Market Development and Nature Finance

Mobilization of blended finance and development of tailored market solutions will strengthen nature‑positive MSMEs in the Congo Basin, enabling access to capital, scaling of climate‑resilient practices, and measurable contributions to reduced deforestation and green economic growth

Nairobi

12 Months

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP Climate and Nature Finance Unit seeks to unlock and (re)direct public and private capital to sustainable land use, including deforestation-free commodity production. Initially CNFU focused on developing and supporting several (blended) finance facilities and business incubators as concrete solutions to unlock private finance for ‘net zero, nature positive’ land use practices. ProCongo is a joint initiative launched in May 2025 by the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). It is designed to foster green economic growth and reduce deforestation in the Congo Basin by financing nature-positive, climate-resilient, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). UNEP CFU is responsible for the co-execution of the ProCongo project, including leading on early-stage market development and support to MSMEs through technical assistance and small grants; environmental & social (E&S) risk and impact management, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), and working with UNCDF on seeking to create partnerships and/or a network of financial institutions. As part of the ProCongo project, UNEP is seeking a consultant to lead the market development and MSME finance mobilization workstreams, with the aim of mobilizing blended finance for nature-positive MSMEs in the Congo Basin. The consultant will establish and coordinate a coalition of investment stakeholders to achieve this, and deepen market intelligence and tailor financial and market products to the local context (with a project target of five products), develop a feasibility evaluation and prioritisation framework informed by the study of case studies and scalable precedents in the region, co-develop recommendation action plans with financial institutions and investment partners including feasibility assessments, and produce public facing outputs including a position paper, interactive database, website and knowledge pieces highlighting the feasibility and impact of selected financial mechanisms.The Consultant will report to the Programme Management Officer in the UNEP Climate and Nature Finance Unit, who is responsible for market development, and will work under the overall supervision of the Head of the UNEP Climate and Nature Finance Unit.

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in natural resource management, international development, management, economics or finance is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of 2 years working experience in private equity, venture capital, and financial/market analysis with a focus on emerging markets and developing economies is required. Experience in finance for nature-positive and climate-resilient SMEs, and experience conducting research on green economics growth in emerging markets and developing economies is required. Computer literate in standard software applications; have excellent writing and communication skills; good analytical skills with experience in sustainable land use and green finance; have good interpersonal skills; can work independently to complete given assignments is required. Excellent networks including government, think tanks, NGOs and companies, as well international organisations is desirable.

English and French are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Not available.

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.