Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.
Experience
Location: Abuja
Primary Duties And Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Representation
- Provide technical leadership and support to Nigeria’s delegation at major international climate events (COPs, Subsidiary Bodies (SBs), AGN coordination meetings).
- Represent Nigeria’s priorities in high-level bilateral and multilateral meetings, ensuring alignment with AGN and strategic partners.
- Facilitate coordination between NCCC, Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv), UK PACT, diplomatic missions, and other stakeholders on climate diplomacy matters.
Strategy Development & Positioning
- Develop and refine Nigeria’s national negotiation strategy and thematic positions for UNFCCC processes, aligned with national priorities and regional interests.
- Coordinate with AGN and other regional blocs to integrate and amplify Nigeria’s positions.
- Support mainstreaming of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in negotiation priorities and team composition.
Policy & Technical Support
- Provide rapid-response technical analysis during negotiations and manage official communication with the UNFCCC Secretariat and other parties.
- Draft high-quality briefing notes, talking points, position papers, and internal guidance for senior officials.
- Offer policy advice and technical inputs to the DG NCCC and focal persons on emerging negotiation developments and linkages to domestic policy.
Capacity Building & Mentorship
- Mentor junior negotiators and NCCC staff through hands-on engagement during COPs, SBs, and AGN meetings.
- Co-deliver tailored negotiation training sessions with the CPG Project 1 team, including advisory input on training materials, technical simulations, and thematic briefings.
- Support development of toolkits, resource guides, templates, and SOPs for negotiation preparation, coordination, and reporting.
Institutional Strengthening
- Contribute to establishing a Negotiation Coordination Unit or similar mechanism within NCCC, ensuring alignment with CPG Project 1’s institutional roadmap.
- Participate in strategic coordination meetings and technical working groups led by NCCC or other MDAs.
- Conduct stakeholder mapping to identify key actors across government involved in climate negotiations, disaggregated by thematic areas and capacities.
Programme Alignment & Coordination
- Maintain strategic coordination with CPG Project 1, including participation in its Steering Committee for alignment and shared oversight.
- Participate in joint planning and review sessions to ensure coherence in capacity-building efforts.
- Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) processes for both the deployment and UK PACT project.
Cross-Government Engagement
- Support inter-ministerial coordination for Nigeria’s participation in UNFCCC processes, including side event planning and delegation briefing.
- Collaborate with diplomatic missions to enhance coherence between negotiation positions and foreign policy engagement.
Required Qualifications
Academic Competencies
- Postgraduate degree (Master’s or PhD) in Climate Policy, International Relations, Environmental Law, Political Science, Development Studies, or related fields.
- Additional training or certification in international climate diplomacy, negotiation, or public policy is desirable.
General Experience
- Senior Level of experience in international climate negotiations, climate policy, or multilateral diplomacy.
- Demonstrated experience as a lead negotiator or senior advisor to a national delegation in UNFCCC processes (COPs, SBs, AGN).
- Deep understanding of UNFCCC negotiation architecture, thematic tracks (mitigation, adaptation, finance, Article 6), and coalition dynamics (AGN, G77+China, LMDCs).
- Proven experience advising high-level government officials and representing national or regional interests in multilateral settings.
Specific Experience
- Has a track record in drafting or coordinating national negotiation strategies, technical position papers, and intervention scripts.
- Experience mentoring junior negotiators and building institutional capacity in government or intergovernmental contexts.
- Familiarity with African Group of Negotiators (AGN) coordination mechanisms.
- Ability to navigate political and institutional dynamics in multistakeholder settings.
Skills
- Strategic thinking and high-level political judgment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication for technical and political audiences.
- Diplomatic tact and ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes negotiations.
- Cross-cultural communication and stakeholder engagement.
- Ability to distill complex technical and legal content into policy-relevant insights.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified? Go to Palladium Group on palladium.csod.com to apply
