Climate Adaptation Specialist

Insertion Économique, Sociale et Solidaire dans le Gouvernorat de Kairouan (IESS)

Graduation Approach in Tunisia

Terms of Reference for Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative Climate Adaptation Specialist

• Client: Insertion Économique, Sociale et Solidaire dans le Gouvernorat de Kairouan (IESS)
• Position: Climate Adaptation Specialist
• Location: Tunisia (National/Regional)
• Dates of Assignment: Jan 2021-July 2022 (Intermittent) 

About BRAC Ultra Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) 

Beginning in 2002, BRAC pioneered the Ultra-Poor Graduation Approach in Bangladesh, a comprehensive, time-bound and sequenced set of interventions designed to enable the most vulnerable and destitute households to progress along a pathway out of extreme poverty. BRAC established the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) to deliver technical assistance to agents of scale on how to adapt and implement the Graduation Approach and other holistic economic inclusion and social protection strategies. For more than a decade, BRAC has served as a leading provider of global technical assistance and advisory services for the Graduation Approach to governments, multilateral institutions, and NGOs worldwide.

Project Background

« Insertion Économique, Sociale et Solidaire dans le Gouvernorat de Kairouan » (IESS) aims to increase the social, economic and climate resilience of the poorest households in the hills of Kairouan, with a particular focus on women in the Governorate of Kairouan. IESS aims to support 33,600 direct beneficiaries including 16,800 women, i.e. 50% of beneficiaries. In order to break the poverty trap, the poorest and most vulnerable households will be coached and supported through a comprehensive set of interventions: cash transfer through the national social protection; financial inclusion; income generating activities and social empowerment. A specific focus will be put on climate awareness in order to bring to the beneficiaries graduation supports that are fully adaptive to climate change. The approach will support the project in the selection of adequate adaptive activities at household level (i.e. income-generating activities, access to water) in the context of climate change.

Description of Assignment

To support the Government of Tunisia (GOT) in the implementation of IESS, BRAC UPGI is developing an ultra-poor Graduation program that specifically targets women, is adapted to the specific context of Tunisia, and integrates the environmental pillar as an integral program component to strengthen the socio-, economic and environmental resilience of women to climate change, especially those from the poorest households. BRAC UPGI will facilitate IESS start-up and implementation by providing tools and technical support to project staff and partners who will be in charge of implementing the Graduation process.

Scope of Work

The Climate Adaptation Specialist will have overall responsibility for delivering the successful implementation of a climate adaptive Graduation approach for IESS. The Climate Adaptation Specialist will report directly to the Project Advisor and work with a globally integrated team. Specific responsibilities include:

1. Provide detailed recommendations on mainstreaming climate change into the design and implementation of Graduation interventions, including income generating activities, to effectively counter the impacts of climate change on project participants;
2. Analyze climate resilience and adaptation measures in agricultural practices in Kairouan and assess needs for climate-informed agricultural practices;
3. Identify local best practices and methods of climate-resilient agriculture and livestock practices;
4. Provide input into the the market assessment process to identify and validate livelihood options that are climate resilient;
5. Support program implementation partners in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management of climate adaptation activities;
6. Support the development of a policy paper on climate change adaptation in Graduation and an external learning agenda, and contribute to other learning activities;
7. Support program inception through the establishment of indicators and benchmarks related to climate adaptation;
8. Coordinate with the various climate adaptation policy stakeholders, address any implementation issues that may arise, and ensure the timely delivery of resolutions;
9. Work with capacity building staff to develop and deliver training on prioritizing climate adaptation. 

Qualifications 

• At least 10 years of experience working in poverty reduction programs/projects; 
• Experience mainstreaming climate change and environmental sustainability into program design;
• Familiarity with the Graduation approach is an advantage; 
• Accomplished trainer with sound technical competence in the subject matter; 
• Demonstrated ability to supervise a team of multidisciplinary experts; 
• Demonstrated expertise on specific policy and programmatic issues related to climate change and environmental sustainability;
• In-depth knowledge of programmatic and operational performance metrics; 
• Excellent skills in communication, leadership, analysis, decision-making, organization and time-management; 
• Advanced university degree in international or community development, anthropology, sociology, political science, business management, or other related field; 
• Excellent written and spoken English language and communication skills. French and/or Arabic desirable; 
• Experience of working closely with and providing technical advice to government officials, including at Ministerial level; 
• High degree of political awareness and cultural sensitivity, especially for vulnerable groups, in Tunisian context;
• Strong knowledge and previous experience of working in Tunisia.

How to Apply

Candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting the following:

• Resume
• Cover letter  
• Three references 

Please submit all documentation electronically to