Climate Finance Coordinator

Over the past two decades, Cambodia has realized exceptional rates of economic growth averaging over 7% prior to the pandemic, with persistent declines in poverty and rapid improvements in human development. Yet Cambodia faces several development challenges. Pressures stemming from Cambodia’s rapid progression as a Middle-Income Country (MIC) have tended to be resource and carbon-intensive, resulting in environmental challenges and natural resource depletion. Moreover, the country is facing the impact of climate change. As Cambodia is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are opportunities for a more sustainable and resilient development pathway.

UNDP Cambodia has been playing an important role in supporting the development and implementation of environment and climate change-related policies and strategies of the Royal Government of Cambodia. The current priorities of the Nature, Climate and Energy programme include: 1) Turn climate commitments into action; 2) Increase access to electricity and promote sustainable energy solutions; 3) Promote nature-based solutions to enhance natural resource management and reduce deforestation; and 4) Advance Cambodia’s transition to a circular economy. UNDP has a solid project portfolio to deliver on these priorities and an active pipeline to expand it and grow the partnership base.

Under the first priority, climate finance is one of the key areas of work for UNDP. The Country Office is implementing different initiatives to help the country scale up public and private investments in climate action. Such initiatives include the “Climate Finance Network” project (funded by the Government of the United Kingdom) and the “Strengthening the Governance of Climate Finance to Promote Inclusive Climate Resilience in the Asia Pacific” project (funded by the Government of Sweden). UNDP Cambodia is therefore looking for a National Climate Finance Coordinator to coordinate these efforts.

The National Climate Finance Coordinator will be supervised by the Environment Policy Specialist and will work closely with other colleagues from UNDP Cambodia Country Office and UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub, consultants, and partners. 

The incumbent may be required to undertake field missions to various provinces of Cambodia where applicable to conduct project-related activities or meetings, stakeholder engagements, and monitoring purposes. Any travel related to the official performance of duties will be covered by the UNDP project.

The incumbent may also be required to take on other programmes/projects/initiatives within the scope of TOR depending on workload at the time.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The National Climate Finance Coordinator will perform the following key functions: 

• Coordinate implementation of projects related to climate finance.
• Provide technical support on climate finance-related issues.
• Contribute to UNDP’s programming and pipeline formulation related to climate finance.

Coordinate implementation of projects related to climate finance:

• Design roadmaps and annual work plans of activities related to climate finance.
• Design and coordinate key activities related to climate finance in partnership and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Develop ToRs of and supervise relevant assistant, consultants and provide quality assurance.
• Provide management support to the day-to-day operation of the portfolio through circulation of documents, taking of minutes, drafting concept notes, coordinating internal and stakeholder meetings, and feedback of information.
• Prepare quarterly and annual project progress reports according to their respective reporting guidelines/ requirements.
• Monitor and keep track of project implementation progress and project risks, ensuring effective application of RBM tools.
• Ensure proper use of project resources in line with UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures.
• Support the design and operation of workshops/events/seminars/forums.

Ensure visibility of projects.

Provide technical support on climate finance-related issues:

• Provide technical guidance to all project personnel, consultants and project executing partners.
• Assist in conducting analyses of the programme/project portfolio.
• Support in providing technical input to working documents, studies and technical reports as required in project activities on the topics of climate finance.
• Identify best practices and lessons learnt from the project and from other initiatives that can be helpful to the project in achieving its goals and objectives.
• Provide support to capacity-building programmes by designing themes and specific topics and structuring courses tailored to the background of participants, with a focus on enhancing key stakeholders’ understanding of climate finance and beyond.
• Facilitate expert group meetings, panels, round tables, training seminars, workshops, etc.
• Prepare talking points, Op-ed, statements, speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior personnel on climate finance issues.
• Prepares issue briefs and knowledge management materials on issues relating to climate finance.
• Leads in generating knowledge products such as best practices and lessons learnt for knowledge sharing.

Contribute to UNDP’s programming and pipeline formulation related to climate finance:

• Assist UNDP’s team in formulating project concept notes, project proposals and full project documents including information materials in consultation with relevant stakeholders among others.
• Assist in creating and maintaining strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Impact of Results:

• The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and efficiency of UNDP climate finance activities in the country, including short, medium and long-term planning, improved business results and client services. They also impact on increasing Governments’, partners’, and civil society and communities’ awareness and knowledge of climate finance. Accurate analysis, presentation and knowledge sharing promote timely positioning and readjustment of UNDP programme management.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in social science, development studies, economics, public policy or related fields is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with Master´s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant professional work experience in project management.
• Experience in project design, implementation, coordination, monitoring and/or reporting of development projects is required.
• Exposure to the country’s institutional framework and policies related to climate change (and climate finance preferably).
• Experience in working with multi-stakeholders including the government, NGOs, private sector, and CSOs.
• Experience in implementing programmes across the UN agencies and the Royal Government of Cambodia are definite advantage.
• Climate change: Knowledge of climate change including climate change international regime) and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Climate finance: Knowledge of climate finance concepts and instruments and the ability to apply them to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Resource mobilization: Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources.

Required Languages:

• Khmer and English

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/17558