NDC Partnership Climate Finance Expert (Technical Specialist, Environmental) at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: NDC Partnership Climate Finance Expert (Technical Specialist, Environmental)

Job No.: VA/2024/B5002/28436
Location: Abuja
Employment type: Contract
Department / Office: GPO, GVA, Water, Environment & Climate (WEC)
Contract type: Local ICA Specialist
Contract level: LICA Specialist-10
Duration: 12 months, max 220 days, with possibility of extension depending on performance and on availability of funds

WEC Background

• The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office.
• The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. 
• WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment.
• Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The NDC Partnership: 

• The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office.
• The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. 
• WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
• The NDC Partnership is a global coalition of countries and institutions collaborating to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the negative effects of a changing climate.
• The Partnership advances the goals of the Paris Agreement by bringing together nearly 200 countries and institutions in new ways to accelerate NDC implementation and enhance ambition over time.
• The Partnership’s work through 120 partners supporting almost 80 countries produces many examples of impact, lessons learned and ideas for the future.
• The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by two country representatives.
• The Partnership’s work is facilitated by a Support Unit based at World Resources Institute in Washington DC and the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UNOPS supports the NDC Partnership and its Support Unit through the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC).

Country Context

• As part of its commitment to the global goals of the Paris Agreement, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) updated and published its revised NDC in 2021, with an ambitious plan to accelerate climate action.
• This comprehensive NDC entails a 20% reduction in emissions compared to the Business-As-Usual (BAU) projection by 2030.
• With international backing, the ambition is higher, 47% compared to BAU, an increase from the previous 45% target set in the 2015 NDC.
• Through this process, the FGN coordinated with a range of partners through the NDC Partnership, with active coordination and guidance of the Partnership’s focal points: the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the International Economic Relations Department (IERD) in the Federal Ministry of Finance. 
• To implement the NDC, Nigeria has developed an NDC Implementation Framework (NDC IF) with an estimated cost of approximately US$ 189 billion for the seven-year period of 2023-2030.
• The water, energy, and AFOLU sectors alone will require an estimated US$ 173 Billion. Out of the total estimated cost, 37% is allocated towards adaptation measures, 35% is for mitigation measures, and roughly 28% covers co-benefits measures (measures with adaptation and mitigation co-benefits).
• The Framework has been aligned to all key climate and development policies and targets and is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• This NDC Implementation Framework would be a central tool by which to mobilize development partners and coordinate multiple stakeholders towards the collective tracking and reporting on the goals of the NDCs. In addition, the FGN will ensure the alignment with other commitments including the Climate Change Act, LT-LEDS, National Development Plan, Energy Transition Plan, and the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan.  The responsibility for the effective implementation of the NDCs rests on the secretariat of the National Council on Climate Change under the Climate Change Act 2021.
• To strengthen resource mobilization for climate change and technical capacity on climate finance, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the International Economic Relations Department (IERD) in the Federal Ministry of Finance have requested the NDC Partnership to provide a Climate Finance Expert to work alongside the International Economic Relations Department (IERD) in the Federal Ministry of Finance.
• This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days with the possibility of extension for an additional year based on performance. The incumbent is expected to work from the government offices in Abuja, Nigeria. 
• This is a Homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software.
• As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Nigeria or have a valid residence permit in the Country. 

Responsibilities

• The Climate Finance Expert will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist for Nigeria working closely with Director at the International Economic Relations Department in the Federal Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning and with the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change.
• The Expert will be compiling monthly and quarterly progress updates for the three institutions and as required by each focal point.
• The experts will also share the monthly and quarterly reports with the NDC Partnership, following the approval from the relevant focal points. 

The following responsibilities are part of the embedded incumbent role:
Scope of Work:

• Draft an inception report with a clear work plan approved by the government to strengthen resource mobilization for climate change and technical capacity on climate finance;
• Develop and operationalize a National Climate Finance and Investment Strategy based on the existing draft Climate Finance Strategy.
• Lead the identification and mapping of barriers (technical capacity, human resource, enabling policy environment) to investments related to climate change 
• Review the prioritized and costed NDC Implementation Framework and map potential local and international donors to support the interventions.
• Develop a private sector engagement strategy component for climate action.
• Develop and operationalize appropriate financing instruments building on existing financing mechanisms to mobilize climate finance.
• Facilitate and strengthen coordination and collaboration among government and non-state stakeholders to enable effective mobilization of climate finance. 
• Provide technical advice to the national framework/policy for Article 6 and related financing instruments. 
• Develop and deliver a capacity and national training program on climate finance with an appropriate training manual.
• Lead the process of capacity building in NDC mainstreaming into national development plans, budget, and other strategies, leading to the NDC being mainstreamed into national planning and budgeting processes.
• Lead and support in the alignment of ETP/NDC and related financing opportunities.
• Identify and support alignment of Nigeria’s Net-Zero Investment Plan, Energy Transition Plan, Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy, and related opportunities.
• Convene annual (private sector, NGOs, bilateral and multi-lateral donors) round table meetings on climate financing needs of Nigeria.
• Organize strong private sector engagement and participation in climate action with Nigerian private sector leveraging climate finance opportunities and providing climate finance support.
• Compile monthly and quarterly country updates on climate financing that feed into the NDC IF.

Requirements
Education:

• A Master’s Degree preferably in Public Finance, Resource Mobilization, Economics, Natural Resource Management or other relevant field of study.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline in combination with an additional 2 years (7 years of experience total) of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced University Degree.

Experience:
Required:

• With a Master’s Degree, at least five years’ experience in public finance, private sector and/or NGO sector with a focus on resource mobilization, economics, donor engagement and program development. 
• Strong technical experience in resource mobilization for climate-change related projects from different sources and through different mechanisms such as loans, grants, equity, etc. 
• Good understanding of Nigeria’s climate change finance policy environment, sectoral coordination, budgeting process and the expert must have a strong understanding of the global climate finance landscape.

Asset:

• Experience in the development of proposals and domestic/regional resource mobilization along with the ability to mobilize and strengthen local cooperation for fundraising between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders. 
• Strong networks with local and/or international donors.

Language:

• Proficiency in English is required.

Application Closing Date
1st August, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
• UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.