Climate Finance and Policy Expert

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

About the position

MITIGATE+, an Alliance/CGIAR program focused on reducing FS emissions and the predicted consequences of climate change (CC) on future generations, sustainable development, and social equity, is looking for a Climate Finance and Policy Expert. The main objective of this position is to strengthen the sub lever of low emission food systems on topics regarding climate finance and policy by leading the development of carbon-based business models and related business plans as a strategy for increasing the financial feasibility of scaling climate solutions with high potential to transform Food systems to low emission.

Key Responsibilities

• Design an assessment framework with GHG mitigation indicators, as well as indicators for non-carbon co-benefits.
• Assess the carbon-finance feasibility of 5 CGIAR technology-derived, scaling-ready climate solutions with a high potential to transform food systems to low emission
• Document carbon and non-carbon benefits as well as the undesired spillover effects associated with scaling CGIAR technology up and out.
• Develop (together with MRV experts, economists,s and social scientists) five strategies, including financial investment and business plans, to blend public and private funding, for out and upscaling of technologies and safeguards to prevent unexpected spillover effects such as emissions leakage.
• Develop carbon-based business models and related business plans as strategies for increasing the financial feasibility of five CGIAR technology-derived, scaling-ready climate solutions with high potential to transform Food systems to low emissions.
• Propose institutional arrangements, policy approaches, and methodological guidelines to facilitate the scaling pathway for identified ‘best bet’ solutions, as well as a number of investment prospectuses or strategies, developed to attract private, public, and climate finance investment to the solution.
• Develop project proposals, together with the country coordinators and the WP leader, for scaling low-emissions food systems business models at the country scale.

Qualifications and requirements:

• Advance degree (Ph.D. desirable) in Finance, Agricultural Business, Economics, Natural Resources Management
• Experience designing large-scale food/land result-based projects/programs
• Experience assessing the carbon-finance feasibility of scaling-ready climate solutions with high potential to transform food systems to low emission
• Experience/knowledge of climate policy. Experience in UNFCCC negotiations is a plus.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and extended teams from various CG centers to achieve organizational goals
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines and fields, from both national and international partners, and having diverse and competing views and interest
• Results-driven and able to work autonomously
• Proven problem-solving skills display strong initiative
• Fluent in English, Spanish is a plus

Terms of employment

This is an internationally recruited position and will be based at the America’s Hub, located in Palmira, Colombia. The initial contract will be for two (2) years, subject to a trial period of six (6) months, and is renewable based on performance and availability. This is a position at level BG10, on a scale of 14 levels, with level BG14 being the highest.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with a competitive salary and excellent benefits. We are an equal opportunity employer, and strive for gender, diversity, and inclusion in our staff, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic.