Expert in Climate Finance and Sustainability for the GCF Readiness Project “Aligning financial flows of the financial sector in Costa Rica with the Paris agreement climate change goals”

Contract

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Result of Service

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop the Costa Rica’s GCF Country Programme, relevant to the NDC and the NDP goals, and submit the document for approval by the National Designated Authority (NDA); corresponding to output 2.1.1. of the GCF Readiness Project “Aligning financial flows of the financial sector in Costa Rica with the Paris Agreement climate change goals”: Outcome 2.1 GCF recipient countries have developed Country Programmes to guide GCF investment and programming of readiness support resources. Output 2.1.1: The Country Programme, relevant to the NDC and the NDP goals, has been developed and ready to be approved by the NDA. Product No. 1 (2.1.1a): A document of the methodological base of the GCF Costa Rica Country Programme. The methodological approach to be followed will be the GCF Country Programme Guidance (2021) by including the country context; the climate finance strategy and priorities; proposal and programme priorities for the GCF; policy, strategy, planning and institutional needs; and multi-stakeholder engagement process. The document shall also include 1) a methodology for prioritization of the highest impact projects or programmes to be funded by the GCF, aligned with priorities identified in a country's national climate plans or strategies; 2) a comprehensive catalogue of appropriate accredited or prospective accredited entities, local, regional and international, which will submit project proposals to the GCF on behalf of the country; 3) the mechanism for technical approval and for obtaining the letter of non-objection from the NDA for each project submitted to the GCF, with clear steps, the bodies involved, roles and responsibilities of the parties 4) a validated mechanism for consultation with stakeholders, civil society and vulnerable populations that may be affected and/or benefit from projects submitted to the GCF for consideration. Product No. 2 (2.1.1b): One (1) report on the consultation process with the NDA, GCF, accredited entities (AE ) and relevant stakeholders. The consultation shall include a) public sector and autonomous institutions; b) private sector and interested productive sectors; c) local governments (municipalities); d) Non-Governmental Organizations, academia, and civil society; and e) potential Accredited Entities. Product No. 3 (2.1.1c): Document of the GCF Costa Rica Country Programme ready to be approved by the NDA The document will incorporate all relevant discussions made during the consultation workshops, including observations made by the NDA prior to its approval. Specific tasks and responsibilities a. Coordinate all the strategic activities within the scope closely with the project coordinator and the UNEP Programme Officer for Sustainable Finance. b. Review Costa Rica’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), National Decarbonization Plan (NDP), institutional decision-making system to access and utilize GCF Fund, No Objection procedures, climate change vulnerability assessment, National Determined Contribution report, national policy agenda and sector related strategies to identify area of priorities with respect to climate change. c. Organize and conduct as deemed necessary stakeholders’ consultations with government institutions, civil society (including women NGOs), academia, private sector, and UN and international organizations. Participants may include a) public sector and autonomous institutions; b) private sector and interested productive sectors; c) local governments (municipalities); d) NGO’s, academia and civil society; and e) potential Accredited Entities. The consultant will be supported administratively and logistically by the Project Coordination Unit and the UNEP-LACO administrative team to carry out these consultations. d. Carry out bilateral meetings with key stakeholders as necessarily for the development of the country programme document. e. Design and validate a comprehensive governance structure for the Country Programme, including the technical and political bodies that have an impact on the project cycle, organizations involved and focal points, as well as the procedures for the processing of the Non-Objection by the NDA and the subsequent referral of the project to the GCF. f. Develop and validate a methodology for prioritizing the highest impact projects or programmes to be funded by the GCF, aligned with priorities identified in a country's national climate plans or strategies; which will be a constituent part of the GCF Country Programme of Costa Rica. g. Develop a deep analysis of relevant project proposals and Accredited Entities. h. Create a comprehensive catalogue of appropriate accredited or prospective accredited entities, local, regional and international, which will submit project proposals to the GCF on behalf of the country. i. Design and validate a mechanism for consultation with stakeholders, civil society and vulnerable populations that may be affected and/or benefit from projects submitted to the GCF for consideration. The consultation process should consider the pre-investment, investment, implementation and post-implementation stages of the project. j. Ensure a multi-stakeholder participation in the process of the development of the Country Programme, specifically from the private financial sector. k. Deliver strategic and practical recommendations for the NDA in the process of setting the structure of the GCF Country Programme. l. Conduct the activities in close coordination with the Project Coordination Unit, which are the entry point to the governance structures for the project, and participate in the regular planning, updating and coordination sessions convened by these units. m. Submit deliverables to the Programme Management Officer on Sustainable Finance for the LAC region, which will be in charge of quality control, well in advance and before submitting them for consideration by any external stakeholders.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

5 Months and 20 days

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. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). The overall objective of the UNEP’s Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities, and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals, and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices, and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities. In 2022, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) board approved the GCF Readiness Proposal “Aligning financial flows of the financial sector in Costa Rica with the Paris Agreement climate change goals”. The National Designed Authority (NDA) in Costa Rica, the Minister of Environment and Energy (MINAE), has nominated UNEP to be its Delivery Partner for this proposal, where the funds will be disbursed from the GCF to UNEP to undertake the Readiness grant implementation, in close coordination with the NDA and others relevant country authorities involved in the agreed project governance mechanism. This GCF Readiness aims to provide relevant technical assistance for: (1) the development of its GCF Country Programme, (2) the assessment of climate finance flows (taxonomy); (3) the identification, measurement, and disclosure of climate-related financial risks; (4) the development of a concept note by mainstreaming climate change in the financial sector. This will: (1) improve the contribution of private finance flows to low-emission and resilient development, and (2) strengthen financial stability by incorporating climate factors into investment decision making. To enable a comprehensive and coordinated approach, the Readiness proposal will support the development of Costa Rica GCF Country Programme, for driving the country’s proposal and programme pipeline with the GCF. The methodological approach to be followed will be the GCF Country Programme Guidance (2021) by including the country context; the climate finance strategy and priorities; proposal and programme priorities for the GCF; policy, strategy, planning and institutional needs; and multi-stakeholder engagement process. The GCF Country Programme is the first stage of the programme cycle, and forms the basis for prioritising the further development of project and programme funding proposals submitted by GCF Accredited Entities on behalf of countries for funding. Costa Rica's Country Programme development process will prioritise the highest impact projects or programmes to be funded by the GCF, aligned with priorities identified in a country's national climate plans or strategies. It will also identify the most appropriate GCF Accredited Entities or potential entities seeking accreditation that would submit and implement such projects and programmes. The prioritised projects and programmes should contribute to the country achieving its ambitious long-term climate change strategies and plans, in particular those contained in the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the National Decarbonisation Plan (NDP). They should also be consistent with long-term planning aligned with the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement to stabilise the global average temperature at 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and increase the country's capacity to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. The Country Programme will also identify approaches through which the GCF's financing and risk capacity, in partnership with its Accredited Entities, can mobilise increased amounts of climate investment from a wide range of financial sources (public and private), bilateral and multilateral agencies seeking to deploy financing alongside that of the GCF. In this sense, UNEP LACO is looking for an Expert in Climate Finance and Sustainability for the GCF Readiness Project “Aligning financial flows of the financial sector in Costa Rica with the Paris Agreement climate change goals”. The Expert in Climate Finance and Sustainability will work under the supervision of the Programme Management Officer on Sustainable Finance for the LAC region and will work in close collaboration with the Project Coordinator and the Viceministry of Strategic Management of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica. The incumbent will work from home.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic: • Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, administration, public policy, political science, international relations, engineering, science, or other related studies, is required. • Master’s degree in economics, finance, administration, public policy, political science, international relations, engineering, science, or other related studies, is required. Professional: • At least five (5) years of demonstrated work experience in advising climate change-related projects/initiatives in the public or private sector of Costa Rica in areas such as Energy, Finance, Transportation, Carbon pricing and/or MRV systems is required. • Professional experience in climate and sustainable finance in Costa Rica is desirable. • Work experience with GCF funding processes and operations and/or GCF Readiness matters is an asset. • Experience in engaging with a range of high-level and technical stakeholders and/or officials such as government agencies, policy decision-makers, scientists is desirable. • Experience in positions related to facilitating the participation of government-led stakeholders in setting up program or projects in Costa Rica is an asset. Language: • Fluent in Spanish. (required) • Fluent in English. (required) Special knowledge and skills: • Proficiency in using Microsoft Package (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) collaborative platforms (i.e., Google Drive) and virtual meeting platforms (i.e. Webex, Zoom, etc.) is required. Skills: • Ability to communicate findings to high-level and mid-senior level management. • Initiative, sound judgment, and capacity to teamwork. • Excellent time management, monitoring and evaluation skills. • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback. • Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. • Ability to manage conflict. • Demonstrated informed and transparent decision making.

Languages

Not available.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.