Climate Finance and Country Platform Specialist - Maseru, Lesotho

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.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

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 advancing the Paris Agreement by strengthening capacity and collaboration for country-owned climate and development action. 

With over 270 members, including over 140 countries and more than 120 institutions, the NDC Partnership aligns partner support behind country priorities, builds shared knowledge and generates evidence to inform effective NDC implementation, sustained investment and higher ambition that drives sustainable development. Working through a country-driven model, countries set the agenda by identifying their NDC priorities, and partners deliver coordinated, high-impact support that increases efficiency and reduces duplication.

The NDC Partnership has unmatched insight into on-the-ground climate realities, drawn from diverse expertise and collaborative learning across its membership. Grounded in country action, these insights shape the global climate agenda.

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).

Lesotho officially submitted its updated second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UNFCCC in February 2025 and is actively seeking support through the NDC Partnership to further advance its climate goals toward NDC 3.0. Requiring substantial financial resources estimated at US$1 billion for mitigation and US$1.5 billion for adaptation, His Majesty initiated the nation's first Just Energy Transition (JET) country platform to mobilize required international resources. 

The updated commitments prioritize taxonomy-aligned sectors like renewable energy, water, AFOLU, and infrastructure resilience. To operationalize this via robust Implementation and Investment plans, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning seeks a Climate Finance and Country Platform Specialist to coordinate resource mobilization and donor engagement. 

The Climate Finance and Country Platform Specialist will provide strategic technical support to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in strengthening Lesotho’s capacity to mobilize, coordinate, and effectively utilize climate finance resources. Working closely with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and selected Sectors to develop the investment pipelines. Also working closely with the other embedded Advisors  including the GCF liaison Officer, and the NDC In-country Facilitator. The Specialist will serve as a central coordination point for climate finance programming, ensuring alignment between national priorities, development financing frameworks, and international climate commitments.

The Specialist will be embedded in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and will report directly to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist. S/he will collaborate closely with the NDC Partnership focal points and the NDC Partnership Support Unit.  

The incumbent will provide high-level technical and coordination support to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, strengthening Lesotho’s capacity to access, manage. And effectively deploy climate finance. The position will lead efforts to identify and develop bankable investment pipelines and enhance donor and investor engagement and promote alignment between national development priorities, climate commitment, and financing strategies.

This home-based retainer position offers a unique opportunity to drive transformative climate action, foster cross-sectoral collaboration, and contribute to sustainable economic development in Lesotho. A strong emphasis will be placed on national ownership, stakeholder coordination and leveraging local expertise to achieve tangible, and lasting impact.

• This is a retainer national vacancy/position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on 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  Lesotho or have a valid residence permit in Lesotho. 

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Climate Finance and Country Platform Specialist will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to strengthen Lesotho’s capacity to mobilize, coordinate, and effectively deploy climate finance in support of national development and climate objectives. S/he will serve as a central coordination point for climate finance programming, ensuring alignment between national priorities, development financing frameworks, and international climate commitments, while also fostering private sector participation and embedding Just Transition principles.

Strategic Coordination of His Majesty III Country Platform 

• Support the operational coordination of Country Platform initiatives, working closely with consultants and strengthen collaboration among government institutions, development partners, private sector, and other stakeholders. 
• Facilitate inter-governmental coordination to ensure alignment of climate investments with national priorities and sector strategies.

Climate Investment Pipeline Development 

• Contribute to the identification, prioritization, and initial development of bankable climate investment projects.
• Assist in the preliminary classification of pipeline projects against recognized global green taxonomies (e.g., EU Taxonomy, Climate Bonds Taxonomy, MDB/IDFC Common Principles) and perform taxonomy-alignment screening, including Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) assessments at the Project Information Note (PIN) stage.
• Support Ministries and agencies to develop investment-ready proposals aligned with climate finance requirements.

Resource Mobilisation and Financing Access 

• Support the development and implementation of strategies to mobilise climate finance from bilateral, multilateral, and private sector sources. 
• Support the development of resource mobilization strategies by conducting research and mapping potential climate finance instruments beyond blended finance, focusing on green and sustainability bonds, de-risking mechanisms, results-based financing, and Article 6 carbon markets.
• Support preparation of funding proposals, concept notes, and investment cases.

Donor and Partner Engagement 

• Coordinate engagement with development partners, climate funds, and investors. 
• Support donor investment roundtables, climate finance forums, and partnership-building initiatives.

Climate Finance Policy and Planning Support 

• Provide technical advice on climate finance frameworks, policies, and financing mechanisms. 
• Support integration of climate finance into national planning, budgeting, and public investment processes.

Climate Finance Monitoring and Reporting 

• Maintain and update systems for tracking climate finance flows, investments and results.
• Apply standardized climate classification systems (such as the MDB-IDFC Common Principles or Rio Markers) with explicit mitigation vs. adaptation of tagging and safeguards against double-counting.
• Support reporting on climate finance commitments and implementation progress.

Private Sector, Just Transition, and Innovative Finance Mobilisation

• Support activities that promote private sector participation in climate investments.
• Assist in the integration of Just Transition finance principles and minimum social safeguards into project screening and private/public financing frameworks
• Support the development of blended finance and public-private investment opportunities.

Capacity Building 

• Support initiatives to strengthen government capacity on climate finance access, project preparation, and resource mobilisation. 
• Assist in the development and implementation of capacity building program on climate investment planning and mobilization: Conduct a capacity needs assessment to identify knowledge gaps among stakeholders and design a program to address these gaps through workshops and training sessions, ensuring a clear understanding of climate investment planning and mobilization objectives. Operationalize the program with follow-up support to enable practical application.
• Support the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in accessing technical assistance: Facilitate technical assistance for the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to strengthen its capacity to supervise and implement climate finance initiatives effectively. Provide mentoring and on-the-job training to ensure long-term institutional capacity development

Knowledge Management

• Facilitate knowledge sharing and dissemination of climate finance best practices
• Work closely with existing knowledge and learning platforms like the NDC Partnership Knowledge and Learning Team, to access best practices and up to date knowledge and tools.
• Document success stories and organize learning events: Capture and document success stories, best practices, and lessons learned to create accessible knowledge products. Organize inclusive learning events for ministries, CSOs, and private sector stakeholders to promote peer learning and enhance their engagement.

Required

• A master's degree, preferably in climate change, economics, finance, natural resources, livelihoods, environmental sciences, or a related field.
• A bachelor's degree with two additional years of work (in total 7) experience can be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.   

Required

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in climate finance, sustainable development, or related fields, including a minimum of five years working with climate funds, multilateral development banks (MDBs), international financial institutions, or development partners.
• Demonstrated experience in mobilizing climate finance, developing investment pipelines and project proposals, and supporting public-private partnerships, capital raising, or blended finance initiatives.
• Proven experience working with government institutions on climate change policy, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), climate investment planning, and/or implementation of national climate and development strategies.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and coordination skills, with a demonstrated ability to build partnerships and facilitate collaboration among government agencies, development partners, private sector actors, financial institutions, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders.

Desired

• Demonstrated familiarity with global climate finance taxonomies (EU Taxonomy, Climate Bonds Taxonomy, MDB Common Principles) and energy-sector project finance (hydropower, solar, transmission, and energy access).
• Familiarity with UNFCCC processes, including subsidiary bodies, Conference of Parties (COP), and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as well as prior experience supporting government climate change processes.
• Experience facilitating the implementation of NDCs and contributing to national strategies addressing climate change.
• Proven ability to foster networks and Strengthen collaboration between government, private sector actors, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Experience engaging across multiple global contexts, with a focus on international climate finance.
• Familiarity with the GCF/NDC Partnership Climate Investment Planning and Mobilization Framework, using it as the guiding instrument for implementing the specified tasks.

• 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. 
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