Senior Finance Consultant

Result of Service

High-quality delivery of the following project components: Revised Development Assistance Policy Resource mobilization strategy and 8 concept notes Climate finance capacity building training sessions and materials

Work Location

Home-based / Hybrid

Expected duration

Full-time / 9 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultancy forms part of the "PAF24Q2-RMI-UNEP-014" initiative funded by the NDC Partnership Action Fund (PAF), led by UNEP-CCC in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The project aims to support the country in enhancing its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), developing the necessary climate finance frameworks, and implementing policies and institutional capacities for low-carbon, climate-resilient development. The project requires an experienced Senior Climate Finance Consultant to provide strategic and technical support in achieving its climate finance objectives. The RMI is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing existential risks due to sea level rise and increasing weather extremes. The government has demonstrated strong climate leadership by committing to ambitious NDCs. To support the implementation of its NDC 3.0 and related climate finance strategies, UNEP-CCC seeks to recruit a senior finance consultant to support the delivery of the project's finance objectives. The consultant will play a key role in designing and delivering climate finance training tailored to the local RMI context, reviewing the existing Development Assistance Policy (DAP) and preparing concept notes for priority climate action projects. This work will directly contribute to the implementation of NDC 3.0, the revised Development Assistance Policy, and the mobilization of climate finance to accelerate national climate ambitions. One local travel is planned to conduct climate finance training for key government stakeholders. See below list of specific activities and deliverables, to be completed within the 9-month contracting period. The Performance Indicators are: Quality of Deliverables: Deliverables meet the required technical standards and align with project objectives, demonstrating accuracy, analytical depth, and alignment with UNEP-CCC and Government of RMI priorities. Timeliness and Responsiveness: Meeting deadlines for the submission of deliverables and responsiveness to feedback from UNEP-CCC and Gov of RMI, demonstrating reliability and project management skills Clarity and Usability of Reports: Evaluation of the reports' clarity, coherence, and usefulness based on feedback from target users and stakeholders, ensuring the deliverables meet the project's objectives. Contribution to Capacity Building: Training materials, presentations, and related knowledge products are well-designed, context-appropriate, and contribute to enhanced institutional and stakeholder capacity in climate finance within the RMI Key Activities and Deliverables Component 1: Policy review Activities: Conduct a desktop review of the 2019 Development Assistance Policy to streamline donor coordination and align external support with RMI's climate finance needs Support facilitation of consultations with the Climate Finance Task Force Provide overall technical support for additional tasks that may reasonably arise during implementation, consistent with the objectives of this project, including ad hoc inputs to ensure effective alignment and timely delivery of outputs. Deliverables package 1: Technical note summarizing desktop review of the 2019 policy (details comments presented in tabular format, with actionable recommendations) Revised draft Development Assistance Policy submitted for review by the oversight committee Additional short technical notes, presentations, briefing inputs, or other supporting materials, as required, to facilitate the effective implementation of the project and achievement of its objectives. Component 2: Climate Finance Training and Coordination Activities: Review needs assessment to identify capacity gaps in climate finance within Government institutions Support in designing and delivering a two-day training on climate finance basics for TTEC Working Groups Support in designing and delivering an advanced one-day training on climate finance access for the Climate Finance Task Force Support facilitation of a roundtable with government, NGOs, private sector, and donor partners for knowledge exchange Provide overall technical and coordination support for additional tasks that may reasonably arise during implementation, consistent with the objectives of this project, including ad hoc inputs to ensure effective alignment and timely delivery of outputs. Deliverables package 2: Reviewed report (max 10 pages) on capacity building needs assessment Draft training materials and agenda for two-day training workshop in RMI Additional short technical notes, presentations, briefing inputs, or other supporting materials, as required, to facilitate the effective implementation of the project and achievement of its objectives. Component 3: Investment Pipeline Planning Activities: Undertake a desktop analysis of current and planned concept notes to ensure alignment and avoid duplication Identify the broad scope of 8 investment concept notes consistent with RMI's Electricity Roadmap and other strategic plans, for further development by UNEP-CCC experts Prepare talking points, presentations, and briefing notes to support Government engagement with donors Overall support in the development of the of the concept notes adhering to quality standards and timelines as described by UNEP CCC Deliverables package 3: Draft work plan for investment pipeline planning Brief report (max 8 pages) identifying the broad scope of 8 x relevant investment concept notes Development of 8x relevant investment concept notes Resource mobilization and donor outreach strategy document (max 20 pages) Draft outreach materials: talking points, presentation deck, and briefing note Additional short technical notes, presentations, briefing inputs, or other supporting materials, as required, to facilitate the effective implementation of the project and achievement of its objectives.

Qualifications/special skills

Bachelor's degree in finance/public finance, economics, development studies, business, management, administration, or another relevant field is required. Master's degree in policy or finance, economics, development studies, or another relevant field is desirable A minimum of 7 years of work experience in development project implementation, working with national public institutions, private sector associations/promotion agencies, banking sectors, or similar with Masters degree or minimum of 4 years of relevant with Bachelors degree. Demonstrated experience working with central banks on the topic of climate risk management, taxonomies, and disclosure frameworks – experience with regional central banks or financial systems in small island states preferred Expert understanding of sustainable finance taxonomies, sustainability standards, and disclosure frameworks Significant experience in policy development, NDC development, and climate finance and greening of the financial system Expert understanding of how climate change affects central banks, gained either through publications on the subject or consultancies related to taxonomies Expert understanding of the implications of climate change on macroeconomic fundamentals and public finance

Languages

Fluency in English (required) Marshallese (desirable)

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.