Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offer a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) have the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.
The Blue & Green Islands Integrated Programme (BGI IP) is a transformative and comprehensive initiative designed to address pressing environmental challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These Countries, due to their small size, remote locations, and reliance on limited resources, are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts and other shocks. The programme will leverage significant innovation emerging from SIDS to turn their most pressing challenges into opportunities for prosperity, enabling them to build forward better, greener and bluer.
The overall objective of the BGI IP’s Global Coordination Project (GCP) is to enhance collaboration, capacity and partnerships among 15 BGI IP country projects in valuing nature, scaling up of nature-based solutions in the food, tourism, and urban sectors, and securing public and private finance to facilitate nature-positive development and reduce ecosystem degradation in SIDS. This will be achieved by demonstrating the transformational potential of incorporating the value of nature into decision-making and using innovative nature-based solutions to achieve development and MEA goals and address SIDS challenges related to food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and reduction of hazardous chemical pollution.
A Global Programme Coordination Unit (GPCU) will be established by the GCP for the overall BGI IP. The GPCU will be responsible for the overarching management and coherence of the BGI-IP through workstreams including day-to-day programmatic coordination of the Policy and Practice Facility, Knowledge Management and Learning Cluster, and Nature Based Solutions Accelerator, capacity development, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, adaptive management, technical coherence and advice, compliance, knowledge management, cross-project collaboration and networking, and facilitation of joint learning, solutions sharing, and upscaling efforts. The GPCU will optimize strategic engagement with key multi-stakeholder bodies and platforms for policy coherence and change at global, regional, and national levels. This will be done through collective action and a clear agenda established in collaboration with the IP’s country and institutional partners, to assure a seat at the table on policy and related discussions relevant to SIDS and the IP context.
The GPCU will be responsible for programme level support to the Country Projects and for receiving and collating information on the state of the Programme for the PSC, and for organizing the annual meeting of the GCP and all the 15 country Country Projects, as well as quarterly meetings of the BGI IP PSC, and for collating and disseminating all programme M&E results. Effective participation from key BGI IP countries will be ensured through Regional Nodes and Thematic Working Groups, where country project managers come together to exchange best practices and learning around themes such as evidence-based nature-based solutions, public and private sector engagement and finance, monitoring and evaluation, safeguards, gender, etc.
The NbS Accelerator aims to strengthen the quality, scalability, and financial viability of Nature-based Solutions supported under the BGI-IP. It will do so by providing targeted technical assistance, fostering innovation, mobilizing financing, and supporting country teams in identifying and developing investable NbS pipelines aligned with national and regional priorities. Planned outputs of the Accelerator include: (i) a consolidated and assessed portfolio of NbS initiatives across all country projects; (ii) an operational Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) to provide technical and investment-readiness support; (iii) analytical tools, guidance notes, and sector-specific methodologies to improve the design, monitoring, and policy integration of NbS; (iv) tailored capacity-building and peer-learning programmes for SIDS; (v) strengthened partnerships with public, private, and philanthropic capital providers; (vi) knowledge products, case studies, and tools that enable replication and upscaling of NbS; and (vii) support to enabling policy and institutional frameworks, including gender-responsive approaches to NbS financing and implementation.
Scope of Work
The Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Investment Specialist will serve as the technical lead for the BGI-IP Nature-based Solutions Accelerator. The incumbent will provide technical guidance to support the development of sustainable blue-green economies with robust financial architecture that channels grant funding, concessional finance, and private capital, especially through blended finance approaches, into integrated solutions within and across the tourism, food and urban sectors; foster innovation and partnership with the private sector and financial institutions; work with BGI country project teams to map and support scaling of identified NbS approaches, and ensure capacity development, knowledge exchange and learning on investable NbS across the BGI-IP portfolio.
The Specialist will also work to strengthen country and regional capacities to unlock private sector capital and action for nature-positive outcomes in SIDS, including collaboration with the BGI regional nodes and other global initiatives that are seeking to drive new approaches for sustainable blue and green transition in SIDS.
Duties and Responsibilities
a) Provide strategic guidance to NbS project development
• Review the BGI country project portfolio to map investable opportunities for support by the NbS Accelerator (NBSA).
• Collaborate with country project teams in assessing NbS initiatives to align them with appropriate financing opportunities or mechanisms.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to country projects in the design, implementation, financing, and monitoring of investable NbS in the target food, tourism, and urban sectors.
• Provide guidance to country project teams for the upscaling of prioritized NbS, including vision development, identification of capacity gaps, and support for upscaling strategies and plans.
• Ensure integration of analytical tools (e.g., Natural Capital Accounting, Ecosystem Services Valuation) into NbS approaches.
• Assist country projects in preparing applications to the TAF, including guidance on assessing investment viability of NbS projects.
• Provide guidance to country project teams in de-risking strategies to attract finance to the prioritized NbS.
• Provide technical guidance on gender mainstreaming in NbS initiatives, including modules on gender in financing plans and ensuring women and marginalized groups benefit from NbS.
b) Provide technical advisory support and capacity building of country partners
• Provide technical assistance to country project teams in the development of private and finance sector stakeholder engagement strategies, including mapping and analysis of financing ecosystems.
• Facilitate technical assistance for non-revenue-generating NbS initiatives, ensuring access to public and philanthropic investment.
• Lead the establishment and operation of the NBSA Technical Assistance Facility (TAF), including legal/governance structures, selection processes, monitoring, and reporting.
• Provide ongoing support to country projects and NbS initiatives not selected for TAF funding by sharing lessons, feedback, and including them in learning exchanges.
• Support coordination and identification of synergies with other initiatives and mechanisms related to NbS finance mobilization (e.g., BIOFIN, GFCR, IFI initiatives, others).
• Provide strategic and technical leadership for the NbS Accelerator, ensuring delivery of high-quality support to country projects.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of the NbS Accelerator work plan, aligned with the BGI-IP Results Framework and UNDP guidelines.
c) Strengthen stakeholder engagement to strengthen NbS investment ecosystem
• Engage with financial capital providers (public, private, philanthropic) to evaluate, connect, and mobilize financing for NbS initiatives supported by country projects and the TAF.
• Support awareness-raising among private and finance sectors of NbS investment opportunities.
• Engage with global, regional, and national stakeholders—including governments, private sector, NGOs, and academia—to promote adoption and scaling of NbS.
• Represent the BGI-IP NBSA in relevant international fora and global policy dialogues.
d) Facilitate knowledge management and learning
• Support the development and dissemination of knowledge products, tools, case studies, and best practices related to NbS, with emphasis in food, tourism and urban sectors, in SIDS.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning and cross-country exchange on NbS design, policy integration, and financing solutions.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation
Institutional Arrangement
The NbS Investment Specialist will report directly to the Global Coordinator of the BGI IP. The incumbent will also work in close collaboration with other GPCU staff and BGI partners. The Specialist will also engage closely with UNDP Regional Hubs, Country Offices, Responsible Parties, and external partners.
Competencies
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
2030 Agenda: Planet - Nature
- Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Natural Resource Management
Partnership Management - Relationship Management
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
Partnership management -Resource Mobilization
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual
understanding
Business Direction & Strategy - Systems Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Digital - Alternative finance
- Ability to identify potential alternative forms of finance and mobilise them for the purpose of addressing development challenges.
- Ability to review the skills, capacities, procedures and protocols that are needed to enable new financial mechanisms.
- Ability to assess the risks, limitations and implications of using new financial mechanisms.
- Set up the processes and structures to design, testing and implement new financial mechanisms. Managing outreach and stakeholder engagement.
Business Management - Communication
- Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Climate change, Ecology, Economics, Finance or related fields is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree ) of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing, and scaling NbS or ecosystem-based approaches, preferably in SIDS or developing country contexts.
Required skills:
• Proven track record in providing technical leadership on NbS, ecosystem-based adaptation, or related fields.
• Experience engaging with multiple stakeholders, including governments, donors, NGOs, academia, and the private sector.
• Experience in resource mobilization and development of financing instruments and/or strategies for NbS.
• Experience developing knowledge products, technical guidance, and training materials.
• Experience in designing and/or managing investment-readiness processes for NbS or sustainable development projects.
• Demonstrated ability to mainstream gender and social inclusion into technical and financial frameworks.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder technical facilities, funds, or selection committees (e.g., investment facilities, accelerators, or technical assistance mechanisms).
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
• Experience with the integration of analytical tools such as Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) and Ecosystem Services Valuation (ESV).
• Demonstrated experience and strong knowledge of international policy processes related to biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable development.
• Experience working with UNDP, GEF, or similar international funding mechanisms.
• Working knowledge of SIDS contexts and challenges.
• Experience working with impact investors, development banks, or philanthropic organizations in relation to NbS or sustainability finance.
• Familiarity with value chain and supply chain integration for food systems, tourism, or urban NbS.
Required Language(s)
• Fluency in English, verbal and written, is required.
• Working knowledge of French or Spanish is an advantage.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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