NDC Partnership Climate Investment Developer (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 Investment Developer (Technical Specialist, Environmental)

Job No.: VA/2024/B5002/28437
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 following responsibilities are part of the incumbent role:

• Conduct a rapid mapping of ongoing, planned, and new climate investment related projects/programs led by line ministries, sub-nationals, and within the private sector and development and implementing partners, to better understand the availability of existing support.
• The NDC Implementation Framework is a starting point in addition to working closely with the NDC in country facilitator and the climate finance expert. Draft an inception report with a clear work plan based on mapping exercise and activities required by government.                                     
• Conduct initial due diligence of project proposals and assessment of bankability, sharing results in a brief due diligence report.
• Conduct mapping and identify potential sources of finance including climate finance or blended finance windows and de-risking mechanisms.
• Lead the development of suitable funding project concept notes proposals and submit to access project preparation facilities.
• Identify and prioritise climate investment projects that are being readied for finance.
• Organise and support the National Council on Climate Change and the International Economic Relations Department to convene at least two climate finance investor roundtables/ coordination meetings around climate financing.
• Develop a pipeline of climate finance investment projects, by soliciting input from the line ministries and other expertise from agencies within the government and private sector.
• Identify potential sources of finance including climate finance or blended finance windows and de-risking mechanisms.
• Lead the development of suitable funding concepts and proposals to access project preparation facilities, including at least 3 programme concept notes developed and aligned with potential project preparation facilities for further development, with the objective of at least one programme proposal finalised and having accessed funding.  
• Provide technical support to NCCC and IERD to actively promote low carbon and climate resilient investments and conduct analysis of enabling investment environment for such investments. 
• Work closely with the Climate Finance Expert towards integration of climate related projects in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Public Investment Programming and National Budget.
• Provide technical expertise in the government's efforts toward issuing the third green bond, establishment of the National Climate Green Fund and other several climate finance instruments to provide solutions to fund green projects.
• Support capacity building for national experts in salient aspects of climate finance through on-the-job training and coaching, including at least 30 government staff trained in project/programme proposal development.
• Share monthly and quarterly reports on progress in each of the activities conducted.

Requirements
Education:

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

Experience:
Required:

• With a Master’s degree, at least 5 years’ experience in public and/or private sector with a focus on climate change, project management, stakeholder and/or donor engagement and preparation of cross-cutting workplan/proposal development or any related field;
• Experience in multilateral, national or grassroot governance and processes related to climate change, policy and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
• Knowledge of the country’s context of policy frameworks, national plans and strategies related to climate change is required.

Asset:

• Professional experience in public and private sectors, ideally related to infrastructure or project finance or blended financing in development institutions, equity and impact funds, other financial institutions, and advisory firms.
• Substantial experience in business development, capital raising, and/or developing public-private partnerships with a successful track record in climate finance related activities across multiple contexts in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong technical experience in resource mobilisation 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 international expert must have a strong understanding of the global climate finance landscape
• Excellent writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills across a range of stakeholders, including senior financial institution or governmental leadership.
• Experience across multiple global contexts, and awareness of international policy debates and challenges in climate finance and economics.

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.