Asia and Europe Coordinator, FOLU

Job Description

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our WRI Office in London, The Hague, Delhi, or Jakarta. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission.

This will be a 1 year contract with the possibility of extension.

About the Program:

The Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) is a self-governed coalition of organisations and individuals working collaboratively to achieve a shared objective: the urgent transformation of food and land use systems to deliver a better future for people, nature and climate. FOLU supports science-based solutions and helps to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities to unlock collective, ambitious action.

FOLU’s Growing Better report recommends an integrated reform agenda along ten critical transitions to deliver positive outcomes for environment, health, inclusive development and food security, ensuring food and land use systems support delivery of globally agreed sustainable development, climate and biodiversity goals.

FOLU’s light-touch governance and adaptive management have enabled the FOLU community to grow and evolve since FOLU’s inception in 2017. The Coalition’s collective leadership is provided by a Core Partners Group comprised of seven Country Platforms – in Brazil, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Kenya – and eight International Partners: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), EAT, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), SYSTEMIQ, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), and the World Resources Institute (WRI).

FOLU’s Ambassador network is co-chaired by Shenggen Fan, Agnes Kalibata and Paul Polman. They are international, senior leaders who engage decision-makers at the global and national level to drive change in one or more FOLU countries.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Countries Director, you will help coordinate FOLU’s activities in Asia and scope possible expansion in Europe. This includes:

1) Overseeing the strategy, delivery and performance of the FOLU country platforms in Asia

2) Connecting the country platforms with the Global Secretariat including facilitating learning, donor reporting and strategic discussions

3) Managing FOLU’s expansion plans in both continents – identifying and establishing new country platforms.

This opportunity involves working with some of the world’s most prominent institutions and individuals in the fields of economics, agriculture, environment, health and nutrition. You will be responsible for integrating equity into your work.

What will you do:

Overseeing FOLU country portfolio in Asia (40%):

• Support the Country Directors in FOLU’s country platforms in the region - currently China, Indonesia and India - to enable the successful delivery of planned activities, the development of strategic thinking and sharpening of impact
• Understand the contexts, partners and work programs of the country platforms within Asia. This will require regular contact with country teams (on a weekly basis) and frequent travel (at least one visit to each platform a year)
• Provide feedback to country platforms on their progress, identifying risks and proposing mitigatory measures
• Work to resolve the operational and strategic challenges experienced by the country platforms, helping to problem solve and drive forward delivery
• Implement the quarterly review performance management process
• Ensure that country platforms provide narrative and strategic reporting
• Work with the Grants & Finance Team to ensure timely disbursements, accurate forecasts and the appropriate allocation of resources. Ensure complete reporting of country platform financials
• Act as the ‘award coordinator’ for grants that are predominantly located within FOLU’s platforms in Asia.

Bridging the global and country portfolios in Asia & Europe (30%):

• Ensure that country platforms are kept informed about the activities and priorities of global teams and vice versa. This includes working closely with the Global Secretariat’s Knowledge Generation, International Engagement, Communications and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Teams
• Participate in internal and external meetings and workshops to represent the country platforms, sharing their knowledge and advocating for their needs
• Promote lesson learning and dissemination by participating in FOLU’s communities of practice and inputting into relevant Global Secretariat products.

Supporting fundraising efforts for the Asia platforms (20%):

• Support the country platforms to fundraise and mobilize resources by (a) reviewing and contributing to concept notes & proposals (b) working with the Global Secretariat’s senior development manager to identify upcoming opportunities and to build donor relationships and (c) working to improve the strategic framing and development of new fundable ideas
• Support the country platforms to build long-term and deep relationships with existing donors that are mutually beneficial and sustainable
• Ensure countries are represented in global fundraising activities, including the development of coalition-wide proposals and discussions with programmatic donors

Growing the country portfolio (10%):

• Work with colleagues in the Countries & Impact Team to develop a strategy for country expansion
• If requested by FOLU’s Governing Council, identify, scope and develop new country platforms within Asia or Europe. Work closely with FOLU’s leadership team to identify candidate platforms and affiliate platforms
• If approved, work to establish a new Asia or Europe country platform. This includes scoping visits, identifying possible coalition partners, mobilizing funding and sketching out a possible program of work for the new platform.

What will you need:

• Education: You have completed a master’s degree (or a bachelor's degree with three additional years of experience) in a relevant field
• Experience: You have a 7+ years of experience, including within government civil society or the private sector working in a field relevant to food systems transformation
• Experience working on relevant issues within an Asian context, including working at a national level to drive system change
• Experience coordinating complex projects and teams across multiple geographic locations
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including across academic, public policy and the private sectors
• Track record of fundraising from bilateral or philanthropic donors
• Demonstrated relationship management skills in various cultural contexts
• Experience coordinating large donor funded projects
• Languages: You are proficient in written and spoken English. Knowledge of relevant Asian languages is desirable
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based.

Potential Salary:

If based in the UK: £ 53 ,000 – £ 67 ,000

If based in the Netherlands: € 67 ,000 – € 84 ,000

If located in another office, salary will be determined by local market conditions.

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter by 3 December 2024. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• 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
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program.

About Us:

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

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: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.