The posting
The role will be based in the WRI Africa Regional Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with regular in-person presence at the Ministry of National Strategy as required. This is a hybrid position. You will need to be in office at least 8 days per month and living within reasonable commuting distance of the office.
About the Program:
Since launching in 2023, the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action has quickly developed into a key platform for multilevel climate partnerships. With 77 endorsing countries plus the EU, CHAMP aims to unlock the potential of multilevel partnerships to accelerate NDC implementation, improve access to climate finance for subnational governments, and showcase pioneering action on climate mitigation and adaptation. World Resources Institute (WRI) serves as the CHAMP Secretariat and an important partner supporting CHAMP's governance, diplomatic engagement, communications, national action and research.
Job Highlight:
In this role, you will support Ethiopia's COP32 preparations by ensuring subnational priorities are reflected in the COP32 Action Agenda. You will strengthen collaboration with African CHAMP-endorsing countries, lead regional convenings, and develop evidence-based narratives highlighting the role of subnational governments in climate action.
You will be supported by WRI Africa (Ethiopia), the global CHAMP Secretariat team at WRI, and the Ministry of National Strategy.
You will report to the Cities Director for Africa, with technical direction and delivery oversight from the Ministry of National Strategy, and work with the global CHAMP Secretariat team at WRI.
What you will do:
Coordination & Network Facilitation (50%)
- Support the Ministry of National Strategy to establish as needed and manage coordination mechanisms linking national ministries, COP32 Secretariat, local government, development partners, NGOs, and civil society, to inform and support subnational and multilevel governance priorities within the COP32 action agenda.
- Act as a liaison between the Ministry of National Strategy and the COP32 Presidency team and Secretariat on subnational and multilevel governance, providing inputs to Action Agenda planning, thematic days and side events, and tracking follow-up actions.
- Support communication and coordination efforts around the upcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, pre- and post-publication, ensuring its findings are integrated into the COP32 process.
- Contribute to CHAMP's engagement in the 2nd Global Stocktake (GST-2) process to strengthen COP32 outcomes on subnational and multilevel governance, reinforcing the value of local and subnational actors as indispensable partners to national governments for implementation.
Regional Convening & Country Engagement (25%)
- Deepen engagement with African CHAMP-endorsing countries, gathering and synthesizing stories of progress and barriers to effective multilevel partnerships to help shape the COP32 action agenda and showcase the impact of multilevel partnerships at, and in the build-up to, COP32.
- Lead planning and delivery of Africa regional convenings hosted in partnership with key Ethiopian Ministries, from concept and design through to outputs and follow-up, building regional consensus and momentum in the lead up to COP32.
Evidence & Analysis (25%)
- Inform tracking against relevant Plans to Accelerate Solutions within the Action Agenda, and package findings ahead of COP32 to strengthen the case for Multilevel Partnerships.
What you will need:
- Education: You have a completed master's degree in environmental policy, sustainable development, urban planning or a related field. Additional experience can be considered in lieu of a degree.
- Experience: You have 7+ years of full-time relevant work experience in climate policy, subnational governance planning, intergovernmental coordination or a related field, including manager-level experience.
- Experience in urban policy formulation and strategy development at national and subnational levels.
- Experience developing frameworks to estimate the contribution of urban to the national economy.
- Experience engaging with international climate processes (UNFCCC, COP, GST) and translating global frameworks into national/subnational action.
- Experience organising high-level regional or international convenings.
- Deep knowledge of Ethiopia's political economy and government structures at national and subnational level.
- Strong working knowledge of Ethiopia's key planning and investment frameworks, including the 10-Year Development Plan (10 YDP), Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS).
- Established network within Ethiopia, and across the African region and internationally, relevant to climate and subnational governance actors.
- Experience convening and coordinating across diverse stakeholder groups — government ministries, local government, development partners, NGOs, civil society and private sector.
- Strong analytical and evidence-synthesis skills, with the ability to translate research and country experience into clear, persuasive narratives for policy and advocacy audiences.
- Proven ability to work effectively across diverse teams and professional disciplines.
- Excellent stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills, including experience supporting government or Presidency-level processes.
- Proficiency with Macroeconomic frameworks, standard office and collaboration tools (Microsoft Office suite, Teams/Zoom).
- Languages: You have verbal and written proficiency in English; proficiency in a local language is preferred.
- Requirements: You will need to have the right to work in and be resident in the WRI Country Office location where you are hired at the start of employment.
Potential Salary:
Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume with a cover letter by 17 November 2026. Internal applicants should submit their application through the Jobs Hub portal in Workday. External applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.
What we offer:
- Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
- The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities
- A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
- The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
- Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
- Generous leave days that increase with tenure.
About Us:
World Resources Institute works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.
Our mission and values:
WRI's mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care.
Our culture:
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.
Our People team carefully reviews all applications.
