Nature4Cities Financial Specialist

Contract

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Result of Service

To fulfill the project's objectives, the UN Environment Latin America and the Caribbean Office is recruiting a Financial Specialist to provide operational support to the National Coordinator and ensure the effective delivery of administrative tasks during the implementation of the project. The Financial Specialist for Nature4Cities will be responsible for stakeholder meetings, or related activities, participate in training activities, provide information for the progress report, drafting technical reports and deliverable reports. Deliverables Outcome 2.2: GCF recipient countries have developed or enhanced strategic frameworks to address policy gaps, improve sectoral expertise, and enhance enabling environments for GCF programming in low-emission investment. Product 1.a Four (4) general working documents on climate finance assessments reports for each selected city of the Project. Product 1.b Two (2) climate finance assessments reports for Arraijan and Colon. Product 1.c Two (2) climate finance assessment report for: (1) Bocas del Toro and (1) the metropolitan area of Chiriqui (Boquete, Dolega and Gualaca). Outcome 2.4: Strategies for transforming and attracting private sector investment for low emissions and resilience developed and being used. Product 2.a Four (4) general working documents on private sector engagement plan for each selected city of the Project. Product 2.b Two (2) private sector engagement plans for Arraijan and Colon. Product 2.c Two (2) private sector engagement plan for Bocas del Toro and Boquete, Dolega and Gualaca. Specific tasks and responsibilities Activities for the development of Deliverable 2.2.1.5.a - Product 1.a, Product 1.b and Product 1.c - Attend meetings with stakeholders of each city and create meeting reports. - Socialization and validation of assessment reports for each city (Arraijan, Colon, Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui -Boquete, Dolega, Gualaca). - Participation and support in workshops, creating capacity building materials. - Inform to the National Coordinator and Local Expert about the advances in the different products, difficulties, and opportunities. - Incorporate at least: (a) introduction (b)overview of climate finance flows (c)Barriers to financing NbS in urban areas (d)opportunities to finance adaptation in urban planning (e)recommended actions. Following the structure of a publication. Activities for the development of Deliverable 2.4.1.1. - Product 2.a, Product 2.b and Product 2.c. 4 City-level private sector engagement plans developed. • Attend meetings with stakeholders of each city and create a meeting report. - Socialization and validation of engagement plans for each city. - Participation and support on workshops, creating the capacity building materials. - Inform to the National Coordinator and Local Expert about the advances in the different products, difficulties, and opportunities. - Inclusion of at least: (a)Introduction (b)Context of private sector in Panama (c)Perspective for the involvement of the private sector in NbS actions in the cities. (d)Barriers and enabling conditions for involvement of private sector in urban NbS (e)Private Sector Involvement Plan in the implementation of Urban NbS. (f)Recommendations. Following the structure of a publication.

Work Location

HOME-BASED and occasionally attending meetings at the Ministry of Environment's office in Panama City, Panama.

Expected duration

6 MONTHS

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 Office), located in Panama City, Panama works closely with the 33 countries of the region – including 16 small island developing States – with a population of about 588 million people. The office works to serve the needs of the region and its activities are integrated into the work programs approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly of UNEP (UNEA). The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region is the second most urbanized region in the world, with ~80% of the population living in cities. Within the next two decades, this proportion is projected to reach ~85%, thereby ranking the cities of the LAC region among the fastest-growing in the developing world. The rate of urban expansion is faster in small and medium-sized cities relative to mega cities. This rapid urbanization and the associated expansion of cities is degrading urban and peri-urban ecosystems – including wetlands, green spaces and forests – that provide a wide range of ecosystem services for urban communities. To address the vulnerability of urban communities, governments in the Latin America and Caribbean region need to develop and implement cost-effective, low-risk solutions, such as Nature-based Solutions (NbS) by protecting, maintaining and rehabilitating priority ecosystems in urban areas. As a result, UNEP is working with the governments of, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras Cuba, Panama, Guatemala and Uruguay to execute a two-years, Readiness project “Nature4Cities - Increasing resilience through Nature- based Solutions in Latin-American cities” funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project is implemented in 7 countries (Cuba, Honduras, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay) and a total of 13 cities within those countries. The aim of the project is to increase the capacity of participating countries to design and implement Nature- based urban development strategies that ensure urban resilience to climate change through five main areas of work: (1) Strengthening the knowledge base of national and local governments to assess the potential for Nature- based Adaptation and Mitigation Solutions in urban areas in the context of broader climate change strategies; (2) Reinforcing enabling policies and institutional frameworks to increase adoption of NbS in urban planning; (3) Strengthening partnerships between key actors to accelerate the adoption of NbS solutions; (4) Defining climate finance strategies through innovative public, private and blended financial mechanisms and facilitating access to climate finance for the sustained implementation of NbS; (5) Accelerating upscaling and replication through a regional Urban NBS platform. In order to create a roadmap to achieve an increased investment in urban NbS through local financial mechanisms and private sector engagement, UNEP will produce knowledge materials and capacity building opportunities to identify opportunities and mechanisms for urban NbS financing. UNEP seeks to support countries in Latin America to implement the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the new Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Latin American countries. To achieve this, UNEP is seeking a Financial Specialist to support the Nature4Cities project under the supervision and guidance of the UNEP Programme Management Officer for Adaptation of Climate Change Unit for Latin American and Caribbean Office, while working in close collaboration with the Regional Team and National Coordinators for Nature4Cities and the Panama´s National Designated Authority (NDA). Additionally, he/she will work in close collaboration with the Directorate for Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment of Panama. The consultant will work from home based and occasionally attending meetings at the Ministry of Environment's office in Panama City, Panama, as necessary. The Nature4Cities Financial Specialist will also be required to move for workshops or technical visits as required by the project’s implementation.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC: Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, science policies, economy, administration, finance or closely related field is required. Master's degree in environmental studies, economy, administration, finance, public administration, or closely related field is desirable. PROFESSIONAL: - Minimum 5 years of experience working in financial, economy or administration management of environmental projects is required. - Work experience in Panama in an asset. - Work experience with public policies and regulatory frameworks is desirable. - Experience in green financing or sustainable finance is desirable. - Previous work experience with national authorities, civil society, academic sector, NGO, among others. - Work experience in engaging with private sector in climate change issues is desirable. - Excellent management of computer tools (Microsoft Windows operating systems) and office automation (Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Internet Explorer. LANGUAGE: − Fluent in Spanish is required. − Confident level of English is desired.

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.