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TERMS OF REFERENCE

CLIMATE FINANCE EXPERT

SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION OF CLIMATE FINANCE IN REGIONS

BACKGROUND

The UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centres (RCCs) support national climate action through capacity-building, technical assistance and strategic networking - sourcing know-how and resources to help developing countries cope with climate change. They were initially established to support the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) but have since grown beyond and now provide support for all UNFCCC mandates. Since the adoption of the Paris Climate Change Agreement in December 2015, the RCCs facilitate the implementation of countries' Nationally Determined Contributions.

UN Climate Change partners with organizations in operating six RCCs globally covering Asia and the Pacific: RCC Bangkok; Middle East, North Africa and South Asia: RCC Dubai; Eastern and Southern Africa: RCC Kampala; Western and Francophone Africa: RCC Lomé; Caribbean: RCC St. George's; and Latin America: RCC Panama. The partners which are also the legal entity of the respective RCC include Banque Ouest Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); East African Development Bank (EADB); Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES); Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation (WINDREF); and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO).

MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION

Finance, technology development and transfer and capacity building are an integral part of the means of implementation of the Paris Agreement Climate. The delivery of Climate finance as one the means of implementation is facilitated by the RCCs as part of their global work plan.

In particular at the twenty-third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2017, the COP requested the UN Climate Change secretariat, in collaboration with the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, United Nations agencies and bilateral, regional or multilateral channels, to explore ways and means to assist developing country Parties in assessing their climate finance needs and priorities, in a country-driven manner, including technological and capacity-building needs, and to translate these climate finance needs into action (Long-term finance decision 6/CP.23, para 10). The UN Climate Change secretariat was also requested by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board to facilitate the financing of projects and use of the CDM by international finance institutions, as requested by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) (3/CMP.1, Annex, para B 4(d); 3/CMP.1, Annex, para C 5(i); 6/CMP.11, para 8; 12/CMA.1).

In response to these mandates the UN Climate Change secretariat launched the Needs-based Finance (NBF) project with the objective of facilitating access and mobilization of climate finance for the implementation of priority mitigation and adaptation projects to address the needs identified by developing countries in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), national adaptation plans (NAPs) and other relevant national policies and/or strategies. The strategies and supporting documents developed under the NBF serve as the action plan for climate finance for the countries in the region. The NBF projects are country-driven, focusing on priority needs of the regions, with the UNFCCC secretariat in a facilitating and supporting role.

In this context, RCC Bangkok is seeking a Climate Finance Expert to support its work on climate finance in the region.

PURPOSE OF THE EXPERT

The purpose of the expert is to support the implementation of NBF in Asia and the Pacific region,  as part of the global NBF work programme. This includes facilitating regular updates to NBF strategies and supporting documents as new and additional information emerges. Assessments to be undertaken include identifying regional climate finance needs and priorities using multiple lenses (such as climate hazards, sectors, administrative levels and scale), facilitating the development of criteria for ranking the priorities, and identifying essential adaptation and mitigation polices, projects and programmes for implementation. While maintaining the country-driven and needs-based principle of the NBF, the expert is to ensure that the finance polices, projects and programmes are aligned with the country programmes of climate funds (AF, GCF, GEF, etc.) in order to facilitate their funding under these funds. Further, the expert is to ensure coherence and synergy with relevant initiatives at the national and regional level, and facilitate reporting, monitoring and learning, nationally and internationally.

The expert will mainly support the third phase of the NBF projects – the implementation of the strategy with the respective strategy owners. The implementation requires the following key functions to be undertaken:

• Articulation - Building consensus within the strategy owners for delivery of the strategy and about the outcomes to be achieved;
• Acceptance - Engaging with funders and recipient stakeholders to confirm strategic outcomes being pursued are acceptable;
• Communication - Convert strategic objectives into clear short-term operating objectives that can be assigned to implementors for delivery;
• Monitoring - Monitor the progress of the implementors in delivering the strategic objectives.
• Engagement - Interventions designed to ensure owners successfully achieve the strategy outcomes.

OUTPUTS

The below list includes some of the deliverables to be met by the climate finance expert. Specific deliverables and dates will be discussed with the incumbent upon commencement of the assignment and a workplan for the year will be drawn up which may include inter alia:

1. Table of priorities, project plan and adjustments over time;
2. Assistance to the high-level political endorsement process of strategies;
3. Maintenance of a database and network of relevant regional and national climate finance stakeholders;
4. Integration and utilizing synergies with other relevant initiatives;
5. Coordination with other plans and programmes, particularly of the UN system;
6. Stakeholder feedback from regional and national consultations;
7. Development of project concepts, funding proposals, readiness proposals;
8. Facilitate engagement with and approval by national stakeholders;
9. Support investment fora, consultations and events as required.

LOCATION AND DURATION

The assignment is for a period of one year with possibility of extension thereafter, starting as soon as possible. The country expert could be home- and or office-based in Bangkok, Thailand, and when home based is required to check in on a regular basis throughout the contracted period. Travel in the region will be required as deemed necessary to deliver the outputs.

SUPERVISION

The expert will work under the direct supervision of the RCC Lead Officer incl. for performance and administrative issues and under the overall guidance of the Manager and Team Lead of the Climate Finance sub-division of the Means of Implementation division of the UN Climate Change secretariat in Bonn, Germany.  

The expert will be contracted by IGES under those employment terms and hence is not an employee of the UN Climate Change secretariat.  The expert will receive the required ICT, office, and administrative support from the respective RCC partner.

REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in finance, environmental sciences, economics, development studies or a related discipline is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: At least five (5) years of proven working experience in developing and supporting climate finance, planning and technical aspects of funding climate action. Excellent oral and written communication skills, especially in communicating with technical experts and policy makers.

Language: Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Fluency or a good knowledge in other languages is an asset.

COMPETENCIES

1. Achievement Drive: continually keeps an eye on performance, focusing on improving it, showing drive and determination to meet short and long-term goals.
2. Change Orientation: Adapts to changes in the environment; takes a flexible approach to reach outcomes.
3. Collaboration: Works cooperatively as part of a team; works collaboratively with peers across organizational boundaries based on a genuine interest in and an accurate understanding of others and their individual perspectives and concerns.
4. Organizational Commitment: Is willing to commit to an organization whose mission is to support implementation; Is open to diversity, and to align their behavior with the organization’s needs and intrinsic values, acting with integrity in ways that promote the organization’s mission, policies and rules.

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates, whose qualifications and experience match what we are looking for, please send your resume, a letter of motivation (1 page) and cover letter to Ms. Ariel Yu (yu@unfccc.int) at RCC Bangkok by copying regionalcentre-HR@iges.or.jp. Please indicate “Climate Finance Expert” in your email subject.