The UNDP Climate and Forests team is part of the Natural Capital and Environment team in UNDP’s new Global Policy Network (GPN). The team is responsible for a growing forest portfolio, built on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (“REDD+”) as a climate mitigation strategy for increasing countries’ Nature-Based Solution ambitions of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).  UNDP’s Climate and Forests portfolio includes the UN-REDD Programme, the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), and several bilateral REDD+ agreements.

UNDP’s Climate and Forests team is spread globally, with management based in Geneva.  Duty stations for the global team include Bangkok, Panama, Nairobi.  The team supports UNDP’s country offices and partners in their region.  Support to UNDP country offices is coordinated closely with the Regional Bureaux through the regional hubs.

The team works closely with other parts of the Natural Capital and Environment team (particularly the UNDP-GEF team, the Green Commodities Programme (GCP), and the New York Declaration of Forest global platform). It also works closely with the Climate team within the GPN (particularly with regards to NDC support).  The team can support Climate and Forest initiatives of the regions and country offices and provide quality assurance on a full cost-recovery basis.

Under the supervision of the Principal Technical Advisor, the Global Advisor will help position UNDP as a world leader in the provision of technical advisory services related to the contribution of forests to ambitious climate change targets.  Specifically, this global position will provide strategic advice and quality assurance for UNDP’s Forest and Land-Use mitigation portfolio with the Green Climate Fund and support UNDP’s work on REDD+ finance including results-based payments, emerging domestic and international market-based approaches, as well as, traditional grant, loans and equity investments with a focus on partnerships with international/national financial institutions, and private impact investors.

As a member of the UNDP Climate and Forests team, the Global Finance Advisor will also contribute to the overall success of the team, engage effectively with team members, support the delivery of the UNDP global project, and contribute to the overall portfolio as needed. The Global Finance Advisor will be expected to travel frequently.
 

• Policy Development, Management, and Coordination;
• Programme Development and Resource Mobilization;
• Develop partnerships to support the implementation of national REDD+ strategies and action plans;
• Disseminate and develop Climate and Forests knowledge and results.

• Provide high-quality strategic advice and quality assurance for UNDP’s Global Forest and Land-Use mitigation portfolio with the Green Climate Fund including the REDD+ Result-Based Payment Pilot Programme;
• Provide strategic advice to the Principal Technical Advisor and Regional Technical Advisors on the development of GCF funding proposals;
• Provide high-quality technical policy, programming, implementation support and oversight to the country offices for the implementation of GCF funding proposals;
• Represent UNDP in GCF Board meetings when Forest and Land-Use or REDD+ proposals are considered for approval;
• Coordinate UNDP support to Direct Access Entities for GCF in their accreditation process, as well as, in the development of direct access funding proposal in the REDD+ or forest and land use impact area. 

• Provide strategic advice to developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific on REDD+ finance including results-based payments, emerging domestic and international market-based approaches, as well as, traditional grant, loans and equity investments;
• Position UNDP as a leader in supporting developing countries in integrating public and private sources of finance to implement national REDD+ strategies and action plans;
• Provide advice to developing countries, upon their request, on opportunities to access finance to implement national REDD+ strategies and action plans;
• Represent UNDP in relevant fora and strategic initiatives on REDD+ finance as required.

• Develop partnerships with international/national financial institutions and private impact investors to mobilize traditional grant and loans resources in support of the implementation of REDD+ national strategies and action plans;
• Develop partnerships with key actors in the international sphere in to support the implementation of market-based approaches to REDD+ Results-Based payments in willing countries/jurisdictions;
• Develop partnerships with impact investors to align private investments with the objectives of national strategies and REDD+ action plans in developing countries;
• Mobilize additional resources under the UNDP global project for the Climate and Forests team.

• Stay abreast of global and regional developments in finance related to climate and forests and share knowledge within UNDP and with relevant partners;
• Share knowledge with other members of the Climate and Forests team and build mechanisms for transfer of experience, lessons learnt and best practices;
• Contribute to the development of knowledge-based tools (including policies, strategies, guidelines, etc.) and relevant information on REDD+ finance;
• Support the development of communications strategies for Climate and Forests within UNDP and provide technical guidance to implement the communications strategies;
• Provide strategic guidance to strengthen coordination and communication of relevant stakeholders on finance for climate and forests initiatives.

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

• Ability to persuade others to follow.

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

• Knowledge of forestry and development and the ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.

• Ability to plan, organize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

• Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency.

• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.

• Ability to prepare quality reports.

• Ability to effectively communicate intensions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders.

• Master’s degree in environmental management, international development, public policy or other closely related field.

• Fluency in English and at least  French or
• Spanish is required.
• Preference will be given to candidates with fluency in all three languages.

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension