Junior Advisor (Thai Rice GCF)

As an international cooperation enterprise with worldwide operations, the German government-owned Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH operates on behalf of German ministries, the governments of other countries and international clients to provide tailor-made, cost-efficient and effective services for sustainable development. With over 60 years of experience implementing projects in Thailand, GIZ provides policy and technical advice on various topics and sectors relating to Thailand’s reform process, including: climate policy, sustainable economic development, and sustainable agriculture.

We are looking for a Junior Advisor to coordinate climate finance activities within the project “Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming”, to be implemented by GIZ with four executing entities. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved a 38-million euro grant contribution towards the project. The co-financing is provided by Thai public sector partners, and executing entities, including the Thai Rice Department, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Planning (ONEP), and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and international private sector partners. Further information: https://www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp214.

Junior Advisor

Thai Rice GCF:  Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming

Rice is Thailand’s most important food crop, accounting for roughly half of agricultural land and employing 18 million smallholder farmers. Rice farmers are among the poorest occupational groups in Thailand. They are extremely vulnerable to climate change: rice farming is a water-intensive and temperature-sensitive activity conducted in a climate that is becoming increasingly characterised by longer dry spells and higher temperatures. At the same time, rice farming is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Smallholder farmers have limited capacity to adapt, given their small farm sizes and low incomes, and their limited access to technical assistance, markets and credit.

The “Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming” project aims to promote low-emission and climate-resilient rice farming. It aims to benefit more than 250,000 smallholder farmers – strengthening their yields, livelihoods, food security, and ability to cope with climate risks. It also has potential to mitigate 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The project follows a bottoms-up logic: empower vulnerable smallholder farmers to make improved decisions in the face of climate change and scale access to climate-smart farming technologies and financial support tools, including green credit lines, climate insurance and potentially, carbon market tools. Policymakers will be supported with technical assistance, monitoring tools, and organizational support to achieve a more ‘joined up’ institutional and policy environment for climate-smart rice. Governments across the region will benefit through knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning.

The finance component is an important part of the Thai Rice GCF project implementing under the coordination function so called “Thai Rice Facility” which encompasses “Climate Smart Farmer Blueprint” with integral financial support mechanism of Climate Smart Finance Training, Climate Smart Incentive and Loans through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC); ESG Risk Assessment tools for financial institutions, climate-resilience insurance instruments and agro-meteorological (agro-met) advisories. In addition, the establishment of the domestic fund in cooperation with the Environmental Fund Division of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) will be officially announced in the final quarter of year 2026. Expectedly, these financial instruments and intervention approaches will enhance the adoption of climate-smart practices at scale.

The focus of this position will be supporting the work of the finance component of Thai Rice GCF as mentioned above for the smooth and effective implementation of the Project, working closely with the partner institutions, mainly ONEP and BAAC among others. Essentially, the Junior Advisor will support on the establishment and implementation the project’s financial mechanism so-called the Climate-Smart Agriculture Fund by Environmental Fund (CSA Fund by EF) hosted and managed by ONEP through the Environmental Fund (EF) mechanism.

Job highlights:

• Job with purpose: Contribute to climate action in Thailand’s rice sector by supporting the implementation of innovative climate-resilience finance instruments and measures for smallholder farmers.
• Multi-stakeholder environment: Work alongside a diverse range of partners from government, the private sector (agriculture and finance), financial institutions, and farming communities on topics spanning green finance, and climate-resilience insurance among others.
• Emerging initiatives: Be part of early-stage efforts to convene ‘Thai Rice Facility and Strategy’ for low carbon rice and sustainable rice value chains in Thailand, contributing to sustainability outcomes with regional significance.
• Dynamic team: Join an international, dedicated team in a collaborative and supportive work environment, with real opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Tasks and responsibilities:

The Junior Advisor will support an implementation of the Thai Rice GCF’s finance mechanism as a team member of the project financial component, with a focus on Thai Rice Facility and CSA Fund by EF.

The Junior Advisor will carry out the following tasks:

Responsibilities

• Coordinating and supporting ONEP on the establishment and operationalization of the project’s financial mechanism, covering the Thai Rice Facility and the grant-based mechanism CSA Fund by EF, including the management of Grant Agreement (GA) between ONEP and GIZ and sub-grants (e.g. status and milestones, and also the environmental and social safeguards mechanism within the EFD)

• Supporting the development of the knowledge management package and exchange regarding in relation to the project funded by the CSA Fund by EF.

• Coordinating with institutional partners and stakeholders (public, private, civil society organisation and academic) under Thai Rice GCF in relation to Thai Rice Facility and CSA Fund by EF and potential linkage to other project’s activities or financial mechanism to strengthen partnerships and ensure smooth project implementation

• Supporting the development of work plans, project concept and others to fulfill project objectives and milestones as well as support implementing, meetings, workshops, study visits, seminars and other events on issues related to the project’s output and work packages.

• Conducting desk research and conceptualizing to provide technical inputs to the development of, for example, thematic call for proposal, the design and preparation of technical content for capacity development events such as workshops and trainings etc.

• Preparing documentation of project information, meeting materials, presentation documents, and summaries to promote knowledge transfer and liaise with partners to develop communication materials and outreach activities

• Assisting on other relevant assignments of financial component e.g. climate-resilience insurance instruments, agro-meteorological (agro-met) advisories but not limited to

• Updating manager(s) regularly on relevant progress and seeking advice as needed to ensure high-quality, effective and timely execution of activities

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in a relevant field, e.g. Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Law, Political Science, Agricultural Economics, or Management of Natural Resources
• Some experience in relevant role; in international organizations, the climate finance space, working with public sector.
• Previous knowledge or working experiences in public fund management is an asset.
• Familiarity with Thailand’s agricultural or financial sector, or with relevant government institutions, is an asset.
• Demonstrated interest in agricultural and climate-resilience finance, sustainable agriculture, or related topics.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Fluent command of Thai and English both spoken and written is absolutely required
• Excellent command of MS Office package (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and Microsoft Teams

Personal attributes and competencies:

• Self-motivated, flexible and resourceful, with a hands-on mentality, attention to detail, and commitment to quality.
• Strong organisational and conceptualisation skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently and work proactively under pressure to meet deadlines consistently.
• Hands-on mentality and detail-oriented work ethics
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines with strong attention to consistency, detail, and quality
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a diplomatic, solution-oriented mindset and confidence engaging a wide range of stakeholders from government, the private sector, and civil society in a cross-cultural environment.
• Genuine interest in climate change adaptation and mitigation, sustainable agricultural finance, and cross-sectoral collaboration.
• Ability to work with several partners and actors.
• Have full right to work in Thailand without restriction

Duty station and timeframe:

The position will be based in Bangkok and will report to the Project Financial Advisor in GIZ Thailand.

This will be a fixed-term contract, starting as soon as possible and running until 31 December 2027, with possibility for extension.

Please carefully read this announcement and submit 1) a CV AND 2) a cover letter in English to [email protected] or "Quick Apply"

The deadline for applications is 23 October 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

GIZ Thailand is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages gender diversity within the company and operations.

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