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, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the 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 the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policies and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.  BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response.  BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan emphasizes structural transformation including green, inclusive and digital transitions: working with countries to effect change in systems and structures that shape a country’s sustainable development. This includes mobilizing parnerships across memberstates, the private setor and civil society in order to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on natural capital, environment and climate, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which  includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund), the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.

One of six signature solutions under UNDP’s current Strategic Plan is to Increase energy access for those furthest behind and accelerate the transition to renewable energy. ”. Access to clean and affordable energy is an essential enabler for the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

In the Decade for Action UNDP seeks to scale-up its current energy offer to work with partners on three areas:

• Close the gap on energy access so that marginalized people and communities gain access to sustainable, clean, energy and the dignity and opportunities it brings.
• Drive innovation in energy value chains to speed up investments in energy access in off-grid and crisis-affected contexts.
• Accelerate the energy transition through system-changes that support a green recovery and bring together the best ideas from the worlds of government, business, and finance.

The Climate Investment Platform (CIP)

The Climate Investment Platform (CIP) is a global initiative and a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The CIP blends the capabilities and resources of the four partner organizations to address – and unlock – investment needs in developing countries, supporting their pursuit of low-carbon energy ambitions and targets. The partners support countries in a complementary manner with elements such as target setting, establishment of an enabling legal and regulatory frameworks, vast network for matchmaking and international visibility, and development of risk mitigation measures to encourage capital flows.

UNDP is seeking the services of a CIP Energy and Climate Finance Specialist to support the the overall development, implementation, and delivery of results under the Climate Investment Platform (CIP), providing strong leadership on strategic, technical, and policy matters and  project implementation.

The CIP Energy and Climate Finance Specialist will also liaise with UNDP staff and other announcing partners of the CIP to align ‘CIP-adjacent’ activities that are outside of the project scope but that reflect partner institutions’ support for the CIP and its activities, including linking the work of the CIP with the new UNDP sustainable energy hub.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The NCE Team require the support of the CIP Energy and Climate Finance Specialist to deliver on the activities described below. The scope of work over the course of the period will vary depending on the specific assignment and region. The geographic scope is global, and the Specialist can be called upon to service requests for assistance in any of UNDP’s 5 regions.

1. Coordination and technical support for the CIP

• Support the technical coordination of the CIP and provide technical inputs in all CIP activities, including coordination internally within UNDP and interaction with other CIP partners externally in close collaboration with IRENA, SE4All and GCF.
• Provide guidance to the CIP partners in defining a resource mobilization strategy and its execution, including the design of high-impact thematic initiatives on energy transition and climate finance mobilization.
• Coordinate the implementation and execution of a new Call for Proposal focusing on empowering female entrepreneurs in LDCs. ” and the design and implementation of new calls for proposals.
• Provide technical inputs and insights for the further design of the CIP and support the building of partnerships and collaborations to execute on the vision to streamline the climate investment value chain.
• Support the expansion of the CIP network to serve the CIP’s goals of decluttering the climate finance space, accelerating the preparation of project pipeline, aligning climate finance supply, and facilitating matchmaking in the CIP ‘marketplace’.
•  Support the construction of the value proposition of the CIP and its transmission to the CIP network and broader climate finance community.
• Collaborate closely with the UNDP Global Energy team, including UNDP's Regional Technical Advisors and Country Offices on all CIP-related activities.
• Contribute to team building and coordination amongst the CIP project team members and the CIP partners.

2. Support Project Implementation

• Advise the management of the implementation of the project activities in accordance with the project document and grant from the Government of Denmark, annual and quarterly work plans and budgets, and UNDP policies;
• Support Energy, BPPS accountability for the project’s financial resources, including financial reporting, both internally and externally;
• Coordinate the project’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan;
• Manage and monitor risks and issues;
• Ensure an adequate system is in place to monitor and provide technical support to improve the quality of in-country deliverables;
• Organize meetings of project governance bodies, including the preparation of documents and materials;
• Liaise on UNDP country office involvement in the CIP’s in-country initiatives

Competencies

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Technical

Capacity Development

• Ability to strengthen and maintain the capabilities of individuals, societies, organizations and governments to set and achieve development objectives overtime;

Development Planning

• Knowledge of development planning processes and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations;

Advocacy

• Ability to productively share UNDP Knowledge and activities;

Sustainable Development

• Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply strategic and/or practical situations.

Communications

• Able to communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism

• Capable of working in a high- pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
• Exercises the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Teamwork

• Works well in a team;
• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client;
• Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Institutional Arrangement

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.