Consultant for Forest and Climate Finance

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Established in 1972, UNEP has a mission to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP operates in over 150 countries and employs thousands of staff members, working closely with various stakeholders to address pressing environmental challenges. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region, integrating its activities into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

Job Overview:
The main objective of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise to strengthen forest and climate finance work in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on Brazil at national and subnational levels. The consultant will bolster the implementation of UNEP’s forest-finance and carbon-market agenda, working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil (MMA), the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), and other key partners. This role involves providing technical guidance to the MMA in the preparation of documents, coordination of initiatives, and organization of events related to forest finance and carbon markets. The consultant will also contribute to UNEP’s Climate Mitigation Unit global efforts on post-COP30 follow-up, South-South cooperation (including Brazil–China collaboration), and the advancement of knowledge management, communications, and advocacy on forests and climate finance. The consultant will work full time (40 hours per week) from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) offices in Brasília, contributing with the Directorate of Economic Affairs. This position is crucial for scaling up forest and climate action, requiring increased access to sustainable finance and investment, as well as effective application of environmental and social safeguards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks aimed at strengthening the capacity of Latin American countries in forest finance. Key duties include:

• Providing technical and analytical inputs on forest finance, REDD+, carbon markets, and related policy processes.
• Contributing to knowledge management, communications, and advocacy activities, including post-COP30 follow-up and South-South cooperation (e.g., Brazil–China).
• Strengthening planning and facilitation of capacity-building activities, technical workshops, and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Collaborating in the preparation of reports, briefs, and knowledge materials to enhance coordination between UNEP, government counterparts, and regional partners.
• Organizing events and high-level dialogues, ensuring alignment with UNEP priorities and effective dissemination of key messages and outcomes.
• Preparing and technically reviewing reports, analyses, and other documents related to forest finance, REDD+, and carbon markets in Brazil and the LAC region.
• Providing technical inputs and coordination guidance to MMA-led processes related to forest finance and carbon markets.
• Adapting and preparing technical and communication materials for governments and local stakeholders.
• Strengthening the development and dissemination of knowledge and advocacy materials tailored to different audiences. 1
• Conducting a review of tenure rights and direct access mechanisms for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP and LCs) in the LAC region. 1
• Preparing short summaries, briefs, and other knowledge products relevant to UNEP’s regional and global partnerships. 1
• Contributing to the design and implementation of a timeline and plan for communications and advocacy activities linked to post-COP30 deliverables. 1
• Planning, coordinating, and implementing capacity-building activities and events on forest and climate finance, safeguards, and related topics.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in environmental management, economics, sociology, anthropology, or a related field as a minimum qualification. A master’s degree in one of these fields is desired but not mandatory. Candidates should have a strong understanding of forest finance topics, including REDD+, carbon markets, and payment for ecosystem services. Familiarity with safeguards and other REDD+-related topics in the LAC region is also desirable. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate strong analytical skills, the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team, and effective communication skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor’s degree in environmental management, economics, sociology, anthropology, or a related field. A master’s degree in one of these areas is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of complex environmental issues.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of three years of experience working on forest finance topics, which may include areas such as REDD+, carbon markets, payment for ecosystem services, and direct finance access for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LCs). Experience working on environment and climate-related issues in Brazil is desirable, as is experience in organizing workshops, capacity-building activities, writing reports, and developing publications or knowledge materials.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Portuguese is required for this position, as effective communication in both languages is essential for collaboration with various stakeholders. Basic knowledge of Spanish is considered desirable, as it may facilitate communication with additional partners in the region.

Additional Notes:
The position is a consultancy role expected to last for 12 months, working full-time (40 hours per week). The consultant will be based in Brasília, Brazil, at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) offices. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring that applicants are not required to provide any financial information or pay any fees.