Cross-posted from Craig Zelizer's P&CDN:

SEEKING TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE TO JOIN ADOPT A NEGOTIATOR TEAM

http://adoptanegotiator.org/2010/08/23/adopt-a-negotiator-is-growing/

For the last year and a half, Adopt a Negotiator a href="http://adoptanegotiator.org/>">http://adoptanegotiator.org/>;;  has supported a team of dedicated young people to help push international climate negotiations at the UNFCCC toward delivering fair, ambitious, and binding solutions to the climate crisis.

This fall, we're stepping things up - and we're looking for a few more smart, dedicated, skilled individuals to join our efforts at the UNFCCC.

The Global Campaign for Climate Action (GCCA)  a href="http://tcktcktck.org/>">http://tcktcktck.org/>;; is bringing a small team of negotiator 'Trackers' to Tianjin, China (Oct  4-9) a href="http://unfccc.int/meetings/intersessional/tianjin_10/items/5695.php>">http://unfccc.int/meetings/intersessional/tianjin_10/items/5695.php>;;  and Cancun, Mexico (Nov 29 - Dec 10) a href="http://cc2010.mx/swb/>">http://cc2010.mx/swb/>;;  to get to know their county's negotiators; help track the talks throughout each meeting; and help peers back home understand what actions are being taken by their country's representatives.  

WHAT DOES A TRACKER DO?

Each member of the tracker team will commit to attending UNFCCC meetings in China and Mexico - arriving a day or two before each event to train and prepare.

Once there, each tracker will work hard to get to know their country's delegation. They will work with GCCA partners a href="http://tcktcktck.org/partners>">http://tcktcktck.org/partners>;;  to track meeting progress throughout each day.  Most importantly, using social tech tools like blogs, Twitter & Facebook, as well as traditional media channels like newspapers and radio in trackers' home countries, trackers work constantly to keep their peers informed of progress in the talks and opportunities to get involved from afar.

The GCCA will cover travel expenses, lodging, and provide a generous per diem for each participating member of the team.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

You are a great communicator - You are excellent at turning the complex and hard to communicate events happening each day into compelling, accessible, creative, actionable communications across multiple channels and mediums. The Tracker's primary tool is blogging - and you must be a skilled blogger - but mastery of other web tools like social networking, twitter, web video, as well the ability to tap into traditional media channels with large audiences like newspapers and radio shows are all key to each Tracker's success.

You understand the landscape - Ideal candidates will not only understand climate change, they are also familiar with the UNFCCC's history, it's inner workings, and it's role in addressing climate change.

You've got empathy - You understand that climate change affects people in different situations in different ways all over the world - security, health, livelihood, cost of living, opportunity, etc - and you can tap into that empathy as you communicate with various audiences (including your negotiators).

You're brave - In a short amount of time, each Tracker has to personally get to know their country's negotiators; figure out how to get their ideas and opinions out to media in their home country; and take public stands on complicated issues.  

You're dedicated - During meetings, the hours are long and the work can be extremely stressful, but our ideal candidates understand the stakes and are dedicated to helping us make progress in this slow process in spite of any setbacks and challenges we face along the way.

You're fast - Trackers must be able to rapidly respond to events and opportunities inside the negotiations and out.

We're looking for qualified candidates from South Africa, Russia, Japan, China, Mexico, France and the United States. We're also interested in highly qualified candidates from countries outside the aforementioned list.

HOW TO APPLY

You just read about being able to "rapidly respond to events and opportunities inside the negotiations and out", so here's your first test. If you're interested in joining the Adopt a Negotiator project for the next two UNFCCC meetings in Tianjin (Oct 4-9) and Cancun (Nov 29 - Dec 10), please send an email explaining your interest and qualifications to Adopt a Negotiator's project manager, Joshua Wiese, by 16:00 GMT, Thursday, August 26th at the following address:  

joshua.wiese (at) adoptanegotiator.org

We look forward to hearing from you.

for more information see http://adoptanegotiator.org/2010/08/23/adopt-a-negotiator-is-growing/