The mission of the Green Climate Fund is to assist developing countries to respond to climate change while bringing prosperity to their people.
Established in 2010, the GCF invests in transformational climate projects in the developing world. The Fund makes an ambitious contribution to global climate action and channels significant financial resources into developing countries to help build low-emission and climate-resilient societies. It is country-driven and undertakes actions that reflect the circumstances of each country concerned and its national aspirations. The GCF is a key enabler of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Since its establishment, the GCF has approved 243 projects in 130 countries and has committed USD 13.5 billion in climate finance. In addition, it has built up an extensive program to support developing countries to identify their needs, in particular, those who are most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
As it approaches its third replenishment phase in 2024, termed GCF-2, the GCF Board, during its thirty-sixth meeting (B.36) in July 2023, established ambitious objectives by approving the Updated Strategic Plan (USP-2) of the GCF for its second programming period. Targets under the USP-2 are geared towards bolstering locally-led adaptation action supporting the most vulnerable, underpinned by an update to the Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) programme and in line with the GCF adaptation approach, and engaging local private sector actors and regional and national financial institutions, in line with the private sector strategy. The consultant will join the GCF team at HQ based. This short-term assignment is for an initial 120 days over a six (6)-month period.
Role
The Division of Mitigation and Adaptation (DMA) seeks an International Consultant (HQ-based) for supporting the origination and appraisal of projects and programmes contributing to promote climate actions at the local level and Enhancing Direct Access (EDA). This position will report to the Director of DMA and closely work with the deputy directors, climate impact leads, senior specialists, climate investment managers, regional managers and project officers in DMA, the Private Sector Facility (PSF), the Division of Country Programming (DCP) and the Division of Portfolio Management (DPM). The consultant will also coordinate with the SAP (Simplified Approvals Process) and PPF (project preparation facility) teams hosted by DMA.
This consultancy aims to support enhancement of locally-led climate adaptation projects, especially through direct access entities, in particular in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and African countries. The consultant will fill the current gap in supporting the GCF in programming appropriately climate finance towards locally-led adaptation actions, which are critical to achieve long-term impact.
Overall, the consultant will support programming for direct access to GCF resources for national and subnational entities and local actors who play a crucial role for supporting the development of a pipeline of projects and programmes that promote locally-led adaptation action, by working closely with the GCF accredited entities and relevant partners. The consultant will also support capacity building, encourage country ownership, and ensure sustainable development practices are integrated into project implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Coordinate, in consultation with DCP, with GCF Direct Access Accredited Entities (DAEs), National Designated authorities (NDAs) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment of USP-2 objectives on locally-led climate activities with their project pipelines and GCF country and work programmes.
• Build partnerships with organizations involved in locally led climate actions to identify and prioritize climate change adaptation and mitigation actions that align with country-specific needs and EDA approach.
• Support the development of EDA proposals and proposals with a focus on locally-led climate actions, and ensure alignment with GCF policies, guidelines, and requirements capitalizing on the technical assistance that can be provided by the PPF and the resources from other GCF partners.
• Task manage and task review EDA-locally-led adaptation action proposals submitted to GCF under its regular Proposal Approval Process (PAP) or its SAP.
• Coordinate the pipeline of projects contributing to the programming goals set for locally led climate actions, including its prioritization, reporting and regular updates on its status to the Directors of DMA, PSF and DCP.
• Support complementarity and coherence approach/framework with AF/GEF/Others:
o Support, in coordination with the Office of the Governance Affairs (OGA) and DCP, the implementation of the Coherence and Complementarity Framework, specifically in relation to the activities related to the AF and GEF Scaling-Up Framework related work.
o Work with DAEs to identify and prioritize climate change adaptation projects that align with country-specific needs, GCF criteria and EDA.
• Enhance access, capacity building and support to the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme:
o Provide, in coordination with DCP and the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, technical assistance and guidance to direct access entities and prospective direct access entities applying for the GCF Project Specific Accreditation Assessment (PSAA) on how to structure and EDA and locally-led projects.
o Organize workshops, webinars, and other knowledge-sharing events to promote EDA and locally-led climate intervention principles and disseminate project results;
o Provide substantive guidance to the Direct Access Entities on the EDA Project Preparation technical guidance and support the development of publications, e-learnings, training and communication materials that contributes to the knowledge management related to locally-led climate actions.
o Develop and roll-out specific product to increase the efficiency of preparation and appraisal of funding proposals supporting locally-led climate actions such as SAP fast-tracking templates or other internal and external standards that can increase the efficiency of project preparation and review.
o Contribute to the further improvement of the EDA approach, including drafting the proposed new EDA terms of Reference in alignment with the strategic priority set by the current and future Fund’s Strategic Plan.
• Knowledge and adaptive learning:
o Work closely with DPM to monitor the progress of relevant supported projects and provide regular updates to relevant stakeholders.
o Evaluate project outcomes, impacts, and lessons learned to inform future locally led climate initiatives and improve the effectiveness of the approach.
o Document best practices, case studies, and lessons learned from EDA and locally-led projects to support knowledge sharing and adaptative learning among direct access entities, countries and relevant stakeholders.
o Manage the data and information related to the locally-led climate project and EDA pipeline and portfolio and develop monthly reports on the pipeline and portfolio for the GCF Management and contribute to the relevant Board document such as the GCF Secretariat Activity Report to the Board and the GCF Pipeline and Portfolio report to the Board and the GCF report to the UNFCCC COP.
o Perform other tasks related to the portfolio of activities associated to locally-led climate actions and EDA as deemed necessary.
4. Deliverables
The consultant is anticipated to deliver:
1. Develop an initial plan to operationalize Locally Led Adaptation Action in line with USP-2 (particularly USP-2 target 9 ).
o Deliverable: Initial Plan to operationalize locally-led adaptation action.
2. Working closely with other units and divisions, develop a baseline of GCF projects that qualify as locally led adaptation.
o Deliverable: Baseline of GCF projects.
3. Support the development of the typology of projects that can be considered as locally led adaptation for tagging and reporting to the Board under USP-2.
o Deliverable: Initial typology of projects that can be considered as locally led adaptation for tagging and reporting.
4. Work closely with DMA and DCP on EDA proposals’ pipeline with the view of supporting maturity of the proposals for Board consideration
o Deliverable: EDA proposals’ pipeline.
5. Support DMA and DCP in originating EDA locally-led adaptation projects.
o Deliverable: EDA locally-led adaptation projects originated.
6. Develop lessons learned on EDA and locally-led adaptation proposal development based on GCF portfolio so far.
o Deliverable: Compendium of lessons learned on EDA and locally-led adaptation proposal development
7. Manage the pipeline of EDA and locally-led adaptation proposals in coordination with DMA, PSF and DCP.
o Deliverable: Monthly progress reports on pipeline of EDA and locally-led adaptation proposals.
8. Explore complementarity and coherence approach with other funds on both EDA and locally-led adaptation.
o Deliverable: At least one EDA project proposal operationalizes the complementarity and coherence approach.
9. Support the development of a knowledge and information base for EDA and locally-led adaptation action.
o Deliverable: Knowledge information base designed for operationalization.
Required Experience and Qualifications
• Master's degree in environmental sciences, climate change, sustainable development, or a related field. Or bachelor's degree plus two (2) more years of experience
• At least nine (9) years of experience in climate finance, project management, or a related field, with a focus on projects/programmes in climate change.
• Proven capacity to design, implement, appraise and evaluate climate change projects utilizing grant and non-grant instruments.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and/or implementing adaptation approaches and practices at local level.
• Demonstrated experience working with national and subnational entities, as well as international organizations and donors and understanding and knowledge of community based / community driven interventions in the areas of sustainable development and climate change.
• Good understanding of GCF policies, guidelines, and requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Fluency in English, with proficiency in additional UN languages being an asset.
The closing date for applications is 07 February 2024, 23:59 (KST). Application received after the closing date may not be considered.
Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged.