Climate and Nature Programme and Policy Officer

Location:  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Deadline: 20 October 2026

Job Description

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Ethiopia is responsible for the UK government’s efforts to promote sustainable development and support climate resilience in Ethiopia and deepen bilateral ties between the UK and Ethiopia. The British Embassy is committed to promoting economic reform and growth, investing in human capital, improving resilience to humanitarian shocks and tackling global challenges such as climate change.

This is a really exciting time to join the British Embassy, 14 months out from COP32 in Ethiopia.  This role will be central to supporting the UK’s partnership with Ethiopia on COP32, building on our global leadership on climate finance and experience hosting COP26.  As Climate and Nature Programme and Policy Officer, you will play a central role in delivering the Embassy’s bilateral Climate and Nature Country Business Plan and supporting the UK’s objectives in the lead up to and delivery of COP32.

The role sits within the Climate, Economic, Trade and Investment Team (CETI), which leads the Embassy’s efforts on macro-economic reform, investment and climate change, including COP32. You will be managed by the Head of Climate and Nature. This role will also be part of the Embassy’s COP32 Unit.

The role combines high-quality technical policy advice with programme leadership and management. The jobholder will support the design, delivery and oversight of a portfolio of climate and nature programmes with a budget of >£1million.  The jobholder will ensure they are evidence based, strategically coherent and deliver value for money in line with FCDO programme management frameworks, while also directly supporting COP32 priorities.

The role will provide technical advice on priority climate and nature issues, with a particular focus COP32 priorities, climate finance, carbon markets, forest policy and international climate negotiations. The jobholder will exercise sound judgement in commissioning and undertaking analysis, synthesising complex evidence and translating it into clear, policy relevant written and oral advice for Embassy leadership, the COP32 Unit, FCDO headquarters and external partners.

The jobholder will build deep relationships and convene stakeholders across government, development partners and the private sector in support of COP32. This includes running the secretariat for the Climate Finance Taskforce under the CRGE Forum, supporting climate diplomacy, and building capability and coherence across the Embassy on climate and nature issues in preparation for COP32.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate delivery of priorities under the Embassy’s Climate and Nature Country Business Plan objectives. In particular, this will include delivery of the FCDO’s Carbon Accelerator Fund (>£1m UK investment per annum).
• Act as a key technical point of contact for the COP32 Unit on climate and nature policy issues, providing timely, high quality advice to inform strategy, engagement and delivery.
• Provide high quality, technical advice on climate and nature policy, with a strong understanding of the Ethiopian context and relevance to COP32, including:
  o    Climate finance, including multilateral instruments such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund (AF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF);
  o    Carbon markets, trends and developments.
• o    Forest management and international forest policy
• o    Climate diplomacy and international climate negotiations, including the COP process.
• Manage programme suppliers and delivery partners, holding them to account for performance, compliance and delivery of results in line with FCDO frameworks.
• Run the secretariat for the Climate Finance Taskforce under the CRGE Forum, including expanding and managing membership, coordinating meetings, shaping agendas and driving follow up actions, with a clear focus on advancing COP32 relevant outcomes.
• Build, maintain and manage a strong network of strategic relationships and partnerships in support of COP32, including at ministerial level, with national institutions, think tanks, NGOs, multilateral organisations and other donor partners.
• Support and advance UK climate diplomacy and policy engagement with the Government of Ethiopia and international partners, including preparation for, delivery of and follow up from COP32.
• Build capability and a shared understanding across the Embassy on climate and nature issues, particularly in the context of COP32, including through internal briefings, guidance and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to programme monitoring, evaluation and learning, including tracking results and supporting reporting against UK International Climate Finance (ICF).
• Provide timely, high quality input into COP32 related ministerial and senior official briefings, correspondence and visit programmes.
• Work collaboratively across the Embassy, with a flexible and adaptive approach to support on urgent business of the day. For example, providing support for meetings and logistics.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience of working on climate and nature policy issues, including climate finance.
• Excellent analytical and data analysis skills, and good experience presenting information in clear information products using relevant IT packages.
• A proven ability to communicate clearly and confidently, verbally and in writing.
• Strong understanding of Ethiopian climate and nature policies and architecture.
• Excellent inter-personal and team working skills, with an ability to multi-task, work flexibly and adapt to emerging issues.
• Strong experience in relationship-building, establishing robust networks and managing partners or stakeholders is desirable.
• Familiarity with programme delivery or project management is desirable.

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