Technical advisor in climate change, public financing and market-based instruments

Result of Service The purpose of this consultancy is to support the Climate Change Unit to deliver technical support to the Latin-American and the Caribbean countries in developing capacities to incorporate climate change criteria into public financing and investment systems and processes, and develop innovative market-based financial instruments to improve the alignment of public financing with climate change priorities and urgencies. In this sense, the consultancy will seek to support countries in the creation of new sources of financing, to increase their ambition and resilience, in line with the Paris Agreement (PA).

The consultant will work under the supervision of the UNEP’s Climate Ambition and Transparency Coordinator of the Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office and will develop the following activities independently and in accordance with the guidelines and work guidance provided by the UNEP Regional Climate Change Unit.

The consultant is expected to have relevant knowledge about climate change processes, public financing and innovative digital solutions and market-based financial instruments, evaluation and monitoring schemes and decision-making processes so that he or she can offer advice to the relevant national authorities and can fully lead the development of the expected deliverables.

Ultimate Result of the Service

The technical consultant support will translate into the following results: 1. Support Climate Change Unit in the development of reports and knowledge documents about capacity building related with transparency and climate action (mitigation and adaptation) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. 2. Support the elaboration of project proposals to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), in order to support countries in the development of capacities in terms of climate financing, information systems, data management, innovative digital solutions, market-based instruments and transparency, to support the transformation of financial systems. 3. Support the UNEP’s Climate Ambition and Transparency Unit in the revision and articulation of GCF proposals with other funding or project proposals related with transparency, finance and markets in the region. 4. Generate workshops or meetings with national government counterparts, and other stakeholders when necessary.

Deliverables: Product No. 1. A report of the knowledge documents about capacity building related with transparency and climate action (mitigation and adaptation) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. Product No. 2. A document containing the inputs and recommendations for the development of GCF concept notes and draft proposal in climate finance and market-based instruments components. Product No. 3. A document containing the reporting of the project proposal’s development and cooperation according with the priorities defined by UNEP under activity 2.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 4 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 (ROLAC), located in Panama City, 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).

In 2018, The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) signed an agreement with UNEP to support critical environmental issues such as climate action, resilience to disasters and conflicts, healthy ecosystems, waste and air quality, and sustainable consumption and production. In this sense, as part of the support provided through SIDA cooperation, the development and implementation of National Determined Contributions (NDC) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS) has been identified as one of the major work areas in the next years.

In this sense, the Climate Change Unit of UNEP is recruiting a technical consultant on climate change, public financing and innovative market-based instruments to mainstream these topics in the unit’s work, projects, and initiatives in the region. The incumbent will be supervised by UNEP’s Climate Ambition and Transparency Coordinator of the Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office and will work home-based.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: University degree (Bachelor’s) in economy, sciences, administration, public policy or environmental sciences is required. Postgraduate: a master's degree in environment, science, economics, political sciences, public policy, natural sciences or development is desirable.

Experience: - At least five (5) years of experience in environment and/or climate change is required. - At least three (3) years of specific work experience in development of climate change projects (mitigation or adaptation) for multilateral funds, including GCF. - Experience in development and/or implementation of climate change projects and relation with national governments in LAC region is desirable.

Language: - The person is required to be fluent in written and spoken Spanish. - Confident level in English is desirable.

Skills: - Knowledge and understanding of global and national climate change issues and theories, concepts and approaches relevant to climate finance or economic analysis for environmental sector, including innovative market-based instruments. - Communication and team-work skills. - Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. - Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations.

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.