Climate & Disaster Risk Financing Specialist

The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system encompasses all organizations of the United Nations system dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. The RC system aims to bring together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level.

The UN Secretary-General’s bold new global reform, launched on 1 January 2019 in response to General Assembly resolution 71/243, repositions the UN Development System to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for dignity, prosperity, and peace on a healthy planet. Central to this process, and as further mandated by General Assembly resolution 72/279, a new generation of UN Resident Coordinator Offices across the world are being strengthened under the leadership of an empowered UN Resident Coordinator, the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country-level.

The UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean leads the United Nations Sub-Regional Team (UNST) which comprises 18 UN Agencies, Funds and Programes. The sub-region encompasses seven Eastern Caribbean countries: Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines, and three British Over-seas Territories: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Montserrat .

The UN Resident Coordinator Office serves as the central hub for UN agencies, ensuring coordinated action to support national priorities. Climate change threatens economic stability, ecosystems, and communities, making collaboration essential for delivering sustainable solutions. UN agencies work together to mobilize expertise, financing, and policy support, helping Small Island Developing States (SIDS) access climate funding and strengthen disaster resilience. Climate and disaster risk financing provides critical resources for adaptation, infrastructure protection, and recovery efforts. This role facilitates strategic partnerships, funding mechanisms, and capacity-building, ensuring SIDS have the financial tools to mitigate risks and secure sustainable development, aligning with global climate commitments.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Resident Coordinator Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Convene UN agencies to support mobilizing Climate and Disaster Risk Financing

· Develop and implement strategies to access international climate finance, ensuring alignment with SIDS priorities.

· Coordinate with UN agencies, regional governments, and financial institutions to secure funding for climate adaptation and disaster resilience.

· Advocate for innovative financing mechanisms, such as concessional loans, grants, and blended finance solutions.

2. Facilitate Capacity Building and Policy Development

· Provide technical assistance to UN agencies, funds and programmes, governments and stakeholders on climate finance policies and frameworks.

· Organize training sessions and workshops to enhance local expertise in climate finance management.

· Support the development of national climate finance strategies linked to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0), ensuring they align with global climate goals and regional needs.

3. Monitoring, Reporting, and Stakeholder Engagement

· Establish monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track the effectiveness of climate finance initiatives.

· Prepare reports and policy briefs to inform Resident Coordinator, UN Sub-regional Team, national decision-makers, and international partners.

· Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues, ensuring collaboration between UN agencies, governments, and private sector actors.

This role will be instrumental in strengthening climate resilience and ensuring that SIDS have the financial resources needed to adapt to climate change