View Vacancy – JKT – Programme Manager for Indo Pacific Regional Department, SEO

Background of the Role:

India and wider Indo Pacific region are highly vulnerable to climate change, with the pace and severity of climate impacts increasing. Increased likelihood of floods, droughts, heat stress and storms affect everyone, but particularly the poorest and most vulnerable in society. We have a critical window of opportunity in the coming years to help communities and economies to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and also to foster the systems transformations required at a regional and global level to adapt to a changing climate effectively.

Climate change remains one of the UK’s top priorities. In the Indo Pacific, our flagship programme on adaptation and resilience is Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA). One of the top ways to achieve great impact for the programme is through a strong programme delivery team, which will help the programmes in the region to deliver effectively with directly working with governments, communities, businesses and other partners. This will foster the transformational change required and demonstrate UK leadership on climate change.

In addition, a smaller part (20%) of this role will support the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF) programme of IPRD. The ACGF is an ASEAN Infrastructure Fund initiative, supporting governments in Southeast Asia to prepare and finance infrastructure projects that promote environmental sustainability and contribute to climate change goals. 

About the Indo Pacific Regional Department (IPRD):

The role sits within the Indo-Pacific Regional Department (IPRD) in New Delhi, a friendly and busy regional team, with colleagues based at offices in the UK, India (New Delhi) Indonesia (Jakarta), Nepal (Kathmandu), Philippines (Manila) and Fiji (Suva). IPRD is a regional department mandated to support the delivery of HMG’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. We drive work on key UK priorities including climate change, economic development / trade, women and girls, global health security, countering modern slavery, open societies and humanitarian response and preparedness. IPRD supports these priorities by delivering several high-profile, transboundary programmes across the region, providing expert technical advice and high-quality programme management support to the UK’s posts across the Indo Pacific. 

About the CARA Programme (Climate Action for a Resilient Asia):

Announced at COP26, Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) is a 9-year programme, worth up to £274 million, designed to deliver projects in areas that strengthen climate adaptation and resilience. This includes funding projects that mobilise climate finance, strengthen water security, improve resilience in urban areas, conserve ecosystems and biodiversity and help vulnerable communities lead local adaptation efforts. CARA will work across the region, in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Countries, with individual countries and on transboundary issues. 

The CARA programme has seven main components:

• World Bank – Resilient Asia Programme (RAP) – to strengthen climate resilience through better climate change policy, planning, and investment.
• ICIMOD – Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP) – to support conservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity across the Hindu-Kush-Himalayan region.
• UNDP – Climate Finance Network (CFN) – to provide technical assistance to governments on innovative climate finance approaches and mainstreaming climate change into governance and public financial management.
• The UK Met Office – Weather and Climate Information and Services (WISER), Asia Pacific – to improve peoples’ resilience to weather extremes and climate change with enhanced weather and climate information.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) – Community Resilience Partnership Programme (CRPP) – to scale up investments in climate adaptation at the community level, that explicitly address the nexus between climate, poverty, and gender.
• ADB – Urban Resilience Trust Fund (URTF) – to build the capacity of cities and urban agencies, communities, and private sector entities to integrate climate resilience into their policies and planning.
• Flexible Fund – a demand-responsive fund managed by FCDO to support emerging priorities and address gaps in the existing HMG offering at the national level. The Flexible Fund includes the first round of the Pacific Partnerships Facility (PPF), fostering small, locally led adaptation projects in the Pacific nations.

About the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF):

• The ACGF is an ASEAN Infrastructure Fund initiative supporting governments in Southeast Asia to prepare and finance infrastructure projects that promote environmental sustainability and contribute to climate change goals.
• The programme takes a blended finance approach. The UK’s finance is increased four-fold by attracting funding from other sources, including the private sector. Our support will only go to projects that would not be possible without it.
• This programme will work as a catalyst to new investment in cleaner technologies and more resilient infrastructure.
• This is in the UK’s national interest. It will increase our impact in tackling climate change, contribute to the delivering on the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, and to our deeper partnership with ASEAN (through the UK-ASEAN Plan of Action).
• The programme will increase our cooperation with ASEAN governments and create new investment opportunities for the UK financial sector as well as for legal, design and engineering consultancy services to UK companies.

About the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO):

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.  

Main Purpose of Job:

This is a great opportunity for a highly motivated self-starter with strong experience and skills in project management, international development, Climate programming and stakeholder management.

• We are looking for a dynamic Climate programme management professional to work within the IPRD team in Jakarta, focusing on the Flexible Fund Component of the large UK-led climate change adaptation and resilience programme, CARA (80%) and ACGF (20%) programme management.
• This role will include shaping the overarching Flexible Fund strategy in line with the CARA climate objectives and FCDO Climate strategy; ensuring high quality, value for- money delivery of Flexible fund projects in the Indo Pacific region; identifying opportunities for new programme interventions; establishing and maintaining a strong stakeholder network; and, coordinating CARA engagement across the FCDO network in the region.
• The jobholder will work with colleagues from many UK government teams and with many project implementers, both large, such as the Asian Development Bank, UNICEF, UNDP etc, and small, such as local NGOs and civil society organisations. 
• The role will also involve support and coordination for both internal and external engagements, and some events, with a range of different stakeholders.
• The jobholder will be expected to develop strong links and ensure prompt strategic, regular communications with colleagues and key stakeholders including ambassadors, High Commissioners and the Advisors in the UK, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and other regional stakeholders, including civil society organisations as well as financiers, to facilitate best practice sharing where appropriate.
• The role will be based at the British Embassy, Jakarta but substantive travel (e.g. up to once per month) within the Indo Pacific region, or to the UK, is expected.
• The jobholder will be line managed by report to the Senior Programme Manager – IPRD and who is also the Programme Responsible Owner (PRO) for CARA, based in New Delhi.  The Senior Responsible Officer for ACGF will be the objective leader for the 20% component of the role covering ACGF. The job will require a significant amount of autonomy, and the jobholder will be expected to understand and apply FCDO programme systems and Programme Operating framework (PrOF) in detail.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

CARA – As manager of the CARA Flexible Fund (with up to £45m until 2031):

• Leading the process for the call of proposal for the flexible fund for both internal (FCDO Posts) and external (CSO’s etc.) and support the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) / Programme Responsible Owner (PRO) in sifting and selection of projects and implementing partners.
• Finalise the terms of reference.
• The jobholder would need to collate, analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal FCDO posts and external sources (as mentioned above) including market analysis, to enable decision making by considering potential impacts and outputs in the selection of the project.
• Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of options, costs, benefits and risks to the Indo Pacific posts.
• Ensuring due diligences are done as per the FCDO requirements.
• Issuance of Agreements (MoU, AG or grants) as per the PrOF guidelines.
• Leading high-quality implementation of the existing and new portfolio of CARA Flexible fund projects in compliance to FCDO’s Programme operating Framework (PrOF).
• Identifying evidence-based recommendation and collaboration opportunities for new programme interventions to the SRO / PRO.

Programme Responsible Officer (PRO) ACGF – 20%

The PRO role provides support to the SRO and is accountable for driving, on a day-to-day basis, the delivery of ACGF programme outcomes including activities around:

• Drive delivery of outputs and achievement of the outcomes set out in the programme’s approval documents.
• Ensure the programme is implemented in compliance with the PrOF Rules.
• Lead the Annual Review process and examine the continued relevance of the programme, taking action to improve where appropriate.
• Ensure that the main risks associated with the programme are identified and documented in a risk register, that proportionate mitigating actions are implemented, that regular monitoring of risks and mitigations is conducted and that risks are promptly escalated where they exceed the agreed risk appetite.
• Liaise with the ADB Trust Fund coordinator on a regular basis.
• Engage with post and maintain key communications material and briefings.
• Leading on high-quality delivery of the existing portfolio of CARA & ACGF programme. The programme management responsibilities would include:
  • Supporting the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) / Programme Responsible Owner (PRO) and climate advisors of programme management by developing, implementing and reviewing project implementation.
  • Work with the implementing partners (to the last mile) to set workplans, and deliver as per budget, priorities, objectives and timescales.
  • Ensuring that the Flexible Fund develops a well-balanced portfolio (both geographically and technically) of climate adaptation projects
  • Day-to-Day management of programme, engaging with both FCDO posts and delivery partners
  • Compliance to fraud, safeguarding guidance
  • Overseeing effective delivery of sub projects.  Take stock, at regular intervals, on the continued relevance of the programme, and regular reporting to the Programme Responsible Owner
  • Ensure that the Risk Registers are updated, and main risks associated with the projects are identified, documented, monitored and escalated promptly where necessary.
  • Ensure there is effective financial management of programmes – including accurate forecasting, budget profiling, and effective controls over expenditure.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records and key documentation, ensuring that publication of programme information is done in accordance with FCDO’s transparency policy, and the agreed processes for managing security concerns or sensitivities in the programme.
• Closely collaborate with both CARA & ACGF programme’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) advisors and Communication lead to communicate the successes and outputs of the project.
• Stakeholder Management:
  • Engaging with both FCDO posts and delivery partners. Manage the relationship with the CARA FF Delivery Partners, ensuring effective ways of working between the Delivery Partner and the British High commissions across Indo Pacific.
  • Prompt strategic, regular communications with key stakeholders in the UK, India and other regional stakeholders to facilitate best practice sharing where appropriate
  • Publicly represent the British High Commission and the UK Government as a credible interlocutor in climate related engagements as necessary.
  • Reviewing, either individually or as part of a wider CARA or ACGF team, the progress of selected projects on the ground
  • Proactively seek cross-team collaboration opportunities amongst High Commission teams to continue supporting a mainstreamed approach to climate change within CARA.

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure): 

• No direct line management responsibilities at the outset, although this may evolve over time.
• The jobholder will be responsible for managing a modest budget, the exact amount of which is to be determined.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the dynamic nature of our work, aspects of this role may change over time. The post-holder will need to be flexible and willing to adapt to evolving responsibilities.

Candidates would ideally be expected to demonstrate many of the following skills and experience, although applications are still encouraged if not all are met, or if you have relevant alternative experience. 

A written test and / or a presentation will be included as part of the recruitment process.

• We are looking for a proactive self-starter, able to work well and have a flexible approach to work whilst under pressure
• We are looking for someone with excellent interpersonal and communications skills to build strong relations within the British High Commissions in multiple countries and UK teams and with a wide range of stakeholders in the region
• A university degree, preferably in environmental science, climate, programme management or related course
• An understanding of climate and environment issues and policies in the region
• 5-7 years of work experience, with Project/Programme management experience, preferably with international stakeholders
• Financial and commercial knowledge and experience
• Programme management knowledge and experience
• Flexible and creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems and coordinate coherent and compelling programmes and projects
• Experience providing administrative and logistical support
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and ability to adjust to different audiences, Excellent presentation skills
• Team working skills

Language Requirements:

• Fluent written and spoken English