Implementing DFID’s climate change policies on adaptation and mitigation in country programmes involves a range of staff, including programme managers and advisers with environment, livelihoods and infrastructure responsibilities. For example:
In Bangladesh, China and India the numbers of advisers working on environmental issues over the last three years (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07) is: Bangladesh: 0, 1, 1; China: 1, 2, 2; India 3, 2, 2. However the proportion of time spent on climate change has increased over the period. A new post has been created in Brazil on climate change and markets starting 2007-08.
The work of advisers in the Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods groups, while not necessarily dedicated to climate change, covers aspects of the subject, for example adaptation in agricultural research or in infrastructure design. The numbers of internal posts over the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 financial years are as follows:
Environment posts: 20, 18.5, 22.5 (includes GEA climate change posts)
Infrastructure posts: 29, 27, 34
Livelihoods posts: 49, 45.5, 45.5
The Global Environmental Assets team of the Sustainable Development Group leads on climate change policy work. Its complement of dedicated staff working on climate change over the last three financial years is as follows: 3 in 2004-05, 3.5 in 2005-06 and 5.5 in 2006-07. We expect to fill two additional posts in coming months.
In addition, we are externally recruiting a new Head of Profession for Environment who will also be engaged on this important issue. The Heads of Profession for Infrastructure and Livelihoods continue to provide support to DFID’s climate change work. DFID’s Chief Scientific Adviser has been providing support on climate change and agriculture.
In the International Financial Institutions Department, which is leading DFID’s work on supporting the multilateral development banks to develop a clean energy and investment framework, three posts include climate change in their portfolios. The number of posts over the last three financial years has remained static but the proportion of time spent on climate change has increased over the period.