science and Innovation Network and Department of International Trade (DIT) teams.

This work falls under the policy areas headed by the UK-based Head of Climate and Energy and will work to the C5 ICF/PACT lead.

Roles and responsibilities:

South Africa – Climate Change UK PACT/ICF Programme Support (70%)

  • Provide support (to ICF Lead) on demand scoping for potential projects and skills shares and develop and maintain database of opportunities identified and the best UK PACT interventions for meeting demand (i.e. project, skills share or secondment)
  • Provide input into SA UK PACT Strategy development and update and maintain all repository of all input data used in strategy (research, demand scoping insights, stakeholder mapping etc.)
  • Day to day contact and lead for programme delivery partners across the UK PACT components: (1) country programme, (2) skills shares and (3) green recovery challenge fund; tracking progress of all work across the various programme components and resolving or escalating issues where necessary.
  • Establish good working relationships with project implementing partners and skills shares experts and maintain rhythm of engagement on project progress and activity development;
  • Maintain a programme risk register for work across all UK PACT programme components and manage or escalate risks accordingly. 
  • Maintain regular engagements with the wider UK PACT team in BEIS ICF and provide updates of progress on SA PACT programme as required
  • Establish and maintain engagement with PACT teams in other countries, particularly in other African countries (i.e. Nigeria and Kenya) and identify opportunities for cross-country learning.
  • Lead on the collection and management of progress data  for SA ICF programmes and reporting internally to PMO and other British High Commission returns.  Day to day oversight of delivery, troubleshooting, and follow-up and evaluation
  • Lead on providing situation reports for monthly PACT Programme review meeting
  • Identify opportunities for British High Commission support for/promotion of and involvement with project activities, working with campaigns lead and media team to develop marketing material and narrative.
  • Lead on visit (virtual and in person) preparation – programme design and management, leading on relevant briefing.
  • Specific lead for UK PACT Skillshare Programme - identifying opportunities, preparing business cases and overseeing delivery of skillshares programme.

General Climate and Energy 30%

  • Lead on internal communications, maintaining high visibility of ICF and wider climate team work across the full mission, and drawing from other programmes to track complementarity.
  • Event design, management and delivery in support of both ICF and the central climate and energy Campaign efforts in support of UK policy.
  • Ad hoc Climate and Energy policy research and reporting on specific policy and internal South African developments, with a lead focus on the energy sector.

Corporate (10%)

  • Play an active part in the corporate life of the High Commission (including if necessary as a member of any High Commission Committees) to maximise the overall well-being of staff

Resources managed:

Support on oversight of £3.4m UK PACT and £200m International Climate Finance centrally managed programmes

We are looking for a proactive self-starter, able to work well and have a flexible approach to work whilst under pressure and excellent interpersonal and communications skills to build strong relations within the High Commission and support engagement with a wide range of stakeholders in South Africa with the following:

  • University degree
  • Minimum 3 years of work experience, ideally with some project/programme management experience
  • The ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication and relationship skills
  • Be a flexible and creative problem-solver, able to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems, and coordinate coherent and compelling programmes and projects
  • Fluency in written and spoken English
  • Experience providing administrative and logistical support
  • Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and ability to adjust to different audiences
  • Excellent presentation skills
  • Team player, driven by values
  • Some knowledge and understanding of South Africa’s climate change policy, its international commitments and institutional framework
  • Any prior work experience in programmes will be considered as a plus
  • Any prior knowledge of UK climate and energy policy, technology and commercial capabilities, and its global leadership in the subject matter
26 April 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term
12 months
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
R 23,997.87
1 June 2021

Learning and development opportunities:

Both BEIS and the FCO offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities throughout the year.

The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

  • Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
  • Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
  • Working hours per week of 36.5
  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation 
  • The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so. 
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.