About IDDRI
Founded in 2001, IDDRI is an independent think tank working on major sustainable development challenges at the international level.
Our ambition is to foster a society that ensures good living conditions for all, through an equitable process, within planetary boundaries. We strive to build a sustainable Europe, enable an inclusive ecological transition, and strengthen cooperation between countries.
To achieve this, IDDRI produces rigorous analyses that connect key issues and offer innovative frameworks. As a trusted broker, we convene dialogue platforms between countries with a diversity of stakeholders (governments, businesses, civil society, and the research community).
With a team of 50+ staff members, Iddri places a strong emphasis on engaging with a broad network of partners around the world.
The Climate Programme
IDDRI’s Climate Programme seeks to contribute to creating the conditions for an ambitious and fair response to the challenges of climate change. It works at two complementary levels across both mitigation and adaptation. First, at the international climate governance level—strengthening the link between science and policy, bridging climate diplomacy with economic, trade, industrial and foreign policy, and supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement in the broad sense. Second, at the level of implementation, it works with sectors and policymakers to support the transition in practice. This includes analyzing the political and economic conditions for change, identifying feasible collective solutions in key sectors, and helping build the political support needed to carry them forward. The aim is to ensure that insights from real-world implementation inform international discussions, and that global frameworks remain grounded in practical realities.
Objectives and Mission
Under the supervision of the director of the Climate Programme, and in close collaboration with the directors of three other programmes (Deep Decarbonisation Pathways Initiative, New Industrial Policies, Financing Sustainable Development), the Senior Research Fellow will be responsible for research and policy analysis of EU external agenda priorities and climate-relevant policies and frameworks to nourish the programme’s impact strategies in view of COP33, a major milestone in the ambition cycle of the Paris Agreement namely in relation to the second Global stocktake.
The Senior Research Fellow will:
- Contribute to the development of the programme’s and IDDRI’s impact strategies, mainly by building a broad network and feeding intel and information, conducting strategic analysis, and assessing opportunities and constraints for IDDRI.
- Take responsibility for the production of analytical or research-based outputs (reports, briefs, datasets, conceptual frameworks), translation of the research into policy-relevant insights (policy briefs, recommendations, framing) and facilitating scientific exchanges within IDDRI—within the team or across teams—by proposing topics and formats for discussion or collective learning.
- Develop, scope and facilitate dialogues, workshops and other engagement activities with policy processes and stakeholders (ministries, EU institutions, UN processes, NGOs), particularly the development of the Programme’s climate dialogues.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of activities to disseminate the programme’s work: draft blogs and talking points to communicate positions and research findings to stakeholders, including policymakers, the public, and the media, and directly represent IDDRI at public conferences, in the media and in public debates, with support from the supervisor and the communications team.
- Contribute to management and administration of projects and programme’s activities, including leading the coordination of projects in collaboration with research, communications, administrative teams, and external partners, contributing to fundraising efforts through proposal writing, reporting, and maintaining relationships with funders.
The focus areas for the Senior Research Fellow include:
- EU climate diplomacy and external policy priorities: Analysis of EU economic, trade, investment and industrial policies (e.g. bilateral partnerships, plurilateral initiatives, trade discussions) as tools of climate diplomacy and on how these can support convergence towards the Paris Agreement goals, including in relation to fossil fuel phase-out. Particular attention will be given to strategic partnerships with key partners, especially BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India, China).
- Green industrial transitions at the sector level, with a focus on hard-to-abate sectors: Contribution to the economic, financial and political economy analysis of cooperation frameworks that enable acceleration of green industrialisation across value chains, including just transition considerations.
More generally, she or he will:
- Join a dynamic team of researchers;
- Conduct analyses in the context of multi-partner projects, particularly EU-funded projects, in close collaboration with other team members;
- Represent IDDRI in meetings, partners’ dialogues and workshops, international conferences, etc.;
- Monitor research work, studies, analyses, as well as policy debates and developments;
- Support project management, including drafting of reporting documents;
- Participate in other activities relevant to the implementation of the programme’s impact strategy.
Required Qualifications
The successful candidate should have:
- Master’s or PhD in economics, or another filed with a strong economics background, i.e. political science, development studies, international law.
- Strong expertise in EU policymaking and its institutional framework; experience within EU institutions is an asset.
- Solid knowledge of, and interest in, industrial and/or trade policies.
- At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, industry experience is an asset.
- Experience in a large emerging economy is an asset.
- Knowledge of, and interest in, environmental issues, particularly climate change.
- Knowledge of, and sensitivity to, policy debates in developing countries.
- Excellent ability to review, analyze, and synthesize complex information.
- Strong analytical and research skills, combining intellectual curiosity with scientific rigour.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain effective partnerships.
- Excellent writing and organizational skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an international, multicultural environment.
- Fluency in English and French; knowledge of another EU language is an asset.
Contract
- Duration: 3-year contract (CDD-OD in French)
- Salary: between 43 k€ and 49 k€ gross annual salary according to IDDRI HR policy, i.e. qualifications and experience.
- Location: Paris office
Other advantages:
- 40 days off/year
- 10 € lunch allowance (60% paid by IDDRI)
- Transit Pass (55% paid by IDDRI)
- “Mutuelle” (additional health insurance – 50% paid by IDDRI)
- Homeworking flexibility (3 days per week after 6 months)
- Beginning: as soon as possible
How to apply
Applications (CV and cover letter with the heading “Senior Research Fellow: Climate Economist”) must be sent before 3 May, 2026 to: marta.torres-gunfaus@iddri.org and lisa.dacosta@iddri.org.
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IDDRI is an equal opportunity employer; we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
All applications will be considered. We will do our best to get back to each applicant, but due to the volume of applications, we apologize in advance if we are unable to get back to everyone.