Senior Climate Finance Officer (Home based Retainer) - Nairobi, Kenya

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

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 NDC Partnership is a global coalition, bringing together more than 260 members, including more than 140 countries, developed and developing, and more than 120 institutions to deliver on ambitious climate action that helps achieve the Paris Agreement and drive sustainable development. Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). For this project, the Consultant will be contracted through UNOPS.

As part of its institutional support to the National Treasury, the NDC Partnership is enhancing the capacity of the Treasury’s Climate Finance and Green Economy Unit through the position of Senior Climate Finance Officer. The Officer will support the National Treasury and the Government of Kenya in mobilizing, accessing, and effectively utilizing climate finance to advance national climate action priorities through enabling the Climate Finance and Green Economy Unit to deliver on its mandates relating to coordinating climate finance actions and financing of green economic development in the country.

The embedded facilitator will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and will work in close collaboration with the Partnership’s focal point in the National Treasury. 

The incumbent will support the National Treasury and will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. The Facilitator will support the focal point of the Partnership in their daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the implementation of the NDC. 

• This is a retainer national vacancy/position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on the availability of funds.

• This is a Home based 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 Kenya or have a valid residence permit in Kenya. 

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Senior Climate Finance Officer will provide technical expertise and support to government counterparts in Kenya on climate finance-related matters. This includes analyzing climate finance flows, identifying opportunities for resource mobilization, and supporting the development of climate-related policies and strategies. The Officer will work closely with national stakeholders to enhance their capacity to access and effectively utilize climate finance for sustainable development.

1. Policy and Strategy

• Support the development and review of policy, legislative and strategic frameworks on climate and green finance.
• Provide technical support to align national development priorities with international climate finance opportunities.
• Contribute to the preparation of high impact policy briefs and analytical reports on climate finance.
• Support the integration of climate finance into Medium Term Plans (MTP), sectoral plans, budgets, and investment frameworks.
• Advise on innovative finance instruments (e.g., green bonds, blended finance, debt for nature swaps, carbon markets).

2. Project Development and Resource Mobilization

• Assist in the National Treasury to deliver on its mandate as the National Designated Authority (NDA) for the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
• Support the role of the National Treasury as the focal point for the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).
• Support government ministries, agencies, and counties in developing a pipeline of bankable adaptation and mitigation projects for submission to climate funds (GCF, AF, GEF, CIF etc.).
• Provide capacity-building and mentoring on project formulation, financial structuring, and donor engagement.
• Facilitate partnerships with development partners, private sector, and financial institutions.
• Provide insights on latest developments in climate finance including the identification and access of the various financing windows.
• Provide support on climate finance issues/opportunities, including supporting the drafting of guidance notes, and preparation of high impact policy and relevant analytical reports on climate finance. 
• Support the accreditation of the National Treasury as the Direct Access Entity for the GCF.

3. Capacity Building and Knowledge Management

• Conduct stakeholder capacity needs assessment, develop strategies and execute the capacity enhancement measures.
• Train and mentor government staff and stakeholders on climate finance access, management, and reporting.
• Develop knowledge products, guidelines, and toolkits on climate finance for dissemination.

4. Climate Finance Tracking and Reporting

• Support the establishment/enhancement of climate finance tracking and reporting systems.
• Contribute to Kenya’s reporting obligations under the UNFCCC and other frameworks.
• Contribute to the development of the second Climate Finance Landscape Report for Kenya 
• Support the development of a Climate Finance Data and Information System
• Support the develop frameworks for effective monitoring, reviewing, and evaluation of projects and programmes related to climate finance under the Unit.

5. Climate Finance Diplomacy and Negotiations

• Support the capacity development to impart the necessary expertise and skills for National Treasury to participate effectively in international environmental and climate negotiations and initiatives
• Support the development of country positions on climate finance and participation Negotiations 
• Climate finance country positions developed

6. Carbon Markets and Trading Advisory

• Support the development and promotion of carbon trading and carbon credits as an emerging asset class within the capital markets (Executive Order No. 1 of 2025 on Organization of Government)
• In collaboration with the DNA, support the National Treasury in conducting financial and risk analyses of its carbon projects.
• Assess evolving regulatory frameworks (e.g., Paris Agreement, Article 6, Voluntary Carbon Markets).
• Identify opportunities for leveraging carbon finance in Kenya.
• Undertake capacity development of the National Treasury staff and financial sectors on carbon markets

Required

• Master’s degree in economics, Natural or Environmental sciences, Sustainable Development Finance, Environmental Economics, Climate Finance, International relations, and other related disciplines. Or
• A Bachelor’s degree with two additional years of work (4 total) experience can be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree

Desired

• A specialized training or certification in Climate Finance, Green Growth, Disaster Financing or related field will be an added advantage. 

Required

• At least 2 years of general working experience in the field of environment, green growth, climate change and/or climate finance and relevant fields. In addition,
• At least 2 years of specific experience in climate finance in Kenya as evidenced by previous work with climate financing mechanisms.
• Proven experience working with national and/or county governments, Departments, and Agencies on climate finance matters. 
• Strong knowledge of Kenya’s climate policies, institutional frameworks, and financing mechanisms.

Desired

• Experience of other national contexts that indirectly contribute to climate change.
• Ability to foster formal and informal networks to strengthen cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated previous work experience with the National Treasury and strong knowledge of Kenya’s climate policies, financing mechanisms and institutional frameworks is an added advantage.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.