Other Blog Posts

Title: Node Development and Capacity Building Program Coordinator

Location: Flexible

Hours: Full-time

Position description:

The Climate Action Network – International (CAN) is currently seeking a Coordinator for its Node Development and Capacity Building Program. Over the past few years CAN has worked extensively with civil society organizations (CSOs) to ensure more effective participation, collaboration, and input from colleagues around the world in CAN and the global climate debate. During this time, the Program included organizing capacity building workshops, facilitating participation of leadership developement fellows in negotiating sessions, general support to CAN members, strengthening of the CAN Nodes, and administrative tasks associated with these activities.

With input from the CAN-International Director, the Node Development and Capacity Building Program Coordinator will take the overall responsibility for planning, coordinating, managing and monitoring the program, and provide general support to the National and Regional Nodes of CAN.

The Coordinator will report directly to the CAN-International Director. The Coordinator may also receive strategic support and advice from the CAN-International Board of Directors. Staff location is flexible and would ideally be in the Global South.

Specifically, the Coordinator will:

·      Develop program plans and activities in collaboration with nodes of CAN and CAN-International Executive Director, with additional support from the CAN-I Board of Directors;

·      Work with existing CAN Nodes to strengthen and enhance node governance, member management, collaboration and capacity building within regions;

·      Support nodes to align national/regional strategy with the Global Strategy and help prepare their plan accordingly.

·      Plan workshops, trainings, and regional conferences in collaboration with regional and national nodes to meet program objectives;

·      Produce materials and other resources to enhance the available resources for capacity building efforts for new members to CAN;

·      Plan and coordinate process for selection, logistics and participation by Leadership Development Fellows in the UNFCCC negotiations;

·      Reach out to and collaborate with other similar NGO capacity building efforts and work closely with networks outside CAN to strengthen nodes capacity;

·      Support fundraising efforts by the CAN-International Director as they relate to the Program;

·      Maintain a general knowledge of recent and relevant information on climate change policy and debate.

·      Actively manage and report on program resources according to agreed budget; and

·      Work with the CAN Secretariat in general preparations for the network activities, especially the international climate negotiations.

Specific Qualifications:

·      University degree (social sciences, environment, NGO management, development), preferably with an international orientation;

·      At least 5 years experience working in a relevant field, preferably including in NGOs working on climate issues;

·      Experience working in developing countries, with a keen understanding of the challenges in communication, resource restraints, and other unique circumstances found in the Global South;

·      Strong logistical coordination and financial management experience and skills, including experience of implementing and reporting on donor funded projects;

·      Experience in programme management, programme development and fundraising;

·      Experience working in a network or collaboration of NGOs in developing and developed countries;

·      Previous exposure to and understanding of the issues surrounding equity, development, and climate change;

·      Excellent presentation, communication and facilitation skills;

·      Cultural sensitivity and ability to respect and work well with people from different backgrounds and disciplines;

·      Ability and experience working in a remote office;

·      Organizational skills and willingness to work under time restraints and pressure;

·      English language required, additional UN language skills preferred;

·      Ability to travel extensively.

Salary and duration:

Salary will depend on experience and location. Ideal start date would be end of February 2013. Funding dependent, this position is planned as a fixed long-term element of the CAN-International Secretariat.

To apply:

Send a cover letter and resume to can-jobs@climatenetwork.org, with subject: “Capacity Building Program Coordinator” by 20 February 2013. Phone interviews will be arranged for the shotrt listed candidates.

Please, no telephone inquiries. Based on the expected large interest in this position and limited capacity, only candidates chosen for interviews will be contacted. CAN is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals from developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.

Baimey Ange David Emmanuel
ONG JVE Cote d'Ivoire

For me, the second week at Doha was filled with side events and policy meetings.

To begin, Monday, December 3, the Climate & Development Network (RC & D) coordinates and I had a meeting with the French delegation and the French ambassador for climate change, Serge Lepeltier in the hall of the Delegation European French Pavilion. Present were 12 members of the RC & D from Côte d'Ivoire, DRC, France, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Chad and Togo. On the French side, we noted the presence of seven French delegation representatives.

The discussions focused on key issues in negotiations, including financing issues, the Kyoto Protocol, the NAMAs and development.Exchanges revolved around NAMAs were threefold: ambition is not enough to stay below 2 °C, the funding concerning the Fast start is currently expired and the importance remains of hot air Poland.

The Climate and Development Network then held side events to reflect on who will replace ODD MDGs. Four panelists includingbfrom Togo, Mali and France presented their work on agriculture, energy and the mobilization of civil society. The goal of this side event was for many French to express their views and ideas on the evolution of the UNFCCC process.

I had several working sessions with members of civil society to discuss the French disaster risk management, REDD and the issue of innovative financing.We continue to work on the involvement of NGOs and taking into account aspects of development in the resolution of climate change.

Globally, I think that it is important to keep with multilateralism processes concerning climate change (even if it is dangerous for those most vulnerable because the developing countries will impose their point of views.)

As I said in the JVE International press release, "While Doha was able to streamline the process and policies for international negotiations on climate change, through the adoption of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, ending the various discussion groups set up in Bali in 2007 and paving the way for discussions on the work plan for the post-2020 could lead to an international climate agreement involving all countries history. But the reality is that the UN still cannot intend to include toxic countries. Doha is a victory for Canada, Russia, Japan, Poland and the USA.

Enrique Maurtua Konstantinidis
Fundación Biosfera, CANLA

COP 18 is now done. A key milestone in our international negotiations for a global agreement on climate action has passed, and very little progress has been made. Global negotiations on climate change will continue next year, loaded with responsibility. Many tasks are overdue, the two most important being mitigation ambition and financial transfer.

But what happened in Doha? Russia, Poland and Ukraine continuously blocked the negotiations under KP for the 2^nd commitment period; while NZ and Japan obstucted in another way: saying they would pull out of KP while enjoying the benefits. The US and Canada worked together to play a very unconstructive role in the negotiations as far as climate finance, as well.  

With things like this happening on a daily basis, the good efforts of some countries to create a positive outcome from Doha seem to be overlooked. It is important to make this clear: there are some positive things in the UNFCCC. UK and France some countries expressed their willingness to contribute to financial support in this COP, while others, such as Monaco, pledged emission reductions for 2020. Some developing countries, like the Dominican Republic, even pledged a 25% absolute reduction by 2030 without international support.

The positive actions we have seen in Doha are small compared to the empty Climate Fund and remarkably low ambition from some developed countries to reduce their GHG emissions. This kind of situation puts the world on a difficult scenario to 4ºC.

All of this being said, you cannot blame those who question this process, especially because they hear only of disappointments, lack of ambition and frustration. Many people ask us, the Civil Society Organizations, why we continue to attend COPs if they don’t lead anywhere. I can understand them, but I believe that, even though the last COPs did not deliver a global agreement, many movements and environmental programs around the world were born from this process. Changes have happened- believe it or not.

As a final thought, observers in UN are key witnesses to what governments are doing. The world knows what is happening thanks to people like us, who are not driven by only one interest- the integrity of this world’s environment.

Vositha Wijenayake, Srilanka
SLYCAN

Back home after another session of “climate talks”, I am left to wonder what I have achieved during this adventure. Some things were accomplished, but there is much more left to be done in the coming year. Am I happy or sad? Well, I’m looking ahead, wondering what’s next.

What was achieved in Doha? A plethora of information from different parts of the world: a new-found respect for women and many new realistic goals focussed on education and legal activism. This COP has finally put me in the area of work that I have been expecting to work in, but have not yet had the chance. COP 18 showed us we need more work on legal issues, and to learn that being able to interpret the pros and cons of words can help our cause.

Memories to be taken away: stories of Sixbert in Tanzania, with the implementation of the “Akashiv foundation for Education and Research” in the coming year, Ben and the Kiribati airport, and Mona on survival in Palestine.  Also, that huge spider and the eerie feeling it gave me every time I passed it. Imagine my surprise upon discovering that the spider was named “maman”, a tribute to motherhood (quite ironic, methinks!)

However, nothing tops the taxi drivers sans any sense of direction, or the two and a half hour bus ride from the convention centre to the Horizon Manor Hotel, less due to traffic and more due to a lost driver and the policemen who had apparently misdirected him. In short, Doha didn’t seem quite prepared to handle the whole event; it was a bit pricey for those without the means to finance ourselves.

Summing up on a personal note, Doha was a learning experience on many levels, especially on diversity and climatic impacts which affects us all in different ways. It has also been an appreciation of others’ experience in facing hardships of the world- be it climate related, poverty related or opinion and judgement infused. Doha was also an experience of discovering a new-found respect for those who have risen above these difficulties and been able to make a difference and crate positive changes in others’ lives. But, it’s a pity that these stories were only heard by a few, many of whom overlooked them due to their own fixed mentalities.

So before I declare “the end” to COP18 and the year 2012, here’s to better climate talks and more appreciation of humanity in the coming year!