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Position: Program Director, Climate and Forced Displacement (CFD)
Reports to: Regional Director, JRSAP
Organization: Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific (JRSAP)
Location: Bangkok (Thailand)
Start date: 1 November 2024 (renewable)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Background
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an International Catholic agency with a mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. It offers direct assistance to forcibly displaced persons and host communities. The style of service is direct and personal, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being of vulnerable populations, while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs. In Asia Pacific, JRS has programs in eight countries including Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. For more information about JRS in Asia Pacific, visit: http://www.jrsap.org. 
World Bank’s Groundswell Part 2 report projects that over 216 million people could become internal climate migrants by 2050. Life-threatening risks of extreme weather events, the consequent degradation of economic conditions and livelihoods, and the loss of habitability in highly exposed areas trigger the mobility of persons and populations (IPCC AR6 2022). United Nations Secretary-General Guterres, stressed to the UN Security Council meeting in February 2023, that many low-lying communities and entire countries could disappear forever, leading to a “mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale” (UN Press 2023). The archipelagic countries in Southeast Asia are highly exposed to climate risks ranking Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines in the top 20 countries most impacted by climate-related extreme weather events (Global Climate Risk Index 2021). Climate change will affect water availability, food production, disaster risk management, urban development, particularly in the coastal zones, and health and nutrition, with implications for poverty and inequality (Germanwatch 2021).
The global climate crisis is also central to the Catholic Church’s call to action and integral and ecological conversion. Through Laudato Si, Laudati Deum and other papal messages, Pope Francis has highlighted how care for creation and communities is embedded in the Catholic faith and social teachings.
JRSAPs Regional Strategic Plan 2023-2025 has identified “Reconciliation and Care for the Environment” as one of its delivery objectives. JRSAP is building on its climate programming in the last two years to respond to this global crisis. In 2022, JRSAP is a core member of the Jesuit Conference in Asia Pacific’s (JCAP) Flagship Initiative called “Caring for Communities and Creation”. JRSAP has been implementing the five-year project, “Research and Advocacy for Climate Policy and Action” (RACPA), with the overall goal of increasing climate resilience in coastal and island communities in Indonesia and Philippines. RACPA is a partnership consortium and supported by Caritas Australia and the Australian government. 

Overall Position Purpose:
The Program Director is established to provide strategic direction to RACPA and all climate-related programming of JRSAP, increase organizational capacity, enhance partnerships and mobilize resources towards the development of the Climate and Forced Displacement (CFD) program in JRS Asia Pacific.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Programming

• Develop a climate and forced displacement program framework for JRSAP based on ongoing projects and opportunities
• Provide leadership and strategic direction to ongoing and future JRSAP projects and activities on climate and forced displacement, e.g. RACPA, C3P3, among others.
• Facilitate the review of objectives and improvement of strategy of “Reconciliation and Care for the Environment” delivery objective in the JRS Regional Strategic Framework 2023-2025

Organizational Capacity

• Increase awareness within the organization on the risks and impact of climate change and environmental issues in project cycle management and the organization’s carbon footprint
• Initiate development and implementation of a JRSAP internal guidelines on environmental care and reduction of carbon footprint inspired by Catholic Social Teaching (Laudato Si, Laudate Deum) and the Society of Jesus Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs)
• Develop a plan to measure and monitor JRS AP carbon footprint and environmental care activities among volunteer country and project teams
• Develop with relevant JRS teams the organization’s capacity to conduct environmental risk assessments and monitoring of carbon footprint  
• Provide support to JRS teams in their strategic planning and implementation of initiatives towards reconciliation and care for environment 
• Assist the Regional Director in areas related to climate and forced displacement as requested

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

• Engage with regional and global stakeholders and initiate partnerships within JRS global and network partners on climate and forced displacement issues and concerns
• Contribute to JCAP’s Flagship Initiative called “Caring for Communities and Creation” 
• Develop practitioner networks on climate and forced displacement with faith-based groups, civil society,  private and public agencies and other stakeholders
• Develop formation modules with youth and partner communities toward care for creation and communities within multifaith settings in cooperation with the Flagship Initiative core group
• Mobilize resources to implement and progress towards result-based outcomes of the climate and forced displacement program framework of JRSAP
• Support the Regional Director in new partnerships related to climate and forced displacement programs and activities

Monitoring and Reporting

• Participate in regular meetings with JRS networks and JCAP partners for monitoring and learning as directed by the Regional Director
• Submit regular plans and periodic reports to the Regional Director on progress of key result deliverables
• Ensure compliance of program to the risk assessments and requirements of donors, partners and ethical considerations on care for the environment 

Qualifications and Experience:

• University degree in Climate and Migration Studies, Environmental Studies, Development Studies, Development Communications, or relevant fields;
• Minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience in project planning and development, implementation, and coordination with international organizations, consortium, and donors;
• Strong knowledge and skills in partner mobilization, facilitation, project cycle management, policy dialogues, networking and advocacy, research, and monitoring and learning;
• Strong background in climate change and displacement fields;
• Fluency in English language. Knowledge of any of the regional languages is strongly recommended.
• Proven performance in organizational management, including leadership of staff, budget development and program management.
• Demonstrated ability to fundraise.
• Strong analytical and data and information management skills. Knowledge of software/applications related to data, mapping, and/or websites is highly recommended;
• Strong interpersonal, communication, writing and presentation skills;
• Ability to work successfully in a multi-cultural and multi-faith environment and able to deal with limited resources and challenges; and,
• Ability to travel to vulnerable or remote locations in Asia Pacific.

How to apply
Conditions:

• JRS offers a localized salary and benefits. Details will be discussed with short-listed candidates; salary depends on the status and qualifications of the successful applicant.
• Interested candidates must send their curriculum vitae (including three references) and a motivation letter to recruit.jrsapr@gmail.com Please include your last name and “Program Director, Climate and Forced Displacement (CFD)” in the subject line.

JRS advocates for equal opportunity and promotes a diversified and inspiring working environment. Therefore, qualified candidates of ethnic minorities and women are strongly encouraged to apply.
JRS endeavors to ensure that all its employees, consultants, volunteers and interns agree to keep children and vulnerable adults safe from harm. It also requires that they speak out against incidences of sexual abuse and exploitation within the organization. The successful applicant for this role will be required to read, understand and sign the JRS Code of Conduct, the JRS Child Safeguarding Policy, and a Self-Declaration Form in line with the above.
Applications close on 31 October 2024.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Contact : recruit.jrsapr@gmail.com