Based in Bangkok, the SEI Asia Centre has a diverse team of multinational experts that integrate scientific research with participatory approaches to co-develop and share knowledge, build partnerships, and influence policy for resilient development. Research at SEI Asia focuses on gender and social equity, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, water insecurity and integrated water resources management, transitional agriculture, renewable energy and urbanization.

SEI Asia is an affiliate of Chulalongkorn University (CU), Thailand. SEI and CU have inked a long-term agreement until 2023 to foster innovative scientific research combined with effective policy engagement on development and environmental challenges in Asia. The key areas of collaboration are: intellectual engagement for joint research applications and fund mobilization; lecturing and seminars for CU’s students; post–graduate supervision and examination; and, CU-SEI employee linkages.

 

 

Title: Programme Manager, Multi-stakeholder Action Labs          
Type: Full-time, Fixed-term
Unit:     Centre for Finance for Sustainability Bangkok (CFSB)                                   
Centre and location: SEI Asia
Reporting to:  Senior Research Fellow                                              
Purpose: New hire
Posting date: 10 April 2024                                                  
Last application date: 30 April 2024
Starting date:  03 June 2024
Type of employment: Full time, Fixed term 2 years with possibility of extension depending on funding availability and performance

 

Local intro

Based in Bangkok, SEI Asia has a diverse team of multinational experts who integrate scientific research with participatory approaches to co-develop and share knowledge, build partnerships, and influence policy for resilient development. SEI Asia's work focuses on gender and social equity, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, water insecurity and integrated water resources management, transitional agriculture, renewable energy and urbanization.

 

SEI Asia is an affiliate of Chulalongkorn University (CU), Thailand. SEI and CU have an agreement to foster innovative scientific research combined with effective policy engagement on development and environmental challenges in Asia. The key areas of collaboration are intellectual engagement for joint research applications and fund mobilization, lectures and seminars for CU students, post-graduate supervision and examination, and CU–SEI employee links.

 

About the programme 

With funding from the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the Inclusive Climate Finance for Vulnerable Communities in Asia-Pacific (ICCAP) aims to enhance and expand inclusive public and private climate adaptation financing flows to vulnerable groups and communities in Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Laos, and Nepal. The project adopts a stakeholder-centred approach to develop and consolidate inclusive financing, fostering effective adaptation solutions through international, regional, and national investments. ICCAP strives to improve these communities' adaptive capacity, resilience, and climate vulnerability through access to consistent and predictable financing sources.   

 

A key activity of ICCAP is the establishment of multi-stakeholder action labs (MALs) to facilitate the co-development of innovative adaptation solutions to be tested and funded by new financial products and services. The financial products and services are to be developed by selected financial service providers (FSPs), alongside climate-vulnerable people and local and national climate finance stakeholders.  

 

The role 

ICCAP seeks a proficient Programme Manager to serve as the MAL facilitator, with a deep understanding of community organising principles and approaches, gender equity, social inclusion, participatory action and research, and locally-led adaptation. The MAL facilitator will have a proven track record in multi-stakeholder environments, ensuring meaningful participation of project partners and beneficiaries to achieve successful outcomes. This individual will bridge the needs of climate-vulnerable people with FSPs and local and national policymakers and decision-makers, co-developing financing solutions to meet their needs and enhance their welfare.  

 

The MAL facilitator will work with colleagues specialising in climate change adaptation, resilience, and disaster risk reduction at SEI Asia’s Climate Change, Disasters and Development cluster and contribute to the Centre for Finance for Sustainability Bangkok (CFSB).  

 

Key duties and responsibilities 

  • Support the design and implementation of the MAL to work with climate-vulnerable groups and communities in articulating their adaptation needs and identifying finance-related solutions. This includes building and maintaining equitable partnerships with local communities and local and grassroots organisations. 
  • Collaborate with FSPs and institutional investors to create appropriate, innovative, inclusive and responsive financial products and services.
  • Lead the testing of these finance solutions for adaptation and resilience building.  
  • Actively work with other ICCAP work packages to meet their goals and outcomes. 
  • Conduct participatory evaluations of the adaptation and livelihood impacts of ICCAP’s financial products and services.
  • Synthesise insights to document best practices, learn from failures and understand microfinance’s role in climate adaptation.  
  • Compile evidence to aid the decision-making of the MALs, policymakers, target groups, guarantors, FSPs and private investors.   
  • Ensure that MALs comply with ESG standards, safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable groups and communities. 
  • Contribute to SEI’s core competency development and participate in the recruitment for teams and research clusters.

 

Areas of accountability 

  • Implement project activities consistent with the strategies of SEI Asia, SEI HQ and ICCAP goals.
  • Integrate and link work with SEI’s global initiatives. 
  • Enhance visibility and engagement in project activities.  
  • Maintain credibility.
  • Manage financial and project aspects to deliver timely results within budget constraints. 
  • Uphold professional and respectful engagement with all SEI colleagues and external partners.

 

Who you are 

We seek a professional with a strong passion and track record for including marginalised voices in developing responsive financial products and services. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in human rights principles, community organising, participatory development, gender equity, social inclusion, environmental social governance safeguards or locally-led adaptation. They should demonstrate an ability to build and maintain equitable partnerships with local and/or grassroots organisations and communities and facilitate grassroots discussions on local communities’ adaptation needs in most of the priority countries of ICCAP. They must have shown a critical understanding of microfinance’s role in development, climate change adaptation, resilience building, and disaster risk reduction. 

 

Formal qualifications and knowledge  

  • A Master’s degree with 6 years of experience in community organising, multi-stakeholder partnerships, inclusive finance, human resources development, microfinance or participatory/integrated development.
  • Experience in delivering microfinance solutions to societally marginalised or climate-at-risk households. 
  • Proven ability to work with communities, vulnerable groups and local microfinance clients to address livelihood need 
  • Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder initiatives for social or environmental  
  • Ability to engage with climate finance stakeholders and microfinance institutions.

 

Desirable qualifications 

  • Experience in multi-stakeholder action labs.
  • Experience organising communities or groups in Cambodia, Bhutan and
  • Knowledge of gender equity and social inclusion in financial service delivery for climate adaptation.
  • Experience in delivering microfinance solutions to marginalised communities or households.
  • Understanding of the political contexts in Cambodia, Laos, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal or  
  • Community facilitation and evaluation 
  • Knowledge of ESG standards to protect vulnerable groups and communities in Asia-Pacific.
  • Language skills in Khmer, Lao, Bangla/Bengali, Nepali, Dzongka or Fijian.

 

Personal skills required 

  • Excellent community organising and facilitation skills.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication abilities.
  • Leadership, planning and time management skills.
  • Analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
  • Ability to provide and receive feedback constructively and respectfully.

 

Additional Information

 

With a team comprising over 17 nationalities, SEI welcomes global applicants for all posts, and provides an Internationally competitive level NGO salary and benefits package, with all employee contracts under Thai labour laws. For this post we expect candidates of Middle levels to apply

 

How to apply 

SEI is an equal opportunity employer and we consider all applicants on the basis of qualifications and competencies regardless but not limited to race, national origin, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability and marital status. We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organization and applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

 

We are reviewing applications on an ongoing basis so please submit your application as soon as possible, however no later than 30 April 2024, 23:59 Bangkok local time.

 

Applications should be written in English and consist of a short CV and cover letter highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.

 

As we only accept applications through our recruitment system, please apply online using the button below and include:

 

  • Cover letter highlighting relevant qualifications and experience
  • Curriculum vitae

 

 

Inquiries concerning the content of the position can be directed to asiarecruitment@sei.org.

 

 

 

About SEI

SEI is an independent, international research institute founded in 1989. Its mission is to support decision-making and foster change towards sustainable development around the world by providing integrative knowledge that bridges science and policy in the field of environment and development.

SEI has more than 340 employees working at research centres in seven countries around the world. Our Headquarters are located in Stockholm, Sweden with other centres in Estonia (SEI Tallinn); the United Kingdom (SEI York and SEI Oxford); the US (with offices in Davis, Calif.; Boston and Seattle); Thailand (SEI Asia); and Kenya (SEI Africa).

 

Contact person

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