Climate change has been part of IUCN’s work for over a decade and the link between climate change and IUCN’s mission of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use has never been stronger. For IUCN’s 2009-2012 Programme, the issue of climate change is one of the five thematic priority areas focusing on two global results with respect to the role of biodiversity in mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Given the urgent need to adapt to the current and projected impacts of climate change, and strong support from IUCN’s membership to enhance our work on climate change, IUCN is looking to build its programme of work on climate change adaptation, in particular to enhance the links between the science, practice and policy on ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation, and to build collaboration with other organizations, including through the Ecosystems and Livelihoods Adaptation Network (ELAN). IUCN is now recruiting for a Climate Change Adaptation Officer to support these efforts.

The primary roles of the Climate Change Adaptation Officer will be to work as a focal point for IUCN’s climate change adaptation activities, to ensure that IUCN’s Secretariat, Commissions and Members collaborate more closely to deliver the 2009-2012 Programme on climate change adaptation, to communicate and exchange information both internally and externally, as well as to develop new partnerships. The Climate Change Adaptation Officer will play a key role in IUCN’s engagement with the Ecosystems and Livelihoods Adaptation Network (ELAN). The Climate Change Adaptation Officer will be based in the Ecosystem Management Programme (EMP), but will work directly with other Programmes (Water, Forests, Marine, Protected Areas, Species), initiatives (Drylands, Islands, Invasive species) and regional programmes.

1. Upscaling IUCN’s current work on climate change adaptation within the Ecosystem Management Programme, and with IUCN’s regions, Commissions and other global thematic programmes;

2. Supporting IUCN’s engagement in the Ecosystems and Livelihoods Adaptation Network (ELAN).

3. Providing support to IUCN thematic and regional programmes and Commissions to develop new programmes on climate change adaptation;

4. Working with IUCN members to achieve greater impact on the policy and practice of climate change adaptation;

5. Drawing on lessons learned across Programmes, and the latest science and adaptation practice internationally to provide synthesis and input into IUCN’s policy work on climate change adaptation;

6. Developing content on climate change adaptation for IUCN communications materials, disseminating communication materials at key events, and updating IUCN’s adaptation-related website material;

7. Fundraising, monitoring, reporting and communicating for the 2009-2012 Programme related to climate change adaptation;

8. Other duties, as assigned by the Head, Ecosystem Management Programme.