Environmental Finance Specialist

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Position Title: Environmental Finance Specialist
Location: Istanbul
Country: Turkey
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development within the UN Development System. Established in 1965, UNDP operates in approximately 170 countries and territories, working to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through sustainable development. The organization focuses on integrating local knowledge with global perspectives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from marginalized populations and ensuring a fair and inclusive workplace. UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation, harassment, and discrimination, and all selected candidates undergo rigorous background checks.

Job Overview:
The Environmental Finance Specialist position is crucial for supporting countries in the Africa region in designing and implementing their national biodiversity finance plans. The role involves providing technical services, conducting assessments, and guiding national teams in identifying and implementing effective financing solutions tailored to their specific contexts. The specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including government counterparts, civil society, and private sector partners, to ensure that biodiversity finance plans are comprehensive and actionable. This position requires a strong understanding of environmental finance, sustainable development, and the ability to navigate complex political landscapes to foster collaboration and achieve strategic goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure Design of National Biodiversity Finance Plans: Support the development of Terms of Reference, workplans, and reports by national teams; provide technical support and undertake reviews and impact monitoring of BIOFIN methodological outputs and processes; conduct Policy and Institutional Reviews; perform Biodiversity Expenditure Reviews; guide countries on the use of the Catalogue of Financing Solutions; support national teams in identifying and implementing finance solutions; travel to countries as needed to support the design of national Biodiversity Finance Plans; advise on linkages with related initiatives; develop tailored guidance materials.
• Ensure Implementation of Finance Solutions: Identify opportunities for early implementation of finance solutions; advise and support the design and review of finance solution proposals; provide feedback on technical documents related to finance solutions; travel to countries as needed to support implementation; guide national teams to relevant experts and knowledge platforms; promote gender equality and sustainable livelihoods in finance solutions.
• Lead Capacity Development: Engage in capacity assessments and development of national stakeholders; strengthen the capacity of national stakeholders on prioritized finance solutions; support global, regional, and national technical workshops and discussions.
• Facilitate Knowledge Management: Enable countries to share experiences; lead the development of knowledge materials; write articles and case studies summarizing key experiences; support continuous improvement of the BFP methodology; deliver high-quality inputs for donor reports and other knowledge management products.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Finance, Private Finance, Economics, Environmental Economics, Public Administration, Financial Management, Natural/Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences with a specialization in Environmental Finance and Development, or other closely related field. A Bachelor’s degree in the said fields with two additional years of relevant experience will be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of demonstrated experience in environmental-related public or private sector finance, sustainable development/environmental finance, resource mobilization, biodiversity conservation, or natural resource management (7 years with a Bachelor’s degree). Prior experience in designing, reviewing, and implementing conservation finance is required, along with experience in developing countries and with international organizations. Expertise in planning and conducting workshops and technical trainings on environmental finance is essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Public Finance, Private Finance, Economics, Environmental Economics, Public Administration, Financial Management, Natural/Environmental Sciences, or Social Sciences with a specialization in Environmental Finance and Development. A Bachelor’s degree in these fields, combined with additional relevant experience, may also be considered.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience for candidates with a Master’s degree, or 7 years for those with a Bachelor’s degree. This experience should be in areas such as environmental finance, sustainable development, resource mobilization, and biodiversity conservation, with a strong emphasis on practical application in developing countries and international organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in English and French is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of any other UN language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to international collaboration.

Additional Notes:
The Environmental Finance Specialists for the Africa Region will work remotely from their home base within the African region or a nearby time zone. They will report to the BIOFIN Regional Advisor for Africa and collaborate with the global BIOFIN Team, national teams, UNDP Country Offices, and other stakeholders. The incumbents are expected to provide their own working stations and ensure access to a stable internet connection. The role may involve travel to support the design and implementation of finance solutions, and candidates should be flexible with their availability to accommodate different time zones.