Climate Investment Advisor

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Climate Investment Advisor
Location: Maseru
Country: Lesotho
Deadline Date: February 5, 2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office, based in Vienna with global offices. Established to manage over 500 million USD in funding over the last 15 years, WEC supports initiatives in fund management, project implementation, and administrative support. It operationalizes partners' agendas through global and regional activities focused on climate action and environmental conservation. The NDC Partnership, a coalition of nearly 200 countries and institutions, aims to drive climate action through sustainable development, particularly in the context of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Lesotho's commitment to climate action is reflected in its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted on February 5, 2025, which outlines ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience against climate change effects.

Job Overview:
The Climate Investment Advisor will play a pivotal role in supporting the Government of Lesotho in preparing the NDC Implementation and NDC Investment Plans. This position is crucial for enhancing the country's institutional capacity to achieve its climate and sustainable development goals, focusing on economic planning, resource mobilization, and investment strategy development. The Advisor will work closely with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, ensuring that the NDC plans align with national climate priorities and sustainable development objectives. The role involves coordinating efforts to secure climate financing, engaging with stakeholders, and monitoring progress towards NDC implementation goals. The Advisor will also be responsible for developing a results-based framework for the NDC Implementation Plan, conducting situational assessments, and facilitating stakeholder consultations to build broad-based support for NDC actions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and ensure quality control of the NDC Implementation Plan and NDC Investment Plan, ensuring alignment with national climate priorities.
• Provide strategic guidance on the economic dimensions of climate investments, integrating high-level economic planning with NDC targets.
• Develop comprehensive terms of references (ToRs) for hiring experts and oversee the recruitment process.
• Coordinate efforts to secure domestic and international climate financing, engaging with private sector stakeholders and multilateral funding entities.
• Build capacity within government institutions to enhance their ability to implement climate action plans effectively.
• Foster alignment among key national and international stakeholders, building support for NDC actions through consultations.
• Assist the Government in tracking progress towards NDC implementation goals and ensure transparency in resource mobilization.
• Develop a results-based framework for the NDC Implementation Plan, including performance indicators and timelines.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses to evaluate prioritized actions' contributions to NDC targets. 1
• Identify and prioritize climate investment projects, supporting the preparation of concept notes for resource mobilization. 1
• Document success stories and organize learning events to promote peer learning among stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in climate change, economics, finance, natural resources, environmental sciences, or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline combined with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience (7 years total) is acceptable.
• At least 5 years of multi-sectoral professional experience, including work with climate funds or Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
• Proven track record in climate finance activities across diverse environments.
• Substantial experience in business development, capital raising, and developing public-private partnerships.
• Familiarity with the GCF/NDC Partnership Climate Investment Planning and Mobilization Framework is an asset.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as climate change, economics, finance, natural resources, or environmental sciences is required. A Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, combined with additional relevant work experience, is also acceptable.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5 years of professional experience in climate finance, including experience with climate funds and MDBs. Candidates should have substantial experience in business development and capital raising, as well as experience working with government stakeholders on climate change policy development.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is required for this position. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This is a local position based in Lesotho, requiring the incumbent to be a national of Lesotho or hold a valid residence permit. The contract duration is for 12 months, with a maximum of 220 working days and the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. The position is home-based, meaning the incumbent will work from government offices in Lesotho and must provide their own laptop equipped with necessary software. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.