Climate Finance Specialist (Home based Retainer) - Mbabane, Eswatini

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) is dedicated to helping partners deliver impactful results worldwide. Established with hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that promote sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding, particularly in challenging environments. With a workforce that spans over 130 countries, GPO collaborates closely with major global partners, including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies, to provide a wide range of services such as project management, fund management, and HR support.

Job Overview:
The Climate Finance Specialist will play a crucial role in providing technical guidance aimed at enhancing climate finance mobilization to implement Eswatini's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.

• This position is pivotal in strengthening the Ministry's capacity to access and manage external support, thereby fostering an enabling environment for climate programming. The Specialist will facilitate the development of Eswatini’s NDC 3.0 Investment Plan and Finance Strategy, support the identification and documentation of key bankable climate finance project proposals through stakeholder consultations, and promote both mitigation and adaptation actions. The role also involves enhancing in-country capacity on climate finance and strengthening partner coordination and knowledge exchange efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Climate Finance Mobilization and Investment Pipeline Development: Lead the technical screening and appraisal of climate-resilient proposals, ensuring alignment with Eswatini's NDC and climate sector partners. Prepare high-quality project proposals and financing packages that incorporate gender, youth, and health considerations. Maintain a roster of potential funding sources and develop a resource mobilization pipeline for priority interventions.
• Strengthening Climate Change Policies: Provide operational support to integrate climate change into national planning and budgeting processes. Adapt existing national policy frameworks into the NDC Investment Plan and Climate Finance Strategies.
• Institutional Capacity Building: Assess institutional capacity gaps in climate finance and implement a capacity-building program. Deliver training and develop methodologies for climate finance and project development.
• Coordination and Reporting: Facilitate collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies and civil society. Produce regular progress reports and support Eswatini's role in regional initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
A first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with two additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Climate Change, Environmental Studies, Economics, or related fields is preferred. A doctoral degree or specialized training in climate finance is desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree in a relevant field, with the possibility of substituting two additional years of professional experience for an advanced degree. An advanced degree in fields such as Climate Change, Environmental Studies, or Project Management is preferred, while a doctoral degree is considered an asset.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of professional experience in climate policy development and management of climate change programs. Experience in climate finance readiness, grant proposal writing, and stakeholder engagement is essential. Familiarity with Eswatini’s NDC and climate-development architecture is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in other languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This is a home-based position for a retainer contract lasting up to 220 working days, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. Candidates must be nationals of Eswatini or possess a valid residence or work permit. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.