Council on Energy Environment and Water

Government Liaison Officer - Odisha

Terms of Reference

At CEEW, we build careers in public policy

• We offer strong visionary leadership – with emphasis on research and impact at scale

• We actively promote leadership by initiative

• We celebrate talent and ambition

• You will be surrounded by smart people who will challenge you and help you grow

• You will learn faster than your peers in other organisations

• Curiosity and irreverence as well as responsibility come together at CEEW

• You will get above-market remuneration

• We provide a safe space for all

• At CEEW, your life is your example for others

Purpose

India has committed to a net-zero target by 2070 and imminent ambitious decarbonisation targets by 2030. Unless we align climate action with the country’s economic growth and job priorities, we risk sidelining climate action in the wake of economic or employment distress. There is both a need and potential for climate action to generate many jobs and foster economic prosperity.

So far, the green economy discussions concerning climate action have adopted a narrow view. Green economy is generally associated with renewable energy, electric mobility, and, lately, green hydrogen. While these are important, such a limiting view of green jobs ignores the job and economic potential that other aspects of climate action and the overall pursuit of a green economy may hold. We are envisioning a much broader green economic paradigm, encompassing:

● Energy transition: large- and small-scale renewables, productive use of decentralised renewables, e-mobility, green hydrogen

● Nature-based solutions and Bioeconomy: Land and forest-based livelihoods (including but also beyond sustainable food production) including sustainable materials (bioplastics, biofertilizers, biofibres, etc.), biofuels from agro residue, etc.

● Circular economy: recycling and upcycling opportunities for non-biodegradable materials.

The CEEW has been engaging with the Government of Odisha to adopt such a green economic paradigm in the state and has launched a Green Odisha Initiative (GrOI) to start adopting and mainstreaming a green economic paradigm. As part of GrOI, a small programme management unit (PMU) is being established at the Department of Planning and Convergence, Government of Odisha. The officer will be a part of this PMU and will support the CEEW’s engagement with the state government on this front with other members of the state team.

Job Duties and Accountabilities

● Arrange meetings with state departments to understand their annual action plans, policies, and other initiatives, while identifying opportunities to integrate the green economy into existing policies and budgets.

● Assist the State team in developing green economy action plans for targeted departments in close collaboration with the relevant government officers.

● Contribute to steering committee meetings and follow up on action items.

● Identify government departments with the highest potential for early buy-in to the Green Economy Opportunities Initiative (GrOI) and prioritise engagement to secure initial traction, then expand to other departments accordingly.

● Provide technical and strategic support to departments, as needed, in executing the GrOI, ensuring alignment with the overall goals of the state.

● Support the development of a common results framework for different green economy value chains, ensuring it aligns with both department-specific and state-specific targets.

● Engage with a broader network of policymakers, industry representatives, and civil society organizations to promote the green economy agenda.

● Contribute to other tasks and projects as required by the evolving needs of both CEEW and the Department of Planning and Convergence (DoPC), demonstrating adaptability and flexibility in an ever-changing environment.

● Provide day-to-day support to the government for the GrOI, including but not limited to research and on-site visits.

● Travel to districts, when necessary, to conduct meetings, community engagements, and collect primary data.

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.