Principal Expert-Lead Climate Negotiator at Palladium Group

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.