The PLI Office is recruiting for a Democratic Climate Action Advisor to help lead the DRG Bureau’s efforts to advance USAID’s Climate Strategy vision – “to work on the ground with partner governments and local actors to set the global trajectory toward our vision of a resilient, prosperous, and equitable world with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.” The Strategy calls for a “whole-of-Agency” approach in which all development sectors play their part. In the case of the DRG community, the Strategy goals include “Strengthen[ing] responsive, transparent governance and citizen engagement for effective climate action” as part of systems and transformational change needed across all development sectors (transportation, energy, agriculture, etc.).

The Democratic Climate Action Advisor will play a central role in advancing USAID’s democracy and climate objectives by supporting equitable and ambitious actions to confront the climate crisis. Democratic decline and climate change are linked development challenges and DRG principles and approaches are needed to defuse the climate crisis. For example, the incumbent will work with the DRG cadre in USAID Missions to identify entry points where supporting climate action through DRG programming can also strengthen democratic norms, processes, and institutions. This type of ‘democratic climate action’ that advances DRG principles, tools, and approaches to achieve dual climate and democracy outcomes is intended to help host countries to deliver on their climate goals and improve public confidence in democratic governments’ ability to “deliver” results that people care about. A core aspect of this work is to collaborate with local partners to strengthen the political advocacy, engagement, and leadership of critical populations (youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, etc.) on climate action.