Description:

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society, and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnerships, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products, capacity strengthening, dialogue, and policy analysis to support the implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change, and inclusive economic growth. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR Research Center with offices in 15 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 55 countries.

The Climate Resilience and Social Inclusion Specialist will contribute to the integration of climate resilience, gender equality, and social inclusion dimensions into the design, implementation, and monitoring of the Water Resilience Tracker project and the Al Murunah+ project, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

The Water Resilience Tracker (WRT) aims to enhance climate policies by integrating water management strategies into national climate planning. As part of the Just Transitions for Water Security program, the WRT provides actionable insights and frameworks that improve resilience to climate shocks.

Al Murunah+ focuses on gender dynamics as a critical enabler for the successful implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). The objectives of Al Murunah+ are to advance positive gender norms and household resilience through weekly sessions that strengthen household planning, budgeting, decision-making, and resilience to shocks, thereby amplifying environmental outcomes while driving economic and social development.

The role will ensure that research outputs and policy recommendations are inclusive, equitable, and sensitive to the needs of marginalized groups, including women, youth, and vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by climate change and water insecurity.

The Climate Resilience and Social Inclusion Specialist will provide technical guidance, capacity strengthening, and analytical expertise to embed inclusive approaches into climate resilience metrics, nature-based solutions, frameworks, and tools. The consultant is also expected to contribute toward advancing positive gender norms and household resilience to shocks.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The general duties and responsibilities of the position will include (but will not be restricted to) the following:

• Developing and Adapting Research Tools to Capture and Reflect Gender and Inclusion Dimensions
  - Ensure the Climate and Water Resilience frameworks incorporate gender-responsive and socially inclusive indicators.
  - Lead, support, or review ongoing research to ensure gender and social inclusion aspects are adequately incorporated.
  - Develop methodologies to assess how diverse groups experience water resilience under climate change stressors.
  - Support the implementation of the gender strategy developed for the Water Resilience Tracker project.
  
• Capacity Strengthening & Technical Support
  - Train project teams, researchers, and partners on social inclusion concepts (including gender), frameworks, and their application in climate–water research.
  - Provide technical backstopping to country-level implementing partners on inclusive approaches.
  - Train project teams and partners on inclusive reporting supported by evidence.
  
• Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Influence
  - Engage with governments, NGOs, community-based organizations, and policy actors to promote inclusive water resilience strategies.
  - Support knowledge-sharing platforms, dialogues, and events to highlight marginalized voices in water and climate governance.
  
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
  - Develop and apply GESI-sensitive monitoring frameworks to measure project impact.
  - Document lessons learned, case studies, and success stories of inclusive resilience-building.
  
• Knowledge Generation & Communication
  - Produce high-quality publications, policy briefs, and research outputs focusing on GESI in climate change and water resilience.
  - Contribute to donor reports, ensuring that social inclusion-related achievements and challenges are well articulated.

DELIVERABLES:

1. GESI Action Plan and Guidance Note for the Water Resilience Tracker, including gender- and inclusion-sensitive indicators.
2. Training materials and workshops delivered to project teams and partners on mainstreaming GESI in resilience research.
3. Policy briefs, working papers, and case studies highlighting inclusive approaches to water resilience under climate change.
4. GESI-sensitive monitoring and evaluation framework, including baseline and progress tracking tools.
5. Documented lessons learned and success stories for FCDO donor reporting and knowledge dissemination.
6. Contributions to cross-CGIAR and external learning platforms to share best practices on inclusive climate–water research.
7. Donor reporting support with relevant evidence.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE:

• Advanced degree (master’s or PhD preferred) in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Environmental Policy, or related social sciences.
• At least 5–7 years of professional experience applying GESI frameworks in climate change, natural resource management, or water governance projects.
• Proven track record of integrating GESI into large-scale, multi-stakeholder, donor-funded research or development programs.
• Experience working with international research organizations, NGOs, or multilateral institutions.
• Experience in building indexes is a plus.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Strong theoretical and applied knowledge of gender analysis frameworks, intersectionality, and social inclusion approaches.
• Expertise in climate change adaptation, resilience-building, and/or water security, with demonstrable experience linking these with GESI.
• Ability to design GESI-sensitive indicators and tools for monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong facilitation and training skills to build institutional and partner capacity.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, with the ability to produce high-quality publications and policy documents.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in diverse, multidisciplinary, and international teams.
• Strong networking skills, including the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders across multiple time zones.

Benefits

This is an internationally recruited consultancy position, therefore individuals with relevant qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:
Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. Applications will be accepted until 24:00 IST on October 23, 2025, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) references, who may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical to our mission. We offer a multicultural, multicolored, multigenerational, and multidisciplinary working environment. We are committed to building an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and prioritizes gender equity. We therefore strongly encourage applications from individuals of all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, and gender identities.