Consultant, Sustainable Infrastructure Investment Platform

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UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 29 Nov 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Result of Service The activities related to this consultancy will support UNEP’s ongoing efforts to implement UNEA Resolution 4/5 on Sustainable Infrastructure and contribute to Output 2 of the UNEP Programme of Work (PoW) project 612.4 “Supporting Inclusive Green Economy Approaches to Sustainable Development”.

Work Location Remote

Expected duration The duration of the contract is from 8 December 2021 to 7 April 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities Background

Since 2008, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has played a catalytic role in developing and applying key global knowledge products to support countries in their transition to a green and socially inclusive economy. Infrastructure is inextricably linked to the threefold aspects of green and socially inclusive economy transitions and is central to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The socio-economic Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved without trillions of dollars of infrastructure investment, and if this infrastructure development is unsustainable, it will undermine the achievement of the environmental SDGs. Incorporating environmental, social, and economic sustainability into infrastructure planning and development is therefore a critical component of the 2030 Agenda. This was recognized by Members States at the 4th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), where they passed a resolution on sustainable infrastructure which highlighted its importance to sustainable development and pointed to the need for more integrated approaches to the planning and development of sustainable infrastructure.

In 2018, UNEP established the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) as a platform to promote and support integrated approaches to sustainable infrastructure planning and development. Integrated approaches recognize the centrality of infrastructure to the 2030 Agenda, and can help deliver optimal environmental, social, and economic outcomes of infrastructure development by considering the complex interlinkages between different infrastructure systems, sectors, phases, governance structures, and aspects of sustainability. In collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, the SIP provides knowledge, facilitates international collaboration, and supports capacity-building at the country-level to foster systems-level approaches, which more fully exploit the complex interlinkages between infrastructure and the SDGs.

In consultation with UN Member States, the SIP has produced the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure (the Principles), which provide guidance for policymakers and other stakeholders to incorporate sustainability into infrastructure planning and development. To support the implementation of the principles, UNEP is exploring the development of an expanded SIP platform (“Sustainable Infrastructure Investment Platform”, or SIIP) that is dedicated to enabling sustainable infrastructure investment by bringing together financing for sustainable infrastructure projects with support for strategic planning and project development. The proposed SIIP will bring together three key groups of actors: 1) national governments of champion countries that are committed to implementing the Principles, 2) key financing partners like MDBs and environmental financing mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and 3) partners with the technical expertise—including existing SIP partners—to support the strategic planning and development of sustainable infrastructure projects.

Purpose

UNEP is seeking the services of an external expert to help design the SIIP by undertaking an assessment of baseline conditions, identifying and interviewing key stakeholders, and proposing a governance structure and operational procedures, including the roles of partners, meeting frequency, and potential outputs and milestones of the SIIP, in consultation with UNEP and other key partners.

Specific tasks and responsibilities per outputs:

1) Develop and produce a report with recommendations on design and operation of the Sustainable Infrastructure Investment Platform. The consultant will assess existing initiatives and platforms in the space, review best practices from cross-organizational working groups and multilateral platforms, consult with key stakeholders, and provide recommendations for the design and operationalization of the SIIP. The specific contents of the report will be decided in consultation with UNEP, but it is expected to include the following elements:

  • Baseline conditions (e.g. existing initiatives)
  • Key stakeholders and partners
  • governance structure and operational modality (e.g. roles of partners, meeting frequency, communication and delivery mechanisms)
  • potential outputs and milestones
  • funding arrangements
  • other topics as necessary

    Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Postgraduate or other advanced university degree (Doctorate degree or equivalent) in economics, law, international development, or a related area. Experience: More than 10 years of work experience related to the nexus of infrastructure and sustainable development, with expertise in the areas of environmental sustainability and social inclusion, equity, and protection. Experience in conducting independent research and developing high-quality knowledge products for international audiences. Prior experience working with international organizations and the multilateral finance community is essential. Language: Proven speaking and writing skills in English.

    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