UNOPS

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS' strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace & security, and humanitarian action.

As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

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, bringing together more than 250 members, including more than 130 countries, developed and developing, and more than 110 institutions to deliver on ambitious climate action that helps achieve the Paris Agreement and drive sustainable development. Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. 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). For this project, the Consultant will be contracted through UNOPS.

The Senior Climate Finance Specialist will be embedded within MOF to provide support on climate and green economy activities. This role focuses on developing provincial green investment portfolios that align with national climate strategies, providing strategic inputs on climate finance initiatives, identifying and evaluating funding opportunities, offering technical support for project preparation, building capacity, and facilitating stakeholder dialogue. The position will support MOF’s NDCP National focal point to effectively coordinate climate finance activities and maximize impact from the funds.

The Senior Climate Finance Specialist will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of Partnerships Development Specialist, serves as the close counterpart of the NDC Partnership In-country Facilitator to collaborate with NDCP National focal points in MOF and MAE, strengthening the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operating as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members. 

* This is a retainer national vacancy/position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds for the period of the NDC. 

** This is a Homebased 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 Vietnam or have a valid residence permit in the Country.  

**** Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Senior Climate Finance Specialist independently manages projects and adapts existing policies to meet emerging needs in climate finance and green growth within Viet Nam's Ministry of Finance (MOF). The role provides authoritative advice, solves complex problems, and maintains relationships with clients to ensure reliable service delivery in support of the NDC Partnership's objectives.

Required

• Master's degree or equivalent in business, finance, economics, law, public policy, public finance, development studies, environment management, or any other relevant field of study with 5 years of relevant experience.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in related discipline with 7 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required

• At least 5 years of experience in international development or public or development finance, or policy work related to green growth,  or environmental economics or related fields.
• Experience supporting inter-ministerial and/or provincial coordination processes related to green growth or sustainable investment planning such as contributions to investment prioritization or development of selection criteria.

Desired

• Demonstrated understanding of translating policy objectives into fiscal measures or financing frameworks, with exposure to public and/or development finance systems.
• Proven track record in Viet Nam developing and implementing national policies or legal frameworks on green growth, climate finance, and climate change, including but not limited to policy instruments such as the green taxonomy, circular economy sandbox mechanism.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that 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. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• 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. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.