Background Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. 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 knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.
BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests;. Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Sustainable Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy, and SCP approaches.This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.
In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. Biodiversity Finance Plans have become increasingly recognised as a relevant tool to help countries to identify and fill the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative www.biofin.org. In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. This included numerous targets with relevance for financing. Target 19b on resource mobilisation includes reference for countries to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans.
The Global Programme on National Biodiversity Finance Plans created a global programme to support countries to design a national Biodiversity Finance Plan. A Biodiversity Finance Plan includes a systems analysis of a country's economy including to map existing financing mechanisms, subsidies with potential harmful impacts on nature, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, public and private expenditures committed towards biodiversity objectives and a country's national financial needs for biodiversity. The biodiversity finance plan itself consists of a series of actions with the aim to significantly scale up available funding, green or phase out harmful finance flows and improve the effectiveness of available expenditures. The programme allows for active sharing of experiences across countries and includes a knowledge sharing platform and the provision of continuous technical support to country teams.
UNDP is seeking two Environmental Finance Specialists to provide technical services and support to countries in the Africa region that are designing or implementing their national biodiversity finance plans.
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.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Environmental Finance Specialists for the Africa Region will work from his/her home base within the African region or a nearby time zone; The Environmental Finance Specialists for the Africa Region will work under the supervision of the BIOFIN Regional Advisor for Africa. The Environmental Finance Specialists for the Africa Region will work with the global BIOFIN Team, national Teams, UNDP Country Offices, core and donor country governments, other international/multi-lateral organizations, and contractors; Given the IPSA assignment to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbents are expected to be reasonably flexible with their availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones where applicable; The incumbents will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under these assignments; The incumbents will be responsible for providing their own working stations (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, relevant software, etc.) and shall have access to a stable, secure, and reliable internet connection. 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:
Nature Climate and Energy: Ecosystems and biodiversity: Biodiversity Finance Environmental Governance: Global Environmental Governance Environmental Governance: Multilateral Environmental Agreements (e.g. CBD and UNCCD) Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Conservation and Sustainable use of biodiversity, land, forests and oceans 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. Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding. Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels. Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.Required Skills:
Prior experience in designing, reviewing and implementing conservation finance, environmental finance, sustainable finance is required; Experience in developing countries and with international organizations is required; Expertise in planning and conducting workshops and technical trainings on environmental finance is required.Desired Skills:
Prior work experience with governments, public policies, or financial regulations is desired; Experience with UN and/or UNDP policies, procedures, and practices particularly in relation to project development and implementation and/or working in an international organization is an advantage; Previous country experience in the Africa region is an advantage.Required Languages:
Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of any other UN language is an asset. Disclaimer Applicant information about UNDP rosters Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.