Clean energy markets expert (Central & Latin America)

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UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Sunday 26 Dec 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Result of Service A fully-fledged financing gap analysis for renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in (8) countries in Central/Latin America including:

  • Overview of renewable energy/energy efficiency markets (state of investments, policy, regulatory incentives and non-financial barriers). This should describe the countries’ context for renewable energy/energy efficiency investments as well as the general issues they face in that regard through a social inclusion and gender sensitive approach.
  • Assessment of the financing gaps for renewable energy/energy efficiency that deter additional private investments from being made in the sector. This includes quantifiable evidence including country-specific baselines as well as the identification of affected technologies, stakeholders and population with a focus on the private sector through a social inclusion and gender sensitive approach.
  • Rationale for the intervention of public private support mechanisms in renewable energy and/or energy efficiency investments. This includes the relationships between causes, problems and effects relevant to the financial gap previously identified, a mapping the problem analysis and the causal relationships through a visual support, as well as potential benefits of an intervention on identified stakeholders.
  • Mapping of renewable energy/energy efficiency frontier markets and technologies in the 8 countries.

    Work Location Remote from the Central/Latin American region.

    Expected duration 5 months, preferably starting on February 1st 2022.

    Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. To reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, a rapid decarbonization of global energy systems, the unlocking of private sector capital flows and the building up of climate finance and renewable energy development capacity worldwide is needed.

One of the primary challenges slowing the deployment of renewable energy assets in developing countries is the “early-stage financing gap”. While the costs of early-stage development are comparatively low, the risks and barriers for investors and developers are extremely high, dynamic and constantly changing—especially in frontier markets. This leaves the financial burden to project developers, who are often poorly capitalized and unable to fully develop projects on their own and to end-users who lack sufficient creditworthiness to seek debt financing for energy efficiency projects. The lack of technical expertise of financial institutions to evaluate such projects increase the difficulty to access finance, resulting in a very limited access to commercial financing.

UNEP is looking to launch a pilot programme in Latin and Central America to demonstrate that through an innovative public-private support mechanism, this early-stage financing gap for renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in the region can be bridged, resulting in private capital mobilization and the penetration of frontier markets. The pilot programme will focus on (8) countries in Latin America that are yet to be determined. Indicative countries under consideration at this point in time include Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Ecuador and Peru. The final list of countries will be determined in due course.

The programme will be designed to reflect regional and/or national specificities in terms of renewable energy/energy efficiency markets, financial markets, regulatory and policy frameworks. To ensure a resource efficient and impactful intervention and that the right markets and technologies are targeted, a region-based consultant is required to conduct a financing gap analysis identifying renewable energy and energy efficiency frontier markets and technologies in those (8) countries.

The selected consultant will be responsible for the following: - Prepare an inception report, including a work plan, missions plan, literature review of relevant sources, detailed methodology/approach, planned stakeholders to be consulted and expected outcomes. - Conduct additional desk research and literature review as needed to inform the preparation of in-country visits and the preparation of the draft report. - Plan stakeholders consultation in the (8) countries and identify expected outcomes. - Organize and conduct one in-country visit per covered country, for a total of (8) missions. - Prepare mission reports and present outcomes and initial findings to UNEP. - Draft and submit the full draft report to UNEP and revise it based on UNEP’s feedback, with a maximum of 3 rounds of edits. - Draft and submit the final report to UNEP and revise it based on UNEP’s feedback, with a maximum of 3 rounds of edits. - Remain available for queries or questions from UNEP throughout the course of the work.

Qualifications/special skills Skills: Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills. Ability to and experience in producing well written, analytical reports in English about renewable energy/energy efficiency financing. Ability to work under pressure and time constraints. Academic Qualifications: University degree (A minimum of Master’s degree or equivalent is preferred) in finance, economics, international development or a closely related field. Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in financial market analysis and technology assessments, preferably in the energy sector, or in engagement with private equity and/or capital venture funds in renewable energy and energy efficiency related activities in Central/Latin America. Expertise and experience in climate change, climate finance, renewable energy as well as energy efficiency markets in Latin America. Relevant experience in working with private equity or capital venture funds, preferably on renewable energy and energy efficiency investments, in the region. Experience of working for an international organization is an asset. Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position, fluency in English and Spanish is required.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: careers.un.org