Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) Senior Associate - Apia, Samoa

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) was established to support developing countries in accessing finance to achieve their climate objectives. By cultivating a network of highly trained climate finance advisors, CFAN builds the capacity of developing countries to (1) identify the sources and instruments for delivering climate finance, (2) establish relationships with climate finance providers, and (3) structure financing for mitigation and adaptation investments. CFAN works across developing countries with a focus on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. CFAN work in the Pacific was funded by the Government of Canada from 2021 and is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia from June 2023 until June 2026 with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) as a delivery partner.

The CFAN project has two major outcomes which include (1) increasing the mobilization or access of climate finance in eight countries (namely Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) and (2) building the 8 Pacific countries’ capacity to access climate finance. CFAN Advisors have been hired and deployed in these countries to deliver green investment project development to attract and secure a much-needed climate finance and knowledge transfer.

To support growing engagement of the CFAN program in the region, a Climate Finance Access Network Senior Associate (CFAN Senior Associate) will be hired for Samoa. The postholder will be hired as local staff, trained and deployed as CFAN Senior Associate to work closely with the country focal points, key stakeholders, and CFAN Advisor on pipeline and project development. The CFAN Senior Associate will have the opportunity to shadow and learn from the existing CFAN advisor on climate finance, investment and investment planning, and play a key role in researching proposals, stakeholder stakeholder engagement and consultations, data collection, capacity building organization, etc.

PURPOSE

The CFAN Senior Associate will be placed in the relevant focal government ministry in country (the same government counterpart as with the CFAN advisor or another key institution involved in climate finance) for the duration of the contract with a mandate to learn from and support in-country CFAN advisor and stakeholders to access international and domestic sources of public and private climate finance, and to support stakeholders in structuring finance for investment in their host country’s priority mitigation and adaptation projects.

The CFAN Senior Associate plays a critical role in support of building, maintaining, and strengthening partnerships with government counterparts and international/local stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Finally, the CFAN Senior Associate will work with country focal point and CFAN Advisor to design and deliver climate finance workshops for civil servants, ensuring lasting capacity in-country through knowledge transfer to government officials.   

ENGAGEMENT

The CFAN Senior Associate will support and report to the in-country CFAN Advisor and work closely with other members of the country team to develop the business case, investment documentation, identify and analyze project opportunities, competitive strengths and weaknesses of projects and their sponsors. In addition, the CFAN Senior Associate is expected to support the design and delivery of in-country capacity building to support the transfer of skills and knowledge to local staff in relevant ministries and government offices.

DELIVERY

• Participate in the relevant climate finance training workshops
• Provide assistance to the in-country CFAN Advisor and relevant ministry focal point and other government line ministries, NGOs and private sector stakeholders in developing project proposals for submission to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund and other relevant donors and partners.
• Provide assistance to the Government on relevant needs related to climate finance mobilization efforts.
• Support development and submission of climate finance funding proposals, including by engaging stakeholders, facilitating inter-agency coordination, research and data collection, and analyzing financial data and financial projections to design and recommend suitable financial structures.
• Support project origination activities and actively contribute to adding to the climate finance project pipeline including researching on gap analysis, financial, economic, and regulatory analysis throughout project concept and design stages in collaboration with the country teams and government counterparts.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATION

• Bachelor’s degree, in a relevant field such as economics, finance, business administration, or another related field such as development studies, climate change, natural resources management. Postgraduate studies are an advantage.
• 3-5 years of experience in climate finance, preferably for financial institution, or climate change issues.
• Knowledge and understanding of climate change related issues in the country and experience in priority sectors of climate change adaptation and mitigation is an asset.
• Experience in stakeholder-led processes, stakeholder engagement and coordination, and data collection.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

FUNCTIONAL

• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly in the complex space of climate finance
• Demonstrated relationship-building, communication and facilitation skills with diverse stakeholders
• Innovative thinker, able to see opportunities across different sectors/disciplines
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement, client relationship, communication and consensus building skills.
• Teamwork and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required and where possible.

CORPORATE

• Promotes an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
• Excels at problem solving, asking questions, and seeking support when needed, sharing information and knowledge with others both internally and externally.
• Builds rapport and resolves conflicts efficiently and effectively.
• Team player: capacity to be selfless team member, to operate across organizational boundaries, and maintain a resilient, positive and results-focused mindset in a dynamic environment.
• Understands and actively supports GGGI's mission, vision and values. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) Senior Associate is an X7 national grade level in GGGI's salary scale. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background, and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.