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. UNEP was established in 1972 and has since grown to encompass a wide range of environmental issues, working with 193 member states and numerous partners across the globe. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region, focusing on sustainable development and environmental policy. UNEP's mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices, and it plays a crucial role in coordinating the development of environmental policy consensus, keeping the global environment under review, and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

Job Overview:
The consultant will provide technical expertise to strengthen forest and climate finance work in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on Brazil at both national and subnational levels. The role involves bolstering the implementation of UNEP’s forest-finance and carbon-market agenda, working closely with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil (MMA), the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), and other key partners. The consultant will be responsible for 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. This position is crucial for contributing to UNEP’s Climate Mitigation Unit global efforts on post-COP30 follow-up, South-South cooperation (including Brazil–China collaboration), and advancing knowledge management, communications, and advocacy on forests and climate finance. The consultant will work full-time (40 hours per week) from the MMA offices in Brasília, contributing to the Directorate of Economic Affairs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including:

• 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 strengthen coordination between UNEP, government counterparts, and regional partners.
• Contributing to the organization of 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, carbon markets, and post-COP30 implementation.
• 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. The consultant must possess strong analytical skills, the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, and a deep understanding of forest finance and climate change issues.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have 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, as it would provide a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in forest finance and climate change initiatives.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of three (3) years of experience in REDD+ in the LAC region, carbon markets, or ecosystem payment services, or other climate and forest-related topics. Experience working on forest finance topics is essential, including areas such as REDD+, carbon markets, payment for ecosystem services, and direct finance access for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LCs). Familiarity with safeguards and other REDD+-related topics in the LAC region is also 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 the consultant will be working in both languages. Basic knowledge of Spanish is considered desirable, as it may facilitate communication with a broader range of stakeholders 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, and will work closely with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA). The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and it does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.