Background

N.B.

Applications through UNDP jobs will not be accepted, only to the procurement.cv@cv.jo.un.org email address.

Interested candidates are required to read the Procurement Notice for Individual Consultants and its related documents, which are available in the following websites:

Project Description 

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a financial operating entity of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), established to contribute to the collective efforts of the international community to combat climate change. The GCF seeks to fund projects and programmes that provide an opportunity for a transformational shift in countries’ climate resilience and green economies, prioritizing a balanced approach between adaptation and mitigation. The GCF can be accessed directly by National Implementing Entities from developing countries and/or through international and regional Implementing Entities (IE). The documents to be produced under this consultancy will be developed for a medium-sized project that promotes the adoption of climate smart measures that improve resilience of vulnerable communities.

The impacts of climate change in Cabo Verde are being increasingly felt in several critical aspects and affecting many locations of this already highly water-stressed small island development state.  Without active climate change mainstreaming efforts in the country’s policy and regulations governing the water sector, improvements and innovations in infrastructure, and fundamental paradigm shift in how water resources are managed in the country, further stress on water resources would jeopardize the water and food security of the population, especially those most vulnerable, limit their potential for economic growth and hinder their efforts towards attaining SDGs.  

In the above context, the Cabo Verde’s National Designated Authority (NDA) for the Green Climate Fund has requested UNDP’s assistance to seek for financial support from GCF to strengthen its adaptive capacity and climate resilience in water resources management, building on the existing good practices in the country and opportunities to scale up. The proposed project will address technical, financial, capacity, and access barriers related to water resource management.  

Responding to the request, UNDP has secured services from a multidisciplinary team of consultants to assist with the development of a GCF Concept Note, a pre-feasibility assessment and the preparation of a Request for a Project Preparation Facility. The two documents, along with a Request for Project Preparation Facility, will be in the required format set by GCF. 

UNDP is now seeking for services from a finance expert to deliver the following tasks and compliment the work of the multidisciplinary team to develop a quality Concept Note. 

Scope of Work

A project design team, comprised of international technical experts supporting the UNDP team, will conduct a mission to meet with key government representatives, government technical experts, international development partners and community stakeholders for the purpose of designing a project that enables Cabo Verde to adapt to the impacts of climate change and increase the country’s resiliency.  The mission will result in the development of a GCF Concept Note and a Pre-feasibility Study that will subsequently inform and contribute to a full funding proposal. 

The Financial Expert is expected to conduct some preparatory work prior to the mission, participate actively in the mission and provide substantive contribution to the development and finalization of the Concept Note and the Pre-Feasibility Study, mainly but not limited to the Financial section(s). 

Duties and Responsibilities

Expected Deliverables

Working in coordination with other experts at the national and regional level, UNDP and the Government staff, the finance expert will be responsible to:              

  • Conduct various financial analyses required of the project design that will be developed during the mission.
  • Lead the financial aspects of the planning discussions among the Concept Note development team, including UNDP, during the mission and provide substantive advice to the team, Government and stakeholders on the suitability of grant and non-grant instruments in developing a project funding model and partnerships and guidance on appropriate co-finance for the project,
  • Lead the stakeholder consultation on economics and financial aspects of the proposed project design during the mission to validate and develop the concept note, funding instruments, co-finance, partnerships and implementation arrangements.
  • Responsible for the finalization, and revisions as required, of the financial analysis sections of the Concept Note and Pre-feasibility Study and accompanying documents.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Expert will work directly under the supervision of UNDP Cabo Verde Office Ms. Ilaria Carnevali and UNDP Regional Technical Specialist Dr. Akiko Yamamoto.  The expert will coordinate closely with the team of consultants hired to develop the Concept Note, the Government of Cabo Verde and relevant in-country experts and other key stakeholders.

The tasks are expected to be completed through a combination of (a) home-based preparatory work; (b) leading or participating in country level consultations (together with UNDP staff) and; (c) post-mission drafting.

Duty Station:

Home-based with one trip to Cabo Verde.

Competencies

  • Culturally sensitive, friendly, and effective communication skills that is conducive to effective presentations and networking, and building trust required to complete tasks;
  • Proactive in updating work progress and raising any challenges and proposing practical solutions when delays and/or change of plans occur;
  • Able to build strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result for the stakeholders and responds positively to feedback; consensus-oriented;
  • Highly developed inter-personal, negotiation and teamwork skills, ability to work in multi-cultural environment;
  • Sensitive to and can demonstrate diplomacy and integrity within cultural complexities and unique political contexts.

Required Skills and Experience

Education :

  • Master degree or higher in economics, finance, public administration, environmental economics, natural resource economics or other closely related field.

Experience :

  • At least 8 years of relevant work experience in areas such as economics of adaptation, teaching in applied research departments, institutional capacity-building for public administrators on economics and finance development planning and budgeting, development management, public administration and related initiatives;
  • Experience in developing Green Climate Fund proposals;
  • Experience in developing GCF proposals on climate change adaptation, in particular, in water sector is highly advantageous;
  • Track record of applied research on the economics of climate change impacts, economics of adaptation and impact evaluation assessments;
  • Experience in working on capacity building for climate change adaptation is an asset.

Langues :

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is mandatory;
  • Portuguese and/or French is an asset.