Green Economy and Agriculture Financing Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

In Kenya, the SDG Partnership Platform (SDGPP) brings together development partners, private sector and philanthropy players as well as both National and devolved levels of Government by taking on a leadership role in facilitation, coordination and demonstration of how public and private collaborations can effectively translate the SDGs into action and thereby guide unlocking of new SDG financing and driving impact around the SDGs.

Amidst the current transition from SDG funding to financing, the SDGPP has developed a broad positioning and credibility on convening, connecting and catalyzing SDG Partnerships, Investments and Financing and co-created wide ranging associate platforms and networks with private sector partners.

In leading the execution of this process, SDGPP relies on its technical expertise, that of other UN agencies and SDGPP partners and co-created platforms, including the Finance, Trade and Investments Network (FINTRINET), and the National Advisory Board for Impact Investments (NAB), in best practice and knowledge generation as well as program execution. Further, due to the myriad of untapped opportunities within green/climate financing gaining more and more impetus in recent times against the formidable challenges of climate change, SDGPP sets out to further concretise on these opportunities across varied actors and financing tools. In particular, SDGPP window 2 on Food and Nutrition presents with varied potentials for enhancing climate adaptation and mitigation as well as climate/community resilience programming, with a number of partners and financing schemes developed around this.

Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the SDG Partnership Platform, and working closely with SDGPP Investments Officer and relevant SDGPP thematic window coordinators, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Identification of grant opportunities and creation of an open grant opportunity dashboard, with particular focus on opportunities relevant to SDGPP Window 2 on Food and Nutrition Security and more broadly on Agriculture and Agroprocessing.
• Give particular emphasis on opportunities in green/climate financing, incl. mapping of key actors and financing tools as well as bring technical expertise to lead on applications for such climate change resourcing on behalf of the UN in Kenya and its partners through the SDGPP.
• Develop capacities and set up systems in the UN RCO through the SDG Partnership Platform to map out, identify and successfully apply for climate change resources for both mitigation and adaptation actions as required with-in the country context and the needs of the UN in Kenya.
• Support the overall partnerships work of the Platform, incl. emerging partner-ships in the further evolution of the Platform in alignment and support for the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
• Technical assistance to projects, e.g., evaluating business plans and feasibility studies, ESIAs, financial modelling, risk assessments and sector studies.
• Capacity development, e.g., country-level workshops, advisory consulting, knowledge dissemination.
• Support other tasks at SDGPP as directed by the Platform Coordinator.

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Creativity • Empowering Others • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Judgement and Decision-making • Knowledge Sharing • Leadership • Managing Performance • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Self-Management • Technological Awareness • Vision • Working in Teams

investment identification and promotion relating to the green economy.

• Networking and resource mobilization skills • Project Management and Coordination skills • Strong written and oral communication skills • Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) analysis would be an asset • Work experience in emerging economies would be an asset

The incumbent will find his/her own housing arrangements in Nairobi. Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services are available locally at reasonable cost. The city is at a high altitude, with sunny days and cooler nights. There is a short rainy season before Christmas, and longer rains fall from March to May. November to February is generally warm. No need for central heating, however warm clothes are necessary during the rainy season. There are several transporta-tion options in Nairobi, including taxis, buses, mini-buses, and mobile applications for transport. Public healthcare in Nairobi is generally subpar, but there are private healthcare options that are of better quality. The city is widely connected through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both UN HABITAT and UNEP, and as the UN Regional Hub for the East and Horn of Africa region. Security is an issue in Nairobi, with incidents of car-jacking and theft not un-common. Safety and security in Nairobi varies depending on different neighbor-hoods, and it is important to become familiarized with safety recommendations for the city. Telecommunication system in Nairobi is generally sufficient. Internet access is generally reliable. There are fairly frequent power cuts, however most of the shared compounds have generators. Water supply can also be an issue as Kenya often experiences drought. In these situations expats may need to supplement their water supply by buying in water tankers. Kenyans are wonderfully friendly and tol-erant to visitors. English is the first language spoken here, though most Kenyans are trilingual, using tribal languages and Kiswahili.