Climate Diplomacy Program Manager

The Carboun Institute seeks a Program Manager to lead its Climate Diplomacy Program, which examines how energy and climate intersect with the region’s socio-economic development, geopolitics, trade, migration, and security. The aim of this hybrid role is to strengthen the MENA region’s economic and diplomatic role in the global low-carbon transition with a focus on downstream economic opportunities.

The Climate Diplomacy Program examines how the MENA countries can advance their economic and diplomatic interests in a rapidly decarbonizing world. It seeks to understand the political economy of climate action in the region and the international frameworks - financial, trade, and diplomatic - that can enable low-carbon development. The Program also explores the geopolitical, security, and trade implications of energy and climate change, and how climate diplomacy and economic statecraft can be leveraged to strengthen the region’s negotiating power, attract green investment, and forge new alliances around climate and energy transition. The Program also explores the economic case supporting - and the evolving incentives for - green industrialization in the region.

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the region’s approach to climate and economic cooperation, by linking industrial strategy, energy transition, and sustainable development objectives. It will explore whether a robust economic case for green industrialization exists in the MENA region, assessing competitiveness, investment potential, cooperation opportunities, and the capacity of regional economies to move beyond rentierism.

The position will combine applied economic research, policy engagement, and program management. It will also work closely with the Decarbonization Program to ensure both programs complement one another in advancing sustainable industrial transformation across the region.

The position is a hybrid one, combining the program manager’s own applied research with program management, partnerships, fundraising, and oversight of existing projects. The ideal candidate is an economist with strong analytical grounding in climate, energy, and industrial policy. However, other backgrounds will be considered if they can demonstrate that they combine technical expertise with policy experience and possess strong program management experience to oversee and direct existing and upcoming projects under the Climate Diplomacy Program, including the China-MENA Cooperation project.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, including: International economics, energy economics, or environmental economics

• Political economy, international relations, public policy, or international development

• Energy and climate policy, or sustainability studies with a policy focus

• Minimum of 5–7 years of research and/or policy experience related to climate diplomacy, industrial policy, or energy transition.

• Demonstrated understanding of the economic, political, and geopolitical dimensions of the energy transition in the MENA region.

• Proven experience in economic analysis or modeling, ideally applied to climate policy, trade, or industrial transformation.

• Familiarity with international climate governance and diplomacy processes (e.g., UNFCCC, COP, MDBs) and regional cooperation frameworks.

• Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and think tanks.

• In-depth knowledge of the MENA region’s political economy, trade structures, and energy landscape.

• Network of contacts in the MENA economics, energy, or climate policy sphere, or in its industrial sector.

• Arabic language skills.

• PhD in a related field (e.g., economics, energy policy, industrial policy, or international political economy).

• Specialized coursework or certificates in: Green industrial policy, Economic modeling or econometrics, Climate finance, and Trade policy.

Location: Remotely (MENA region)

Deadline: Until filled

To get more information and apply