Climate Finance and Development Economist

BACKGROUND

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges.

Development challenges in the Pacific Islands Countries are multi-faceted and complex. To respond to these challenges, the UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Apia concentrates its efforts on strengthening the capacity of the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau to promote inclusive, blue-green and sustainable growth, effective governance for the future, and sustainable and resilient development that leverages innovation and digital transformation and catalyzes financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We help our partners identify relevant solutions to their most significant development challenges and offer policy advisory and implementation services to address these challenges.

Guided by the UNDP Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD) for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories 2023-27, the MCO’s policy, advisory, programmatic, and implementation services focuses on the following areas:

• Peace: inclusive, agile and future ready governance, justice and peace
• Prosperity: inclusive, blue-green and sustainable growth
• Planet: climate and disaster resilience and management, climate finance, sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity conservation.

UNDP’s programme is anchored in the principle of leaving no one behind, with specific focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment including the fight to end violence against women and girls, and empowerment and engagement of youth and Persons with Disabilities. 

The Programme team, comprising of the Governance and Prosperity team and Environment and Climate Change team, works to support achievement of UNDP strategic objectives to create a world where people and planet thrive together, and to help the MCO act with both ambition and scale to address urgent problems facing the four countries as well as global climate deteriorating conditions. Programme staff assist the MCO in formulating and implementing programme strategies that go beyond solving immediate development challenges to create future smart and integrated systemic changes in resilience and capacity building within the four countries

In addition, UNDP has the mandate to support SDG Integration to ensure faster progress on sustainable development and offers support in four areas, (1) integrated policy and  programming solutions, (2) SDG metrics, data and analysis using state-of-the-art tools for modelling and forecasting, (3) knowledge and innovation and (4) SDG Financing options to help countries identify innovative ways to expand public and private contributions to reach the 2030 agenda. Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted an urgent need to adopt a Systems Approach that is oriented towards building Resilience to future shocks through continuously reviewed scenario analyses. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Climate Finance and Development Economist works under the guidance of the Resident Representative (UNDP Multi County Office, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau) and s/he will work closely with the programme and operations teams in the country office, Accelerator Labs team, and staff in the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) and New York both in Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific as well as the Global Policy Network (GPN) of UNDP. S/he will also collaborate with the Asia-Pacific regional network of country economists. This will include systematic engagement with and oversight from the lead regional economic advisors based in Bangkok and New York. S/he is also expected to develop and maintain a network of colleagues across development partner agencies, government institutions, academe, the private sector, and civil society at the country level. 

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key duties and accountabilities include:

• Provision of strategic policy advice to the UNDP country office management and national government counterparts on climate finance, green/blue economy and SDG acceleration.
• Advise and support to the development of new climate finance programming initiatives and partnerships with multilateral development banks, vertical funds (GEF, GCF), bilateral donors, and the private sector (corporates, investors). 
• Provision of technical advisory support to the implementation of blue/green economy and sustainable financing programme.
• Contribution to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas.

Provision of strategic policy advice to the UNDP country office management and national government counterparts on climate finance, green/blue economy and SDG acceleration:

• Advise UNDP country office management with preparation and implementation of country programmes and strategies, including the development of country programme document and related analysis, including on green/blue economy and climate/development financing;
• Leading UNDP country office efforts to conceptualize and implement the Development Finance Assessment (DFA) and accompanying process such as the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and use existing financial resources more effectively and efficiently to achieve the SDGs;
• Provide analysis and research in priority thematic areas at the country level, including publication of policy briefs or other analytical outputs and advise and facilitate dialogue on climate finance and sustainable development issues with government officials, development partners, civil society, and the private sector;
• Provide policy and programming advice and support for development planning, policy and financing formulation at the national, sub-national and local levels;
• Support the preparation of policy briefs, background notes, speeches, talking points, presentation materials, etc. on critical development issues within the SDG framework for senior management at the country and regional levels;
• Lead the development of and advocacy efforts linked to National Human Development Report (HDR) and ensure that it provides added value in terms of development economic analysis, updated data and information for policy formulation;   
• Compile and analyze statistical data as required in support of country strategies and activities and support monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks, including to help strengthen national and local level data collection and statistical capacity;
• Support the creation of large-scale development solutions to help address complex development challenges;
• Lead the expansion of country office service offers on green/blue economy and financing for development, including innovative financing models and country specific/sector specific studies. 
• Support the identification and analysis of interventions that can impact multiple development goals and targets at the same time; 
• Guide monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks, including to help strengthen national and local level data collection and statistical capacity;
• Support to leverage UNDP’s regional and global programmes, to provide holistic and effective support to the country; 
• Leverage support and expertise from the UNDP’s global/regional Economist networks to assist in strengthening UNDP’s support on climate and development financing, economic analysis and policy development to Government and the UN Country Team. 

Advise and support the development of a new climate finance programming initiatives portfolio and partnerships with IFIs, multilateral development banks, vertical funds (GEF, GCF), bilateral donors, and the private sector (corporates, investors).:

• Advise and facilitate dialogue on climate finance programming and sustainable development issues with government officials, development partners, civil society, and the private sector;
• Provide policy and programming advice and support for climate finance and development planning, policy and financing formulation;
• Support the identification and analysis of interventions that can impact multiple development sustainable development goals and targets at the same time; 
• Provide expert advice and support in developing strategic partnerships with UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral development agencies, private sector entities, and civil society;
• Support analysis and mapping of potential partners for UNDP’s work on climate/development finance and SDG acceleration.
• Develop and coordinate partnerships across the public and private sectors to develop a pipeline of bankable projects.
• Carry out outreach to key partners for strategic advocacy for common objectives,
• Guide in the preparation, implementation and follow-up of external partnership engagements.

Provision of technical advisory support to the implementation of blue/green economy and sustainable financing programme.:

• Provide technical advisory support and to programme teams on green/blue economy and climate finance.
• Develop Terms of References (TORs), identify and evaluate experts, and provide quality assurance to reports produced as part of programme implementation.
• Coordinate the provision of the required technical inputs to the implementation of blue/green economy and climate finance projects, including assisting in executing the implementation strategy and ensuring coordination and leveraging resources from other initiatives.
• Provide technical inputs to annual work plans and corporate reporting processes (e.g. ROAR).
• Provide technical inputs to the development of programme briefs and communication materials.
• Provide technical advocacy among key stakeholders, assisting government agencies and service providers in design and implementation of programme interventions.
• Organize capacity building activities on blue/green economy and climate finance to UNDP and government project teams.

Contribution to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas:

• Participate actively in the UNDP Asia-Pacific regional network of economists, through attending regional meetings (in-person and/or virtual), sharing relevant experiences, and conducting peer reviews;
• Collaborate and contribute to regional publications, practice notes, and Regional Human Development Reports;
• Substantively contribute as possible to UNDP regional knowledge products and development of programming offers in regional priority areas (e.g., inequality, future of work, innovative financing);
• Enhance UNDP’s understanding and design of new approaches to sustainable development across the region by acting as a regional thematic lead where possible.

Other Duties:

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Finance, Business, Economics, Climate Policy or related fields is required. or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Finance, Business, Economics, Climate Policy or related field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills: 

• Minimum 7 years (with Master´s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of professional experience in development finance, investment, insurance, climate change, disaster risk management, partnership programme development and resource mobilization and/or relevant fields. 
• Demonstrated experience in policy analysis in climate finance at the national level post master’s degree is an asset.
• Experience in developing cutting-edge new initiatives and advancing thought-leadership (papers, events) in climate and development financing is an asset.
• Experience with development and implementation of blue/green programmes/projects is an asset. 
• Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience, including in areas related to climate and development financing is an asset;
• Demonstrated experience in partnering with IFIs, including WB and ADB, multilateral and bilateral development partners as well as the private sector for climate and development financing is an asset.
• Experience in preparing high quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers, including in the area of climate and development financing is an asset;
• Experience of strategic visioning with strong technical and highly developed analytical capabilities is an asset;
• Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level, politically astute with demonstrated experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement is an asset;
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data is an asset; and
• Previous work experience in Asia and the Pacific region would be an asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in written and oral English is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies.

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies: 

2030 Agenda: Prosperity: Inclusive Growth

• Economic Transformation

2030 Agenda: Prosperity: Inclusive Growth

• SDGs/National Development Strategy, Planning and Budgeting

2030 Agenda: Prosperity: Inclusive Growth

• Green Economy

2030 Agenda: Prosperity: Inclusive Growth

• Blue Economy

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management: Partnerships Management

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Business Management: Portfolio Management

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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