Advisor I, Climate

ChildFund International seeks an Advisor I, Climate
Position Title: Advisor I, Climate
ChildFund Office: Kenya
Manager/ Supervisor: Program Director, Barnfonden
Work Environment: Flexible
Position Type: Full time Regular, employed by ChildFund International. This position will be seconded to work 100% for Barnfonden.

About ChildFund

ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that works in 24 countries to connect children with the people, resources and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are. Barnfonden (ChildFund Sweden), is a member of the global ChildFund Alliance. Barnfonden is a child rights organization, working with children´s rights and safety in vulnerable areas that are heavily affected, or at risk of being affected by climate change. Together with children we create sustainable solutions that protect and strengthen their rights and wellbeing.

ChildFund’s Values

ChildFund values a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible environment where everyone is welcomed and celebrated equally. In our culture of connection, you will have ample opportunity to grow, learn, and lead while contributing your talents and innovations to our inspiring mission.

ChildFund’s Commitment

ChildFund International has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and all other forms of harm by its staff, partners, and other representatives in the delivery of its mission and services for children. ChildFund is committed to creating a safe environment in the workplace as well as in the communities where it delivers programs and services. ChildFund expects every staff member, partner, and representative to adhere to this commitment and to ensure all organizational policies standards are followed.

The Role

ChildFund International in partnership with Barnfonden is seeking an Advisor I, Climate to support our climate change and environment work with our community-based partners in Africa and particularly East Africa region. We are seeking an exceptional trainer/ communicator with experience in community development and climate issues. There is potential for this work to include countries in other regions of the world. Having spent the past few years developing our child-focused climate resilient development approach, we now want to provide high-quality support to our local partners who have asked to use such an approach. Communication skills are key to this role, as you will support with training, advocacy and story-gathering. You will also make connections within the region and help forge relationships between African CSOs and Swedish-based supporters and innovators.

Primary Responsibilities:

Thorough training and ongoing support will be provided to you, as you will work remotely as Barnfonden’s local-level climate and environment resource person. You will be part of Barnfonden’s Programs Team and report to our Program Director, but also work closely with our communications team. Your role will include:

• Building the knowledge of local partners on how to apply child-focused climate resilience concepts and tools.
• Supporting the development and testing of resources to use with children and youth on climate change actions and advocacy and environmental stewardship. This may involve working with local and international CSOs and academia.
• Making linkages and connections with relevant donors, corporates and institutions, including academic institutions.
• Advocacy efforts and helping to raise children and youth voices within the region and globally on the issue of climate change and its impact on children.
• Finding and pursuing opportunities for improved programming, in areas such as ecological restoration, youth engagement in the green transition, carbon offsetting etc
• Connecting with potential partners (NGOs, CSOs, Start-ups, tech entrepreneurs, innovation companies) to further our impact and find synergies.
• Gathering stories, best practices and voices from the people we work with, to share the reality of the impact of climate change and its effect on children with supporters back in Sweden and our partners elsewhere.

The lessons learned and connections made at local-level will continuously provide insights to Barnfonden’s Sweden-based team and global programme partners, so we can continuously grow and develop our child-focused climate resilient development work.

Required Experience, Education and Competencies

Your background is likely to be as an NGO programme or communication facilitator, having worked on the subject of climate/ environment, or demonstrating a strong interest/passion in this area. You will have a track record of delivering highly-rated trainings and resources – ideally having worked in international/community development and with youth. You must be able to translate complex and technical information into easy, understandable and engaging messages, trainings and support resources.
You will have:

• A passion for climate/environmental issues and the determination to drive change.
• A love for outside-the-box thinking – you’ll be someone who enjoys new challenges, collaborating with others, exploring innovative ideas and making them happen.
• A tertiary qualification, preferably to Master’s Degree, in a relevant field.
• At least 5 years work experience as a communicator, teacher/trainer or in international and community development, with at least two years’ experience working on climate/environmental issues.
• Experience working with children, youth and families.
• Excellent spoken and written English, and preferably ability to speak in a local language (e.g. Swahili or Amharic).
• High drive and the ability to keep motivated and engaged when working remotely from your colleagues.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to fit well in different settings – you may be working with political leaders in your advocacy role one day, and with youth groups in a rural community the next.

Term

This position is for a period of two years (with potential for extension) and will be based in Kenya, with the person working from a ChildFund office in Kenya or elsewhere in East Africa. As per the Kenya ChildFund Employment Policies, there is a three-month probation period.

Application details

For applications to be considered, you must produce the following with your application:

• Your CV stating qualifications and work history.
• A cover letter explaining the experience you bring to this role.
• An indication of your salary expectation and when you might be able to start this position.
• A statement (no more than a page), written in English, on why climate change and environmental degradation are important and relevant concepts at individual, community, national and international levels.
• Examples of the materials (training or resources) you have previously produced, preferably with evidence, if available, on how the trainings have been ranked by participants.

ChildFund has a strict code of conduct and child safeguarding processes, which you must agree to and sign when accepting this role.

Start date: January, 2024
Application details: Applications close on 30th September, 2023.