Programme Officer - Climate Change and Democracy - Sweden

Context

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization that advances democracy worldwide, as a universal human aspiration and an enabler of sustainable development, through support to the building, strengthening and safeguarding of democratic political institutions and processes at all levels. It is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, and Europe.

In 2022 International IDEA will define a new strategy for the period 2023-2027 which will address the nexus between climate change and democracy. On the one hand, the outcome of the climate crisis will depend on whether democracies can drastically reduce their carbon footprints in the coming years. On the other hand, the climate crisis is already impacting on democratic governance. Climate change poses a challenging test for democracies’ ability to cooperate and confront highly complex global challenges. Democracies need to formulate adequate and ambitious policy responses to climate change for democracy to remain a legitimate and credible political system for young people and future generations.

A new workstream on democracy and climate change was launched by the Secretary-General during the 25th Anniversary of International IDEA in November 2020. This workstream aims at defining a new work programme on this issue by building on existing knowledge and experience gained at global and regional level; identifying the specific niche for IDEA’s engagement in the field; enhancing the expertise, knowledge production and policy advisory capacities of the Institute; building partnerships; and pursuing new fundraising opportunities.

The Programme Officer - Climate Change and Democracy will strategically contribute to the planning and implementation of the workstream, ensuring that knowledge resources, practical tools, and technical/substantive support are of the highest quality; and working actively to establish International IDEA is an agenda setter and recognized authority in the climate change and democracy area of work.

Duties and Responsibilities

- Supports the team in the design of an institution-wide Climate Change and Democracy Workstream within the framework of the new International IDEA institutional strategy 2023-2027, by coordinating with the Lead Advisor and the other teams concerned in the definition of a roadmap for its development and the implementation of its inception phase.
- Supports the coordination of the Climate Change and Democracy Team that works on the definition of the Workstream and the implementation of its inception phase, in collaboration with teams working on other areas, both within the Global Programmes (GP), Regional Programmes (RP) and the Secretary-General’s Office (SGO).
- Contributes to building and strengthening relevant professional networks and institutional partnerships for the Initiative, with actors in the Climate Change and Democracy field such as practitioners, policymakers, and academics, with emphasis on building bridges among the democracy assistance and the climate change and environmental protection communities of practice.
- Works in coordination with the Lead Advisor in fundraising efforts for the implementation of the Climate Change and Democracy workstream (as defined in its implementation phase and beyond, within the 2023-2027 institutional strategy) including, but not limited to, monitoring of call for proposals and/or new opportunities, communication with possible donors and elaboration of project proposals.
- Contributes to the development of high-quality global comparative knowledge resources and practical tools, ensuring innovation and positioning of International IDEA as an agenda setter/authority in the field of Climate Change and Democracy.
- Supports the provision of consistent and policy-relevant technical and substantive support to institutional and political reform processes on the ground, in close collaboration with Regional Programmes (RP).
- Provides comments on, and peer reviews of, policy-relevant analysis and knowledge resources produced by other teams in GP and RP to ensure that the dimension of climate change democracy is adequately and consistently considered.
- Develops agenda items, concept notes, lists of speakers, panels and discussion sessions, work programmes for seminars, workshops, training courses, dialogues, consultations, and other activities related to the inception phase of the Climate Change and Democracy Workstream.
- Represents International IDEA at international events, conferences, and meetings on climate change to advocate that a democracy dimension is addressed in major policy fora.
- In coordination with the Lead Advisor, prepares draft speeches, statements, presentations, and briefings for a wide range of purposes and policy audiences related to the Workstream, including for the Secretary-General and Senior Management.
- Supports the Lead Advisor in communication actions through International IDEA’s multimedia resources (e.g. social media channels and website content), in collaboration with the Communications Team, related to the dissemination of key outputs and outcomes achieved by the Workstream.


General Profile

- Has in-depth knowledge in climate change and democracy and/or sustainable development and democracy, acquired both academically and through practical experience working in this field and with actors, boundary partners and target audiences of International IDEA.
- Has experience in Climate Change and Democracy projects with knowledge of the full project life cycle, i.e., from strategic planning and project design, funding, and budgeting to project assessment and accountability; holds meetings and discussions, oversees publications and inputs from contributors.
- Has contributed to publications on the relevant subject; is recognized as a knowledge resource in his/her broad professional community;
- Adds value to team-based activities in his/her unit; collaborates with other entities of the Institute.
- Acts as a model or mentor for less experienced colleagues.
- Can be expected to travel globally to any geographical area involved in his/her projects.
- Follows internal procedures to ensure high standards of performance and compliance with Institutional guidelines.
- Acts in accordance with International IDEA’s core values; Respect, Integrity, and Professionalism.
- Integrates a gender and diver...