• Deadline: March 19,2023
• London UK, Delhi India or Ghana
• Salary: UK £73,600-£87,399 gross per annum Ghana GHS 520,335.21 – GHS 663,874.54 gross per annum Delhi INR 5,437,500.00 – INR 6,937,499.00 gross per annum CTC
• Candidate Level: Management
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Working Hours: Full Time
• Sector: Conservation / Environment / Climate

About the Organization:

Clean Air Fund is a philanthropic initiative that works around the world with governments, funders, businesses, and campaigners to deliver clean air for all as fast as possible. We all need clean air. Yet 9 out of 10 people breathe harmful, dirty air, making air pollution one of our biggest health threats.

Over 7 million people die every year as a result of air pollution – more than twice as many as from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined. The poorest communities, living in the most congested areas, are hit the hardest. Babies, children, people living with chronic health conditions and older people suffer most. But it’s far from only a health problem. Since both air pollution and climate change are mainly caused by burning fossil fuels, they share many of the same solutions.

How we work

From grassroots to government, Clean Air Fund supports partners to accelerate action on clean air. Our grants, research, and other activities are delivered globally, at a country level, and thematically.

• Through our global programme, we raise air pollution up the political agenda, galvanise commitment to international targets, support standard setting and knowledge development and mobilise funding. Current global partners include C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the World Economic Forum, and the World Health Organisation.
• Our work in a small number of ‘lighthouse geographies’ is designed to test approaches, support change, and learn lessons about what works. We are currently working in India, Ghana, Poland, Bulgaria, and the United Kingdom, and will begin work in South Africa this year.
• Alongside our in-country and global activities, we focus on themes such as air quality data and stakeholder groups such as businesses, to build and support a movement for clean air.

What we offer 

We are a new organisation that is clear on what we offer and what we expect from everyone in the team. We offer the opportunity to be at the heart of efforts to reduce air pollution across the globe, working with an exceptionally high calibre team. You would be part of shaping a growing and ambitious organisation, benefitting from our support and commitment to your learning and career development.  

In return, everyone who works with us is expected to share our values — collaborative, dynamic and evidence-informed — and to do their utmost to deliver our strategic objectives according to their role. As we are growing rapidly, comfort with almost continuous change is vital as is the desire to learn, improve and grow with the organisation.   

About the Role:

Despite the growing impact of air pollution on climate and health, international action to tackle the issue falls short. Clean Air Fund seeks to influence power-holders to recognize and respond urgently to the problem and the Head of Advocacy will play a central role in that work. 

You will initiate action-orientated research and develop a multi-million-dollar portfolio of grants to drive global advocacy and to shape international campaigns that increase political will to achieve clean air standards.

You will work to increase international development spending on air quality, argue alongside climate and health activists for clean air commitments at COPs and push governments to achieve bolder targets for air pollution reductions. 

Scope of role

The Head of Advocacy will build on and expand existing relationships with government and UN officials, development agencies, multilateral finance institutions, clean air campaign groups, and international organisations to drive Clean Air Fund’s policy agenda.

Key working relationships

This role reports to the Strategic Partnerships and Communications Director and works closely with colleagues leading health, data, private sector and communications portfolios, as well as with CAF partners and grantees to ensure strong alignment on advocacy and campaigns efforts, both at the global level and in the countries where we operate.

Responsibilities:

Strategy and planning (20%)

• Building on existing movement building work, articulate a clear strategy and theory of change for Clean Air Fund’s advocacy and campaigns, ensuring the approach has input from and is owned by CAF teams and partners.
• Map pathways to influence global commitments and policies for clean air, identifying high-level stakeholders and champions, potential allies and supporters, possible partners or grantees and opportunities and international moments that can be leveraged.
• Contribute to CAF’s overall movement-building strategy, by helping to determine the specific roles of global advocacy, clean air champions, public mobilization, and local campaigning.
• Build an advocacy workplan with KPIs and milestones and guide decisions on resource/grant allocation that will maximise organisational impact.

Delivery and leadership (30%)

• Lead advocacy campaigns, building evidence, creating key messages and talking points, recruiting and working with partners, and setting and driving towards clear goals. Clean Air Fund’s current advocacy initiatives are:

– To secure commitments to increase financing for air quality from multilateral and bilateral donors.

– To work with climate and health activists in UNFCCC processes to deliver stronger international commitments that benefit clean air, such as the phase out of unabated fossil fuel use.

– Develop new global projects that increase political will to tackle air pollution. This includes:

• Supporting a multi-stakeholder effort that CAF is leading outside traditional international forums.
• Supporting the coordination of work being shaped by or in association with the WHO, UNEP and CCAC.
• Develop a portfolio of grants and service contracts to drive Clean Air Fund’s advocacy campaigns, aligning to implementation of new and existing commitments and policies to decarbonize polluting sectors and to achieve WHO air quality guideline levels.
• Work with teams internally to integrate campaigns across CAF’s portfolios and act as a mentor on campaign related matters in our geographies.
• Ensure robust impact assessment of advocacy and campaigns activity at global level and across geographic and thematic portfolios.
• Effectively line manage and supervise the work of team members and provide leadership to teams including members from outside of the department.

Policy and positioning (30%)

• Lead on commissioning and approving advocacy and research briefs and policy position papers, and lead work teams internally on projects where CAF decides it is best placed to produce products itself. This would include our annual State of Global Air Quality Funding report, and other products that generate evidence and inform and persuade at key global moments.
• Lead on crafting policy positions for CAF on key climate, climate finance, and air quality issues, such as our stance on ending fossil fuel subsidies and investment. Ensure policy stances are appropriately socialized and signed-off by key internal stakeholders.

Influencing and partnering (20%)

• Work with senior leadership in a coordinated way to build effective relationships with key decision-makers in global climate, environment and international development, and air quality communities that helps Clean Air Fund advance its advocacy agenda.
• Participate or support participation at key climate, business and political convenings, such as COPs, Davos, Climate Week etc. to ensure Clean Air Fund can raise its voice or support partners and grantees to raise theirs.
• Lead engagement with development agency and multilateral finance partners and identify other key networks to engage in, to support and to build where they are missing. Steer collaboration with global movements and campaigns on air quality, climate, and health.
• Build alliances of common interest with groups working to secure clean air or pursuing aligned health or environmental goals, to help create a broad and deep clean air movement.
• Coordinate where necessary with Clean Air Fund donors, the broader philanthropic climate community and associated campaign groups and networks.
• Support global clean air communication opportunities in close consultation with SP&C team.

Requirements:

Person specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate alignment with CAF’s mission, values and goals and the majority of the following:

Essential technical competencies

• Significant previous advocacy experience at an international level, designing and delivering strategies that led to demonstrable policy change.
• Relevant experience in:
  • Developing and implementing advocacy and campaign strategies on air pollution, climate, climate finance, or other related fields, preferably with an international perspective.
  • Managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including policy makers.
  • Working at a senior level within an INGO, advocacy, or private sector organisation.
• Experience and contacts within relevant global institutions, such as the UN agencies, international financial institutions, development agencies, etc.
• Proven ability to develop policy recommendations, identify advocacy opportunities, and generate support for adoption.
• Demonstrable ability to facilitate groups and partners to agree common policy goals and campaign tactics.
• Experience of working in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately.

Desirable technical competencies

• Experience of working on Air Quality and/or in a grant making organisation.
• Project development, management and/or grant making experience, including budget ownership and management; effective management of grantees and external agencies.
• Experience working with philanthropic funders.

Essential behavioural competencies

• Sound political judgement and ability to spot opportunities for policy change.
• Ability to create trust with staff and diverse stakeholders, to build strong interpersonal relationships and to show success in building effective partnerships and networks.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, donors, partners, and organisations working on clean air.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Confidence and presence as a public speaker, and clear and compelling communication style.
• Excellent line management and people development skills.
• Dynamic, inspired and full of ideas.
• Thorough and organised, with excellent attention to detail as well as the ability to see the ‘big picture’.
• Ability to manage and prioritize high workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Ability to work autonomously and with an instinctive problem-solving approach.

Further information

This is a full-time position, or for an outstanding candidate could be considered at 0.8 FTE. This role will recruit and manage a campaigns manager and benefits from analyst support. There is scope for the team to grow, depending on funding. Preferred location is London but candidates with the right to work in a location where CAF has an office will also be considered. We will not be able to support work visa applications.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a letter of application stating the skills and approach that you would bring to the post with your CV/resume (no photos) in strict confidence by email only to: Zoe Oldham at zoeoldham@darylupsall.com.

Please ensure they are sent as Word documents with the titles “your name cover letter” and “your name CV” Please put “name of client and post” in the email subject line.