Climate Finance Consultant - level B

Result of Service The overall objective is that innovative mountain adaptation solutions are widely known within and beyond the target regions of East Africa and the South Caucasus and are transferred through a newly established small grants funding scheme to support needs-based and context specific adaptation financing.

In the first phase (until December 2023), a small grants funding scheme concept for flexible and easily accessible financing of mountain adaptation solutions will be developed and access and operability of the developed scheme will be tested and validated with a selection of mountain adaptation solutions.

The ultimate results will be the operational contribution to implementation of UNEP`s growing mountain adaptation project portfolio, especially with regards to climate finance. Specific outputs and deliverables as well as deadlines and timelines to be reviewed and agreed upon with the Associated Programme Management Officer of Vienna Programme Office together with the Project Management Officer of the Climate Change Adaptation Unit upon assignment and in alignment with the Adaptation at Altitude programme Project Document (PRC approved PoW Project 112.9) with a focus on Mountains ADAPT.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 4.5 months

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme 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. The UNEP - Vienna Programme Office coordinates the UNEP Mountain Network and maintains a number of different projects related to sustainable mountain development and climate change adaptation including the first phase of the SDC-funded programme „Adaptation at Altitude: Taking Action in the Mountains“ (2019-2023) and the Austrian funded project “Mountains ADAPT: Advancing Climate Action” (starting 2023).

UNEP besides ICIMOD (responsible for Himalayas) and CONDESAN (responsible for Andes) has been selected by SDC to lead the work under Outcome 2 to support regional policy action in the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and East Africa (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania) as well as the inter-regional level.

Complementing the Adaptation at Altitude programme, UNEP starts in 2023 the implementation of the Austrian-funded project “Mountains ADAPT: Advancing Climate Action”.

This position is at the UNEP - Vienna Programme Office / Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention (SCC) in Vienna, Austria Duty Station and reports to the Head of UNEP Vienna Programme Office, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

The International Consultant will undertake duties and responsibilities under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Associated Programme Management Officer of the UNEP - Vienna Programme Office – SCC together with the Programme Management Officer of the Climate Change Adaptation Unit at UNEP´s Headquarters in Nairobi/Kenya to whom the consultant will report to.

The international consultant is expected to substantially contribute to exploring pathways and setting up a viable small grants funding scheme to support needs-based and context-specific adaptation financing through the following activities:

¿ Mountains ADAPT - Stock-take and analysis of existing small grants schemes globally and in the East African Community (EAC) Partner States, collaborating with A@A regional implementing partner ARCOS - Development of a small grants funding scheme (SGFS) concept consulting with key stakeholders and partners to consolidate needs - Co-organization of needs assessment workshop in the EAC region and identifying viable avenues for practical small grants setup per Partner State - Preparation for testing the SGFS concept with (elements of) solutions from the booklet Mountains ADAPT: Solutions from East Africa in identified mountain communities.

¿ Overall - Liaise with government representatives and authorities of the East African Community Partner States responsible for climate change and sustainable mountain development for project implementation as well as the EAC Secretariat. - Contribute to the mapping of adaptation priorities and related stakeholder consultations together with project team and A@A regional implementing partner ARCOS - Contribute to the implementation of inter-related interventions under the Adaptation at Altitude programme, in close coordination with the project team and implementing partner. - Contribute to resource mobilization for adaptation action in the EAC region, especially targeting multilateral climate funds.

Qualifications/special skills A master’s degree in Environmental Governance, Environment/Natural Resources Management, Business Management/Market Finance and / or International Affairs or similar is required.

A minimum of 5 years of work experience in environmental sector / climate financing / international affairs, preferably with a focus on climate change adaptation / regional governance-related aspects is required Demonstrated knowledge of climate finance, including types of financing schemes is required Experience in developing tools, methodologies, and guidance, preferably with a focus on climate change adaptation is required; Experience of working in the East African region is desirable. Demonstrated ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, and authorities at different levels and proven familiarity with tools and approaches of communication for development are desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English 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.