UNOPS

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

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 260 members, including more than 140 countries, developed and developing, and more than 120 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.

Somalia is committed to pursuing a low emission sustainable development pathway. Under the updated NDC, Somalia has set a target of achieving 30% emissions reductions against the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario estimate of 107.39 MtCO2eq by 2030. To achieve this target, Somalia will aim to reduce and avoid its GHG emissions by about 32.40MtCO2eq relative to the BAU scenario by 2030. The updated contributions are in line with Somalia’s National Planning processes, strategies and actions in the energy, agriculture, forestry, transport and Waste sectors. Somalia’s NDC estimates the cost of implementing the adaptation components of the NDC target at USD 55.5 Billion for the 10 years. This translates to financial resources needed for implementation of the identified adaptation contributions is about USD 5.55 billion per annum from 2021- 2030. It is important to note some of the adaptation actions have mitigation co-benefits.  

However, due to its fragile and poverty situation, the country is faced by serious financial, technological and capacity constraints that hinder implementation of its NDC. On the other hand, climate change actions and the low carbon development pathway, presents a wide range of opportunities that the country will take advantage of while presenting multiple sustainable development benefits.  

To fully achieve the conditional targets of the NDC, Somalia will require substantial finance from national and international resources, from both the private sector and international development institutions.  The government is requesting tailored technical support towards climate finance advisory with one embedded expert who will work closely with the NDC In-country facilitator.

The Climate Finance Advisor will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and Regional Manager and will work closely with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Finance, other ministries and closely coordinate with the NDC In-Country Facilitator and GCF Liaison Officer. The candidate will be hosted at the Ministry of Finance offices.

• 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 the availability of funds. 

• This is a Home-based 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 Somalia or have a valid residence permit in Somalia.  
  
  

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 

The Climate Finance Advisor will provide strategic and technical advisory support to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and other sectoral ministries to mobilise climate finance from public, multilateral, bilateral and private sectors, strengthen enabling environment and institutional capacities, and support the integration of climate finance into national planning and budgeting process. The advisor will also coordinate the development of a robust pipeline of bankable projects aligned with NDC 3.0, LT-LEDS and other national development priorities, and facilitate engagement with development partners, private sector and donors to increase climate finance flows in Somalia.

Required

• Master’s degree or equivalent in climate change, economics, finance, natural resource management, investment, or related fields.
• Bachelor's degree in related discipline with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience (total 7 years) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Desired

• PhD in climate change, economics, finance, natural resource management, investment, or related fields.

Required

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in public and/or private sectors, ideally related to investments targeting development, climate and/or environmental sectors, including experience in project finance or blended financing in development institutions, equity and impact funds, other financial institutions, and advisory firms. 
• At least three (3) years of substantial experience in business development, capital raising, and/or developing public-private partnerships with a successful track record in climate finance related activities and resource mobilisation across multiple contexts in a multicultural environment. 
• Experience and successful track record in development of multisectoral, large-scale or multi-year program/project proposals through various funding mechanisms and bankable investment plans targeting private sector, bilateral and multilateral donors.
• Strong understanding of the global climate finance architecture, financing instruments, international policy debates including challenges in climate finance and economics, with knowledge of national climate financing landscape and fiscal policy environment, and proven experience working with government and development partners on policy development, resource mobilisation and implementation.

Desired

• Proven ability to establish, develop and maintain partnerships across a range of stakeholders, both government and non-government, manage complex multi-stakeholder strategies and plans and engage effectively with senior leaders, development partners, investors, donors and other high-level stakeholders.  
• Strong understanding of global environment, climate and development issues and their impact on resource allocation and development programming by governments and development organizations.  
• Experience supporting access to different climate financing mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, multi-lateral and/or bilateral funding
• Excellent writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills across a range of stakeholders, including senior financial institutions, donors, or governmental leadership

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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.