Senior Climate Finance consultant

Consultancy Workplan
2.1 Finalised scope of report to be agreed with ECA and African Group of Negotiators
2.2 Presentation of report at Conference on Climate and Development (CCDA)
2.3. Final report published at COP28
2.2 Draft Report to be presented to ECA
2.3. Report finalised after feedback from ECA and internal peer review




4.1 Draft report to be presented to ECA
4.2 Findings of report submitted to CCDA and Africa Climate Summit
4.3 Findings of report presented at formal convening of Sustainable Debt Coalition.
4.4 Final report published

From Home

6 Month

Background

ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.

The mission will be guided by ECA's five new strategic directions: Advancing ECA's position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent's problems and take local solution to the continent; Developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; Designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; Contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; Advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.

The Technology Climate Change, and Natural Resource Management Division (TCND) is headed by a Director and is accountable to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme). The Division is responsible for supporting the efficient management of natural resource endowments, reducing the negative impacts of climate change by moving towards green transitions and climate-resilient development and harnessing new technologies in the context of sustainable development. It is divided into three main sections: The African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), Green Economy and Blue Economy and Innovations and Technology.

Core functions of the Technology Climate Change, and Natural Resource Management Division include:
- Promoting and undertaking research to improve capacities of policymakers in analysing and managing policies to address issues of climate change, environment and natural resource management, science, technology and innovation and transitioning to low-carbon, inclusive green and blue economy;
- Supporting the formulation and implementation of gender sensitive policies in the areas of climate change, green and blue economy, natural resources management, science, technology and innovation in support of the key drivers of Africa's sustainable structural transformation;
- Promoting the development of mineral resources in the context of the Africa Mining Vision;
- Advocating policy-relevant research and analysis to inform the formulation and implementation of policies to foster a blue and green economy;
- Supporting member States in addressing challenges of climate change in key sectors and putting in place appropriate plans and mechanisms to reflect national development priorities, policies, strategies and programmes;
- Promoting policy dialogues and the exchange of experiences and best practices among stakeholders at the regional, national and local levels through conferences, meetings, seminars and electronic forums.

Under the direct supervisor of the Director of Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resources Division the consultant will assume the following duties and responsibilities;

climate finance (mitigation and adaptation) from conditional and unconditional sources, integrating priorities on nature and broader environmental protection;
- Provide substantive, technical and analytical support to the preparations of African member states for the UNFCCC COP processes, focussing particularly on provisions relating to climate finance (such as Articles 6 and 9 of the Paris Agreement, incorporating mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage);
- Actively analyse existing climate funds, their structures and processes and impacts on Africa’s climate response, including regularly tracking African member states’ just access to and just investment of climate funds;
- Provide substantive input in the preparation of position papers and reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate;
- Provide guidance to ECA to respond to Member States’ requests for climate finance support;
- Provide guidance on the design and just application of the Sustainable Budgeting Approach, including how environmental, social, and development trade-offs can be made. In line with the existing methodology, environmental impact considerations could include short-term greenhouse gas emissions, long-term greenhouse gas emissions, natural capital, air pollution, and adaptation and resilience (direct and indirect), while social impact considerations could include wealth inequality, quality of life, and rural welfare;
- Provide support to the Secretariat of the Sustainable Debt Coalition temporarily situated within ECA;
- Provide briefings and background documentation to support the goals of the Sustainable Debt Coalition
- Support efforts to mainstream the consideration of non-climate environmental factors alongside climate factors in UNECA work on climate finance and policy
- Provide substantive technical support to and participate in the organisation of meetings and other forums convened by UNECA and its partners convened by ECA;
- Analyse the outcomes of the UNFCCC COP processes on climate finance, and their implications for Africa’s climate change strategy and the NDCs of member states;
- Provide technical and analytical support on climate finance and related issues for the UNECA Conference of Ministers;
- Assist in expanding African research capabilities on topics of environmental economics and linking these to UNECA, perhaps by establishing dedicated academic support network(s);
- Assist in building capacity within TCND teams on topics including climate finance and development finance that supports all varieties of environmental priorities, and incorporates distributional perspectives of climate justice;
- Develop a perspective on pathways to further boost long-term technical capacity of the TCND and UNECA on topics related to a just climate transition, economics, and finance; and
- Perform other duties and functions as delegated by the Director, TCND.

The consultant will perform the following tasks:
• Assess the opportunities for mobilising climate finance and prepare a report for consideration by ECA and the African Group of Negotiators
• Prepare a report for consideration of the UNECA Conference on Ministers on means of deploying a sustainable budgeting approach in ministries of finance
• Provide support to the Secretariat of the Sustainable Debt Coalition by providing reports and analysis to support its advocacy goals, and present a report to its members for presentation at the 28th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC.
• Support capacity development of ECA divisions on climate finance

Advanced university (Master’s degree) in economics, environmental economics or development or related fields is required. A submitted Doctoral thesis is desirable. A first level university degree in a combination of additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible relevant international experience in sustainable development, of which at least two years of experience in the areas of climate finance is required. Experience in international development issues as they relate to climate change and sustainable development, including knowledge of key players and processes, is required. Knowledge of UNFCCC processes is required. Experience implementing the Sustainable Budgeting Approach and working with green fiscal taxonomies is required. Knowledge and experience of debt issues in the African continent is required, in particular related to the development finance needs of the continent. Professional background in managing multi-stakeholder networks is an advantage.

English and French are the working language of the UN Secretariat. Fluency in one of the languages, English or French is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

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.