Natural capital Financing Expert

By the end of the working period, the Consultant will produce:

• Develop country analysis for Ghana and report on the findings.
• An executive report summarizing the overall findings.
• Various presentations/workshops needed to inform stakeholders of the overall messages to Inform all stakeholders
• Revise the drafts reflecting the review from Stakeholders
• Recommendations and way forward in one overall paper with key findings.
• Facilitate peer to peer exchange through communication to engage identified stakeholders.

At the end of the assignment, the consultant will present his recommendations and the way forward to the stakeholders.

The consultant will be responsible of all the deliverables above and will also work closely with the other consultants responsible of conducting complementary studies. The consultant will conduct needed consultations/interviews with all stakeholders

ECA

The total duration of this consultancy will be up to 22 working days to start on end of May 2022 spread over 2 months.

1. Background / project description

100% of the global economy is 100% dependent on nature. In the African economic context, 23% of Africa's GDP depends closely on nature, and biodiversity loss leads to greater volatility and uncertainty about the goods and services provided by ecosystems. To address this challenge, there is a need to produce data and metrics for measurement of financial risks/opportunities and define standards. UNECA with the support of the FSD Africa plans to develop pilot case studies so that states and private sector can have data and metrics to support sustainable investments where nature is considered, in risks/opportunities.

Drawing on UN’s Agenda 2030, AU’s Agenda 2063, UNECA’s Strategic Plan, the TNFD framework, and responding to African countries’ development priorities and emerging challenges, the first study aims to analyze Ghana, selected as a pilot country, context-specific nature-related financial risks, impacts and opportunities facing the continent.

The study will emphasize nature-related risks, impacts, and opportunities and will support identifying gaps in terms of policies to protect nature while sustaining development. The ongoing work also aims to leverage financial opportunities and help to provide appropriate data to inform sustainable investments where nature is fully considered.

2. Problem statement

At the end of the Ghana study, the findings should answer the following questions:

- How dependent is Ghanaian economy on natural capital and in which sectors?
- What nature positive outcomes are most important and how can we measure them?
- How are economic activities degrading natural capital and ecosystem services in Ghana?
- Which national and business opportunities are nature-positive and what are the expected future benefits?
- What nature-related financial risks are most material for my country?
- What are the potentials that my country can leverage for innovative sustainable financing, such as debt-for-nature swaps?

3. Purpose and Scope of work of the assignment

The overall objective of the study is to create an enabling environment for the development of national nature strategy for Ghana. The Consultant will work to develop the country-specific case study on nature-related financial risks/opportunities, will undertake the data collection and assessment to identify the dependency on nature, areas of improvement or further strengthening the financial sustainability of the country and private sector with a better consideration of nature in decisions.

The detailed objectives of the study, based on comprehensive data and methodology, are to:

- Measure nature dependency of social and economic development of Ghana;
- Analyze how ongoing nature-related economic activities/sectors impact natural capital and ecosystem services;
- Identify nature-positive sectors / outcomes to promote;
- Recommend policy priorities to enable better management of nature-related risks and natural capital that could lead to a national nature strategy;
- Evaluate costs and investment opportunities for financial decision making.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will work under guidance of the scoping team, led by UNECA with its partners, and is expected to collaborate with experts of other relevant UN entities in each sub-region, including Resident Coordinator’s Offices and UN Country Teams. By the end of the working period, the Consultant will produce country-specific report and an executive report summarizing the overall findings and next steps, to inform all stakeholders and subsequent phases of the project. For this purpose, the consultant will:

- Undertake preliminary research on context-specific nature-related risks, impacts, and opportunities;

- Develop recommendations for addressing gaps to capitalize on these opportunities for a green and sustainable development.

- Identify key stakeholders and potential partners in consultation with UNECA on nature-based financial opportunities and risks,

including sovereign stakeholders, private and financial sector actors, international organizations, research institutions, civil society organizations and universities.

- Based on the preliminary findings and gap analysis of his/her work and developed economic model, propose policy recommendations for each country, in consultation with relevant stakeholders (all the above-mentioned stakeholders).

- Facilitate peer to peer exchange through communication to engage identified stakeholders.

At the end of the assignment, the consultant will present his recommendations and the way forward to the stakeholders.

Competencies:

• Demonstrated understanding on the role of the nature-based development opportunities and challenges in Ghana.
• Good understanding of the strategies and policies related to financial disclosure.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic economics consultancy.
• Demonstrated experience in technical issues related to nature-related financial risks/opportunities assessment

Skills:

• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings.
• Ability to analyze large amounts of complex and diversified data related to nature-based financial risk management.
• Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate discussions about African voice for nature-related financial risk management

Language:

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience progressively responsible experience in the field of economics of natural resource management, market-based finance, climate financing or economics of ecosystem services gained through research and the provision of related advisory services at the national, regional and/or international levels is required.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in developing climate or nature financing strategies and policies to boost investment towards a nature-positive economy and sustainable livelihoods.
• Experience in African economics, in particular Ghana, is desirable.

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in the field of environmental economics, investment markets and risk management, natural resources management, international development or a related field from a recognized university/institution, is required.

Travel –APPLICABLE, Travel is applicable subject to lifting/relaxing of the limitations/conditions imposed by the COVID-19 by UN and regarding COVID-19 spread prevention announcement

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.