Technical Expert in Climate Finance and GCF processes for the GCF Readiness Project “Aligning financial flows of the financial sector in Costa Rica with the Paris agreement climate change goals

Result of ServiceThe purpose of this consultancy is to the develop the Terms of Reference of two (2) Readiness Support Projects that the National Designated Authority (NDA) of Costa Rica will present to the GCF in the framework of the 2024-2027 funding cycle; corresponding to output 2.2.1 of the GCF Readiness Project “Aligning financial flows of the financial sector in Costa Rica with the Paris Agreement climate change goals” Outcome Outcome 2.2 GCF recipient countries have developed or enhanced strategic frameworks to address policy gaps, improve sectoral expertise, and enhance enabling environments for GCF Programming in low-emission investment. Output 2.2.1: Readiness needs assessment to develop an action plan with strategies for Readiness support. Deliverables: No. 1: Inception report, which will include but will not be limited to: assessment of the baseline situation, requirements of the new GCF readiness policy for the current funding cycle, Costa Rica´s climate policy and institutional framework, NDA needs and perspectives, preliminary readiness needs and capacity gaps, mapping of relevant stakeholders in all sectors, needs assessment to identify additional specialized technical profiles in the thematic areas in which NDA focuses its interest, work plan proposed and validated by NDA. No. 2: Technical document with the methodological scope of the elaboration of the Terms of Reference of two (2) Readiness Support Projects that the National Designated Authority (NDA) of Costa Rica will present to the GCF in the framework of the 2024-2027 funding cycle. The document will include but will not be limited to: description of the selection process of the thematic areas on which the readiness projects will focus, according to the guidance given by the NDA and the GCF, including technical justification and relevance to the country's overall GCF strategy, technical criteria for identifying accredited entities that could potentially serve as delivery partners for the implementation of the readiness projects, analysis of current institutional and private sector needs and technical capacity gaps that the country is facing and for which the readiness projects will contribute to close. No. 3: One (1) report on the consultation workshop with the NDA, GCF, public and private stakeholders. The workshop will serve to present to the relevant stakeholders the general approach of the Costa Rica Readiness Support Strategy, as well as proposed activities and deliverables on which the readiness proposals will focus. The workshop should serve to identify the necessary institutional and private sector collaborations for preparing the readiness proposals. The report should include the validated agenda, the attendance list, the materials and presentations used, and the systematization of stakeholder participation. Participants may include public sector; private sector; NGO’s, academia and civil society; potential implementing Accredited Entities. No. 4: Two technical documents, one for each thematic area, showing the recommendations, proposals and observations received during the stakeholder consultation workshops, in which the insights received are analyzed and resolved from a technical point of view. No. 5: One (1) report on the validation workshop with the NDA, GCF, public and private stakeholders. The workshop will serve to validate with relevant stakeholders the general approach of the Costa Rica Readiness Support Strategy, readiness needs and capacity gaps, as well as proposed activities and deliverables on which the readiness proposals will focus. The report should include the validated agenda, the attendance list, the materials and presentations used, and the systematization of stakeholder participation. Participants may include public sector; private sector; NGO’s, academia and civil society; potential implementing Accredited Entities. No. 6: Terms of Reference of two (2) Readiness Support Projects that the National Designated Authority (NDA) of Costa Rica will present to the GCF in the framework of the 2024-2027 funding cycle, according to GCF´s Country Readiness Templates or the requirements stablish by the new GCF readiness policy for the current funding cycle. Eigth (8) months of contract against the delivery of 6 products. Each payment will be disbursed upon timely submission of each deliverable, duly approved by the UNEP Programme Management Officer on Sustainable Finance for the LAC region. The mid and final payment will require an interim and final evaluation, duly signed by the UNEP Programme Management Officer on Sustainable Finance for the LAC region and Regional Director. Work LocationHOME-BASED Expected duration8 MONTHS Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe 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. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). The overall objective of the UNEP’s Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities, and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals, and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices, and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities. In 2022, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) board approved the GCF Readiness Proposal “Aligning financial flows of the financial sector in Costa Rica with the Paris Agreement climate change goals”. The National Designed Authority (NDA) in Costa Rica, the Minister of Environment and Energy (MINAE), has nominated UNEP to be its Delivery Partner for this proposal, where the funds will be disbursed from the GCF to UNEP to undertake the Readiness grant implementation, in close coordination with the NDA and others relevant country authorities involved in the agreed project governance mechanism. This GCF Readiness aims to provide relevant technical assistance for: (1) the development of its GCF Country Programme, (2) the Readiness needs assessment to develop an action plan with strategies for Readiness support, (3) the assessment of climate finance flows (taxonomy); (4) the identification, measurement, and disclosure of climate-related financial risks; (5) the development of the country Terms of Reference for the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme to be submited to the GCF for approval. This will: (a) improve the contribution of private finance flows to low-emission and resilient development, and (b) strengthen financial stability by incorporating climate factors into investment decision making. To enable a comprehensive and coordinated approach, and in line with new GCF Readiness Support Programme Strategy, the project will support the development of the Terms of Reference of two (2) Readiness Support Projects that the National Designated Authority (NDA) of Costa Rica will present to the GCF in the framework of the 2024-2027 funding cycle. The Terms of Reference will be used by the NDA to nominate the delivery partners that will be responsible for the implementation of these projects and will delimit the conditions, objectives, activities, and deliverables that projects must meet during their implementation. These projects will also contribute to the country achieving its ambitious long-term climate change strategies and plans, particularly those contained in the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the National Decarbonisation Plan (NDP). They should also be consistent with long-term planning aligned with the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement to stabilise the global average temperature at 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and increase the country's capacity to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. As well, during the preparation process of Costa Rica’s Country Programme for the GCF, a set of institutional and knowledge-related needs were identified as essential to effectively advance the implementation of the Country Programme. Specific tasks and responsibilities a. Under the guidance of the Project Coordination Unit, maintain strategic and effective communication with the representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, prepare follow-up meetings and document the agreements reached in them. b. Provide technical advice to the project and to representatives of the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment and Energy, serving as a facilitator in strategic discussions with all stakeholders. c. Prepare, subject to NDA authorization, the follow-up and consultation sessions with the Green Climate Fund representatives in charge of the Readiness Support Programme and document the agreements reached. d. Prepare and conduct, together with the Project Coordination Unit, the consultation and validation workshops with relevant stakeholders, including the design of the agenda, list of participants and methodology. e. Coordinate and carry out bilateral meetings with key stakeholders as necessarily for the development of the terms of reference for the projects in the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme of Costa Rica. f. Provide strategic guidance to other technical specialists that may be hired by the project to bolster the implementation of activities related to this consultancy. g. Prepare support material to communicate the objective and scope of the consultancy with relevant stakeholders, such as technical presentations, abstracts and one-pagers. h. Submit deliverables to the Programme Management Officer on Sustainable Finance for the LAC region, which will be in charge of quality control, well in advance and before submitting them for consideration by any external stakeholders. In this sense, UNEP LACO is looking for a Technical Expert in Climate Finance and GCF processes for the GCF Readiness Project “Aligning financial flows of the financial sector in Costa Rica with the Paris Agreement climate change goals”. The Expert in Climate Finance and GCF processes will work under the supervision of the Programme Management Officer on Sustainable Finance for the LAC region and will work in close collaboration with the Project Coordination Unit and the Vice Ministry of Strategic Management of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica. The incumbent will work from home. Qualifications/special skillsAcademic: • Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, administration, public policy, political science, international relations, engineering, science, or closely related studies, is required. • Master’s degree in economics, finance, administration, public policy, political science, international relations, engineering, science, or closely related studies, is required. Professional: • Five (5) years of demonstrated work experience in advising climate change-related projects/initiatives in the public or private sector of Costa Rica in areas such as Energy, Finance, Transportation, Carbon pricing and/or MRV systems is required. • Relevant work experience with GCF funding processes and operations and/or GCF Readiness matters is desirable. • Professional experience in climate and sustainable finance in Costa Rica is desirable. • Experience in engaging with a range of high-level and technical stakeholders and/or officials such as government agencies, policy decision-makers, scientists is desirable. • Experience in positions related to facilitating the participation of government-led stakeholders in setting up program or projects in Costa Rica is desirable. Language: • Fluent in Spanish. (required) • Fluent in English. (required) Special knowledge and skills: • Proficiency in using Microsoft Package (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) collaborative platforms (i.e., Google Drive) and virtual meeting platforms (i.e. Webex, Zoom, etc.) is desirable. Skills: • Ability to communicate findings to high-level and mid-senior level management. • Initiative, sound judgment, and capacity to teamwork. • Excellent time management, monitoring and evaluation skills. • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback. • Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. • Ability to manage conflict. • Demonstrated informed and transparent decision making. Competencies: • Professionalism: Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. He/she shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • Teamwork: Is able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve organizational goals and to take leadership when appropriate; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. LanguagesNot available. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.