The Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB) is advancing a critical shift in how climate action is designed and implemented. Its Just Transitions Programme addresses a persistent structural challenge: current climate strategies are misaligned with social realities, resulting in slow, contested, or ineffective delivery. Decision-making across climate initiatives often remains top-down, while financial systems frequently fail to account for social risks. At the same time, adaptation and mitigation efforts are treated separately, and practitioners lack access to practical, investable models. These gaps contribute to a widening implementation divide, where ambition increases but outcomes remain fragile. IHRB’s approach is grounded in the belief that climate action must be treated as a social process. Effective solutions depend on embedding the rights, participation, and agency of workers and communities into decision-making frameworks. This perspective aligns with international standards such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The organisation advances its work through three interconnected strategies: Making risk visible by demonstrating how social exclusion creates financial and operational costs Making solutions tangible by identifying real-world, scalable models Making change actionable by convening stakeholders across business, finance, policy, and civil society Project Overview: JUST Stories The JUST Stories initiative represents a global effort to document and amplify people-centred climate action. Launched in 2024, the project identifies real-world examples of collaborative climate solutions that prioritise inclusion and shared decision-making. The next phase of the project focuses on climate adaptation and resilience—areas where challenges are particularly pronounced. Investment in adaptation remains fragmented and poorly aligned with local contexts, while strategies are often designed without meaningful input from affected communities. Key issues include: Limited integration of local knowledge and leadership Overreliance on top-down planning approaches High rates of maladaptation due to poorly designed interventions Over an 18-month period, the project will identify and document successful examples of adaptation initiatives led or co-created by frontline communities, including Indigenous groups and local organisations. These stories are intended to serve as practical evidence for decision-makers, rather than purely as communications outputs. The initiative aims to: Demonstrate what makes adaptation efforts effective and sustainable Identify conditions that enable genuine co-creation Show how finance, governance, and community agency interact in practice Ultimately, the goal is to shift dominant narratives toward locally grounded, inclusive climate solutions. Role Overview IHRB is seeking experienced Researchers/Writers to lead this next phase of JUST Stories. The role focuses on producing deeply researched, narrative-driven accounts of community-led adaptation in practice. The work requires translating complex, context-specific insights into content that is directly usable by decision-makers across sectors, including: Financial institutions such as development finance institutions, banks, and asset managers Insurance and reinsurance firms Corporates exposed to climate risks Governments and multilateral organisations Climate finance and advisory institutions At the same time, the role must authentically represent the lived experiences of frontline actors, including: Community-based organisations Indigenous institutions Civil society groups and NGOs This dual focus demands the ability to connect ground-level realities with system-level decision-making environments. Key Responsibilities The selected candidate will lead and contribute to several core areas: Research and Analysis Conduct literature reviews on adaptation, resilience, and locally-led approaches Identify high-potential case studies through networks and open calls Develop frameworks to evaluate effective and just adaptation Fieldwork and Primary Research Design ethical and inclusive research methodologies Conduct interviews with community leaders, workers, and institutional stakeholders Undertake field visits to gather firsthand insights and build relationships Ensure high standards of consent, safeguarding, and representation Narrative Development Produce high-quality, publication-ready stories combining: Human-centred narratives Analytical depth Clear insights on enabling conditions and constraints Translate findings into structured outputs for decision-makers Collaborate on multimedia outputs including articles, briefings, and visual content Strategic Integration and Engagement Contribute to a broader body of evidence across stories Support cross-sector engagement and convenings Help synthesise lessons to inform policy, finance, and business practices Candidate Profile The ideal candidate brings a combination of research expertise, storytelling ability, and subject-matter knowledge. Essential experience includes: At least seven years in research and writing roles Strong background in climate adaptation and resilience Experience with community-led or locally-led adaptation approaches Proven ability to produce rigorous and engaging written content Experience working in complex or sensitive environments Key skills and attributes: Exceptional storytelling and analytical writing ability Strong qualitative research and interview skills Ability to connect local insights to broader systemic issues Cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence Strong organisational and remote working capabilities Desirable qualifications: Experience working with Indigenous or frontline communities Background in journalism, human rights, or development studies Familiarity with climate finance and policy stakeholders Additional language skills relevant to project regions Contract and Application Details The role is fully remote and open globally, provided candidates can align with time zones overlapping Central European Time or further west. The position requires occasional international travel. Key details include: Start date: April or May 2026 Contract duration: Through September 2027 Structure: One full-time role or two part-time roles Compensation: Approximately £70,000 total budget Contract type: Consultancy agreement under UK law Applicants must be self-employed and responsible for their own taxes and legal obligations. The application deadline is 15 April 2026, with interviews scheduled later that month. About IHRB Founded in 2009, IHRB is a leading international think tank focused on business and human rights. The organisation works to shape policy, strengthen accountability, and promote the integration of human rights into business practices globally. Through research, advisory services, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, IHRB engages governments, corporations, and civil society to address emerging human rights challenges and drive meaningful change. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization hiring. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.