Senior Climate Change Specialist (Agribusiness) – IS5  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: 

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of 3 years following Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. . After the initial fixed period, ADB has the option to renew the appointment for up to three years or allow it to expire. This decision is based on ADB’s overall interest in retaining the skills and experience of the staff for medium-term work program within the respective group, department, or office, while considering the availability of funding sources.

This is a re-advertisement. Previous applicants need not apply. Applications received in response to previous posting will be considered together with applications received in response to this advertisement.

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Climate Change, Resilience, and Environment Cluster (CCRE) within the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD) and will be strategically placed in the Agribusiness Investment Team (AIT) under the Office of the Director General (OPSD) of the Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD).

CCSD provides leadership, innovation, and knowledge sharing for ADB’s sector and thematic work. CCRE leads the Bank’s work in responding to the growing need for innovative policies, institutions, and investments to lead the region to a low carbon, climate and disaster resilient future; and supports ADB’s operational departments to develop and implement climate and disaster resilience projects, integrate disaster risk and climate change considerations into their broader portfolio of projects, and access climate financing.

AIT in PSOD supports agribusiness projects and companies across the entire food and agriculture value chain by providing assistance in the form of debt and direct equity investments. AIT is mainstreaming climate finance with almost all new projects having climate mitigation and/or climate adaptation features and the associated climate finance. PSOD provides investment capital to private sector entrepreneurs, corporates and project sponsors, as well as financial intermediaries, such as banks, throughout developing Asia. It catalyzes, structures, and funds investments in privately held and state-sponsored companies across a wide range of industry sectors. Its emphasis is on commercially viable transactions that generate financial returns while also delivering on ADB’s organization-wide mission to promote low carbon climate resilient, environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth. PSOD is expected to significantly contribute to ADB’s commitment to deliver $100 billion in climate finance over 2019 to 2030. Agribusiness is a fertile area to scale up ADB’s climate outcomes and climate finance investments. To learn more about PSOD, watch this video.

This position has been created as part of the Workforce Rebalancing Framework, which is a multiyear initiative (2022-2027) aimed at increasing in-house expertise in key operational areas that was previously sourced from consultants through ADB’s technical assistance. The goal is to strengthen in-house expertise to enhance the quality of ADB’s policy dialogue, operations, and knowledge solutions delivery by collaborating closely with DMC clients. Expected candidates are seasoned experts with strong field experience who can lead policy dialogue and project work with emphasis on providing knowledge solutions.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose

The Senior Climate Finance Specialist (Agribusiness) will lead in the identification, screening, due diligence, structuring, obtaining of approvals, negotiation, implementation and closing of successful direct debt financing and equity investments and technical assistance programs that have a strong climate dimension in food and agribusiness companies across ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs). The incumbent will report to the Director, Climate Change and operationally to the Agribusiness Investment Team Lead in PSOD. The position will supervise National Staff and Administrative Staff.

Responsibilities

a. Climate Leadership

• Develops knowledge of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies and investments for various segments of the food and agribusiness value chain, while also paying attention to natural capital and nature-based solutions;
• Maximizes the climate benefits (adaptation and mitigation) and the climate finance potential of PSOD agribusiness investment projects and technical assistance, coordinating with clients to identify projects’ potential climate aspects, hiring and managing experts to prepare climate risk assessments, and liaising with CCSD’s colleagues on relevant climate finance volumes;
• Supports clients with climate mitigation investments by hiring and managing experts to identify opportunities to reduce emissions and develop roadmaps for carbon neutrality;
• Mobilizes relevant financial instruments that support clients to implement climate initiatives, such as blended finance, Sustainability-Linked Loans, Sustainable Finance Framework, carbon credits, green / blue / social / sustainable tagging, etc.;
• Coordinates with other climate finance specialists in ADB (PSOD, CCSD, Sector Group, and Regional Departments) and outside ADB to ensure best practices are being shared and learned;
• Liaises with external financing partners, international think tanks and academia partners engaged in climate change and climate finance topics of relevance to developing Asia and the Pacific;
• Conducts analysis and prepares discussion papers on climate actions in the food and agricultural value chain/agribusiness sector; provides inputs to ongoing initiatives/discussions with internal external stakeholder including donors about engaging the private sector in climate change activities;
• Develops marketing materials, presentations, case studies and other knowledge products on ADB climate change projects for external dissemination, coordinating with third parties preparing similar products on ADB projects, and liaising with other ADB project officers to obtain necessary information from project sponsors;
• Participates in conferences and other knowledge events on climate action for agribusiness, including as a panelist or moderator (e.g. Healthy Oceans Forum, Resilience Learning Month, RDFS Forum, and external events).

b. Transaction Origination and Processing

• Leads in the identification, development, and processing of transactions (as project team leader) to be considered for ADB private sector direct agribusiness investment;
• Leads and nurtures active relationships with food and agribusiness companies, financiers, and various advisors in the region, including through business development travels;
• Leads in developing a pipeline for ADB private sector direct agribusiness investment by identifying potential debt or equity transactions presenting both a strong developmental impact potential and robust financial profile;
• Leads and undertakes comprehensive financial assessment, including analysis of audited financial statements, financial modeling including sensitivity analysis, credit rating for debt transactions, and valuation for equity transactions;
• Leads and undertakes comprehensive due diligence on market, commercial, technical, environmental, social, corporate governance, and integrity issues related to the proposed transactions;
• Leads, structures and negotiates the proposed financial assistance, ensuring proper risk management is applied, and designs relevant technical assistance programs;
• Leads and presents the transaction rationale and makes recommendation on the proposed transaction terms to ADB’s Management and Board;
• Ensures a prompt financial closing of the transaction, with legal documentation reflecting the decisions of ADB’s Management and Board;
• Ensures the ongoing financial and structural soundness, development impact and alignment of the transactions to ADB’s overall mission, strategies and policies; and
• Ensures compliance with internal guidelines, policies, and procedures, as well as with market best practices.

c. Strategy and Planning

• Leads and contributes to the development of policy and strategies for ADB’s climate and developmental goals for the private sector, and particularly for the agribusiness sector, in consultation with relevant stakeholders;
• Participates in country teams and missions for planning and programming purposes with particular focus on private sector development and operations and for the identification of investment opportunities; and
• Leads and coordinates work with other departments on project related and strategy policy matters, including through participation in the Rural Development and Food Security (Agriculture) Thematic Group.

d. Knowledge Sharing

• Participates in and contributes substantially to relevant learning events and other activities for advocacy, dissemination, and knowledge building;
• Drafts, reviews, and provides comments on project, policy, and other papers related to private sector development and operations, particularly for the agribusiness sector; and
• Maintains and shares knowledge of emerging best practices in the agribusiness sector.

e. Staff Supervision

• Takes the role of project team leader and coordinates the work of project team members, including international staff, national staff, and consultants;
• Takes the role of mission leader and supervises the work of mission members;
• Supervises the performance of reporting staff and consultants, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance; and
• Ensures the on-going learning and development of reporting staff and consultants.

f. Others

• Leads, coordinates, supports and/or handles ad hoc assignments as assigned.

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration or Finance; or University (e.g., bachelor’s) degree in Business Administration or Finance or equivalent and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in corporate and project lending, investment banking, or private equity leading direct cross-border debt or equity transactions, with experience of applying climate low carbon and resilience in consideration to investments in the food and agribusiness sector, ideally in Asia.
• Excellent financial modeling, equity valuation, corporate and project finance, and other core banking and investment skills.
• International experience working in development in several countries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required.

Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 5.

General Considerations

The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.

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