Job description
About the Degrees Initiative
The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that builds the capacity of developing countries to evaluate solar radiation modification geoengineering (SRM), a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that developing countries should be empowered to conduct their own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions. The initiative has been working in different forms for over a decade, and our work receives worldwide coverage and widespread acclaim.
This is a unique opportunity to inform conversations on SRM in Asia, including the Pacific Islands. Rather than lobbying for outcomes, Degrees aims to support informed, independent policymaking by fostering connections between researchers and policymakers and strengthening institutional expertise. Degrees promotes regional research, creates spaces for policy-science dialogue, and supports the dissemination of Global South research.
Responsibilities
The Policy and Engagement Manager, Asia will strengthen the voice of the Global South in discussions and potential negotiations on SRM research and governance with relevance to Asia by connecting experts to policy processes. Accordingly, the successful candidate will
* Identify and engage key policy actors (e.g. national delegates and legislators, scientific advisors, intergovernmental officials) in Asia, connecting them to local SRM experts and providing them with information, where appropriate, while remaining neutral regarding the potential use and governance of SRM;
* Work with SRM researchers from the region to support the creation of a coordinated community of experts;
* Build informal and formal partnerships with like-minded organisations, helping to inform discussions and counter misinformation about climate and SRM
* Share expertise and experience gained from Asia with staff and researchers and participate, as appropriate, in activities in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean to gain similar expertise;
* Identify the most impactful international forums and regional SRM discussions, and work to connect local experts into these;
* Support the execution and coordination of the Degrees policy engagement strategy in collaboration with other policy and programmatic staff;
* Contribute to budgeting and alignment with programmes;
* Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities by contributing to tracking, documentation, and reporting of policy engagement outcomes;
* Identify a core group of researchers interested in policy engagement, and facilitate and join their participation in governance fora such as the UNFCCC COP, UN Environment Assembly, and meetings of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity;
* In cooperation with the communications staff, ensure the development of clear, contextualised briefing materials for policy makers and other audiences.