Climate Finance Specialist - Thailand

The Consultant’s final result of services will be to support the Government of Thailand / DCCE in developing a portfolio of investable climate projects and concrete actions for resource mobilization and investment in the livestock sector with a focus on dairy. The Consultant is expected to support the project team in making technical interventions bankable and identify innovative finance mechanisms and potential financiers. This approach could serve as a working model for other countries in the region in strengthening impactful climate investments.

Bangkok, Thailand

7 months from 21 September 2026 to 20 April 2027

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the international environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The NDC Act & Invest Initiative is a global programme led by UNEP and currently funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the NDC Partnership’s Partnership Action Fund (PAF) multi-donor trust fund. It is designed to help countries raise their climate ambition and translate their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted in 2025 into actionable, investable plans. Thailand’s NDC 3.0 supports the country’s revised Net Zero 2050 target and is aligned with its Climate Finance Strategy, with agriculture identified as one of six priority sectors. Agriculture is expected to deliver 7.6 MtCO2e of the 109.2 MtCO2e targeted reductions by 2035, with an estimated mitigation potential of 2.58 MtCO2e in 2030-2035 requiring USD 176.7 million in investment. Priority measures include improved rice cultivation, livestock feed, manure management and biogas. Livestock is particularly relevant for methane mitigation, but adoption of available solutions remains constrained by financial, technological and policy barriers. In particular, NDC Act & Invest will support the Government of Thailand in turning livestock methane mitigation priorities into investable solutions. The work will assess available technologies, market opportunities and financing options, with a focus on dairy manure management, feed additives and biogas, and use these findings to identify priority pilot projects and develop a methane abatement programme, including a dedicated investment plan. The project will also help structure viable business models, identify blended finance and public-private investment opportunities, connect projects with potential financiers and donors, and engage key government, private-sector and research stakeholders to support implementation and scale-up. In this context, UNEP’s NDC Act & Invest Initiative is recruiting a Climate Finance Specialist to help identify these barriers, assess the financing landscape, and support the development of investable project pipelines, mobilizing public and private finance. Additionally, the Climate Finance Specialist is expected to propose meetings with relevant national and international stakeholders, based in Thailand throughout the duration of the assignment. The Climate Finance Specialist will work closely with the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) and the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), as well as a broad range of Thai and international stakeholders, including: public institutions, private-sector associations, national and international financial institutions and insurance companies, as well as other development partners. The Climate Finance Specialist will also work in close coordination with the NDC Act & Invest Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, who will lead overall project implementation. The Climate Finance Specialist will be supervised by UNEP’s NDC Act & Invest Global Coordinator and will work part time, based in Bangkok, Thailand.

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, administration or a closely related field (Required). • Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, Environmental Economics, Climate Change, project management related (Required). ● Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in climate finance, sustainable investment, green finance or related areas. (Required). ● Minimum three (3) years of relevant professional experience in climate finance issues (Desirable). ● In-depth knowledge of Thailand’s climate change regulatory and planning framework, including hands-on involvement in projects addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation at the national level (Desirable). ● Demonstrated experience working with public institutions or in Thailand's public financing system, with a focus on the coordination and/or implementation of climate finance, fiscal, or planning policies (Desirable). ● Experience working on topics related to the agriculture sector and methane abatement (Desirable).

● Fluency in English (Required). ● Fluency in Thai (Required).

The Climate Finance Specialist – Thailand will support the project team in assessing the financial and investment conditions for scaling methane-abatement solutions in Thailand’s livestock sector. This will include identifying financing barriers and opportunities, assessing suitable financing and risk-mitigation instruments, exploring market and value-chain opportunities, and identifying potential financial institutions and private-sector partners to support the implementation and scaling of priority solutions. 1. Work Plan: • Prepare a detailed work plan with a timeline of deliverables and responsibilities. • Validate the work plan with DCCE, DLD, the NDC Act & Invest Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, Programme Manager and other relevant stakeholders. 2. Technical Work: • Facilitate access to information, follow-up actions, and enable the effective integration of technical products into national planning, investment, and coordination processes. • Facilitate coordination between the NDC Act & Invest Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific and national institutions, ensuring timely access to information, data, and technical inputs. • Prepare follow-up actions, commitments, and recommendations arising from meetings, consultations, and missions led by the NDC Act & Invest Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific. • Prepare briefings for mission support, workshops, consultations, and validation processes associated with the work of the project team. • Prepare background notes, briefs, presentations, and other reports as per the deliverables required to support project activities. • Provide operational and institutional input for the development of financial instruments. 3. Stakeholder engagement • Prepare briefings on coordination arrangements, working methodologies, communication protocols, and quality assurance mechanisms for the implementation of the climate investment project portfolio. • Submit logistical support plans for meetings and events related to the implementation of the portfolio. • Join meetings with institutional counterparts und use summaries for deliverables as per ToR. • Draft executive summaries, project briefs, and presentations that can be used in dialogues with potential financiers and other stakeholders. • Engagement Agenda with Financial Partners and Public Sector Actors: o Brief the NDC Act & Invest Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific to establish dialogues with commercial banks, development banks, private investors, and multilateral institutions. o Facilitate engagements with key public institutions. o Prepare and update a record of agreements reached, financing opportunities, and next steps with each actor. 4. Advisory and Facilitation for the Prioritized Portfolio of Climate Investment Projects – Methane abatement interventions in the Livestock sector: Mission Preparation and Implementation Activity 1.1: Draft a stakeholder mapping o Create a stakeholder mapping for the livestock sector, including relevant public institutions, private-sector associations, national and international financial institutions and insurance companies, as well as other development partners. o Identify contact people for each relevant stakeholder that was identified. Activity 1.2: Prepare an agenda for online discussion o Draft e-mail invitations to relevant stakeholders for online discussions to be held prior to the mission to Thailand at the end of October. o Draft topics and objectives for each online call in line with project’s results framework and stakeholders’ expertise. o Create short summaries for each of the 5 or more online discussions to be held with relevant stakeholders as input for the mission to be held at the end of October. Activity 1.3: Prepare a draft Terms of Reference o Use inputs from the consultations to draft the Terms of Reference. o Align the Draft Terms of Reference to the requirements of technical, financial and market assessments needed to design an investment programme for methane abatement in the livestock sector. Activity 1.4: Prepare a Mission Plan o Draft e-mail invitations to relevant government departments (DCCE, DLD), private-sector, financial and technical stakeholders for in-person meetings. o Prepare a logistical plan and schedule for an efficient implementation of the mission. This includes proposed site visits, where relevant, to livestock farms, biogas facilities or other relevant projects – to be decided with the DCC and DLD. o Discussion topics and objectives for each meeting prepared. o Create a questionnaire designed to capture financial, technical market, policy, and institutional barriers to implementation of methane abatement measures for the sector. Expected deliverables: o 1.a Stakeholder mapping: Identification of key stakeholders and institutions to be consulted, ensure that the DCC and DLD are involved – Stakeholder mapping must be in line with the priority area identified by the Government of Thailand – Methane abatement for the livestock sector. o 1.b Agenda for online discussions: Discussion topics and objectives for each online call drafted and at least 5 online discussions to be held with relevant stakeholders as input for the mission to be held at the end of October. o 1.c Draft Terms of Reference: Initial Terms of reference based on discussions with relevant stakeholders as input for the mission to be held at the end of October. o 1.d Mission plan: Proposed schedule and logistical arrangements for the mission to be held at the end of October. This includes proposed site visits, where relevant, to livestock farms, biogas facilities or other relevant projects – to be decided with the DCC and DLD. Discussion topics and objectives for each online call prepared. Mission Follow-up and Technical Scoping Activity 2.1: Draft a Mission Report o Capture outcomes on financial, technical market, policy, and institutional barriers in the questionnaire. o Capture other findings from the consultations with the DCCE, DLD, and other key Thai and international stakeholders, including public institutions, private-sector associations, financial institutions, insurance companies, and development partners in the Mission Report, including: o Technology solutions for enteric fermentation and manure management and their mitigation potential. o Initial findings on market potential, including Market Structure & Value Chain Dynamics, Agricultural Cooperatives & Institutional Structures, and Export & Import Channels. o Initial findings on the financial landscape, including risk mitigation and financing instruments, fiscal policy incentives and innovative financial products and business models using incentive schemes to support farmer adoption of new technologies including private sector participation. o Information on existing Low-carbon livestock products certification schemes and their use in improving financial flows and new certification opportunities that can support bringing to market cattle products. Activity 2.2: Prepare Final Terms of Reference o Based on the mission report, finalize the Draft Terms of Reference, incorporating the requirements for the technical, financial, and market assessments needed to design an investment programme for methane abatement in the livestock sector. o Conduct consultations together with the UNEP team, and separately as needed, to receive feedback from specific stakeholders to validate and approve the Draft Terms of Reference. Activity 2.3: Prepare an overview of financing for technology options o Carry out research to prepare: o A summary of technology solutions for enteric fermentation and manure management, and barriers to finance building on information from the consultations. o A summary of best practices and potential solutions transfer from regional and global examples including (a) financing options (b) farm to market value chains, and potential for private sector engagement. o A summary of existing financing instruments and mechanisms in Thailand that can be matched to the livestock programme. Expected deliverables: o 2.a Mission report: Summary of consultations with the DCCE, DLD, and other key Thai and international stakeholders, including public institutions, private-sector associations, financial institutions, insurance companies, and development partners. Early identification of potential partnerships for implementation, including FIs. o 2.b Final Terms of Reference: Elaborated Terms of reference based on the scope of work and feedback from stakeholder consultations with a timeline of deliverables and responsibilities. This must include Terms of Reference for technology, market and financial assessments. o 2.c Overview of financing for technology options: Overview of potential technology solutions for enteric fermentation and manure management, and barriers to finance providing the basis for subsequent work for technical experts. Best practices for implementing potential technology solutions, regional and global as can be applied to Thailand. Financial and Market Assessment Activity 3.1: Prepare a Financial Landscape Assessment o Support the coordination of technical inputs generated by the technical advisors recruited as per the drafted Terms of Reference. Ensure alignment with investment criteria, financing sources and requirements, entry points for private sector. Technical inputs to be overviewed will include: o Financing channels, instruments and incentives o Financing needs, barriers and gaps o Innovative financing and business models to mobilize investment o Financing entry points and market linkages o Support communication with the Government and key stakeholders on the validation of outputs, and recommendations. Activity 3.2: Prepare a Market Assessment o Support the coordination of technical inputs generated by the technical advisors recruited as per the drafted Terms of Reference. Ensure alignment with investment criteria, financing sources and requirements, entry points for private sector. Technical inputs to be overviewed will include: o Market structures and value chains o Role and capacity of agricultural cooperatives o Domestic and international market opportunities and risks for livestock products o Low-carbon livestock certification schemes and their potential to improve market access and financial flows o Support communication with the Government and key stakeholders on the validation of outputs, and recommendations. Expected deliverables: o 3.a Assessment of Thailand’s financial landscape, including available financing instruments, financing barriers, and potential (innovative) sources of public and private finance. Identify entry points for financing. o 3.b Market assessment to identify opportunities for low-carbon livestock products, including: a) Market structures and value chain dynamics (production systems, contract farming models, processing and distribution channels), b) Agricultural cooperatives and institutional structures, c) Export and import channels Digital solutions for the agriculture sector, risk mitigation instruments and private sector partnership design o Support the coordination of technical inputs generated by the technical advisors recruited as per the drafted Terms of Reference. Ensure alignment with investment criteria, financing sources and requirements, entry points for private sector. Technical inputs to be overviewed will include: o Digital solutions and transformation systems for the livestock sector and potential technology partners. o Key investment risks and suitable risk-mitigation instruments and potential providers/partners. o Relevant private-sector actors and partnership models to support the implementation and scaling of priority solutions. o Support communication with the Government and key stakeholders on the validation of outputs, and recommendations. o Based on the above, support the creation of demonstration projects based on the outputs of the technical work, including partnership structures with identified partners Expected deliverables: o 4.a Overview of digital solutions for the agriculture sector: understanding the digital transformation systems and an identification of partners. o 4.b Deep-dive potential risk mitigation instruments specific to the livestock sector and identification of partners. o 4.c Identification of private sector partnership design: identification of relevant private sector actors and potential partnership structures for the livestock sector. Timely delivery of outputs as outlined in the Terms of Reference. Quality of design work, materials, and reports produced, as well as the approval of products/ deliverables/ outputs by the consultant’s reporting officer, Jérôme Malavelle, Project Management Officer, UNEP. SPECIAL SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE ● Expertise in climate change frameworks, investment planning for NDC implementation, and the international climate finance landscape. ● Expertise in developing and structuring bankable project pipelines, particularly in climate and/or agriculture, and specific to the investment framework requirements in Thailand. ● Comprehensive knowledge of and practical applications for policy and planning, specifically as it relates to fiscal and other incentives for financing. ● Understanding of cooperative structures in the agriculture sector, and barriers to finance. Specific knowledge of the livestock sector, and/ or methane abatement measures is desirable. ● fluent in English and fluent in Thai i.e. writing, reading and speaking of the languages. ● Experience working with diverse stakeholders from the public, private, and/or financial sectors in the development of financing structures and mechanisms for NDC implementation.. ● Experience in the development of climate change policies is desirable. PROFESSIONALISM ● Proactive capacity, responsibility and commitment to achieving objectives and meeting deadlines. ● Ability to identify, analyze and participate in resolving issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work, and manage conflicting priorities. ● High ethical standards prioritizing team success over personal advancement. ● Experience working with international organizations, and multilateral or bilateral funds development of international cooperation projects is desirable. TEAMWORK ● Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. ● Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise. ● Willing to learn from others and supports final group decisions, even when they may not entirely reflect own position. ● Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING ● Develops clear goals consistent with agreed strategies. ● Identifies priority activities and assignments, adjusting priorities as required. ● Allocates appropriate time and resources for completing work. ● Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. ● Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. ● Uses time efficiently.

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.