UNEP FI / GFANZ Carbon Markets Coordinator Consultant – Africa

Result of Service

The consultant will work closely with UNEP FI and GFANZ regional networks to support activities on Capacity Building to Maximize Carbon Currency Benefits to Africa. including engaging with networks such as the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), the Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative (VCMI), the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets (ICVCM) and African developers on capacity building and technical assistance to ultimately help scale carbon markets e.g. carbon markets infrastructure – including regulation, adoption and utilization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, project development and transactions, as well as engagement with partners to explore interaction between carbon markets and wider issues relevant to Africa such as, sovereign debt, and debt-for-nature swaps.

Work Location

Working remotely

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

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 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. The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) works with its network of more than 450 banks, insurers, and investors to help shape the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global norms and contributing to changing the financial system. Through its work-streams and regional activities, peer learning, methodology development, training and research, UNEP FI promotes sustainable finance and helps the financial industry align with and contribute to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. UNEP FI supports the development and implementation of frameworks including the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), now committed to by more than 310 banks collectively holding USD 89 trillion in assets, representing almost half of global banking assets, and the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), established 2012 by UNEP FI and today applied by one-quarter of the world’s insurers (25% of world premium). UNEP-FI works closely with the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) to engage financial institutions on the net zero transition. Founded in 2021, GFANZ is a coalition of leading financial institutions committed to supporting the decarbonization of the global economy. GFANZ currently supports over 675 financial institutions from 50 countries within the sector-specific net zero Alliances (the Alliances ). GFANZ and the financial sector-specific net-zero Alliances are dedicated to helping financial institutions to play a key role in supporting the global transition to net zero. Members of the net-zero sector specific Alliance have each made ambitious science-based commitments by their own initiative to support the transition to net zero and GFANZ has developed the tools and methodologies needed to turn financial institutions’ net-zero commitments into action. The GFANZ Africa Network and its Advisory Board is focused on 3 key flagship initiatives for transformative impacts in Africa. The flagships are (i) Supporting the development of de-risking instruments and project pipelines into investable opportunities, (ii) providing capacity building support to mainstream climate risks regulation, net-zero transition planning and transition fiinance and (iii) maximizing carbon currency benefits to Africa. The 3 flagships will also be integrated with activities focusing on nature and biodiversity. UNEP-FI and GFANZ are also founding participants of the Global Capacity Building Coalition, launched at COP28. The Coalition will bring together some of the world’s leading climate finance organizations – including an unprecedented group of UN agencies, multilateral development banks (MDBs), standard setters, and the private sector – to enhance collaboration and respond to growing requests for capacity building support from financial institutions in EMDEs. This role will focus on capacity building on carbon markets, working across UNEP-FI and with GFANZ and the GCBC. UNEP FI needs a consultant to support activities to engage financial institutions and other stakeholders on capacity building to scale up carbon markets transactions in the Africa region. The consultant will work with GFANZ to plan and accelerate such activities. Objectives: The consultant will lead the engagement of financial institutions and key stakeholders in Africa on carbon markets and work closely with partners to co-organize events and enhance visibility of carbon markets initiatives in the region. The consultant will also lead the capacity building activities in the region. The consultant will work with UNEP FI’s global and Regional Coordinators as well as with GFANZ’s Africa Team and other strategic partners. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The consultant will perform the following tasks: ● Conduct regional/country analysis of existing carbon markets operations, challenges, and capabilities to identify gaps and opportunities to underlie the intended capacity enhancement activities. ● Scope and prioritize carbon market capacity-building needs in chosen region/jurisdictions. ● Build carbon markets capacity-building plan by considering UNEP FI’s, GFANZ’s and other strategic partners’ capabilities and resources. ● Support capacity building and training on relevant content such as VCMI Access Strategy Toolkit, in collaboration with ACMI, VCMI and other partners. ● Drive bilateral and collective engagement with financial institutions and other key stakeholders in Africa to scale up voluntary carbon market on the continent. ● Co-organize engagement with key stakeholders and partners on nature,. ● Co-organize side events on carbon markets with key partners and stakeholders at regional and global forums. ● Work with financial institutions and other investors for their perspectives in risk mitigation financial products and de-risking solutions to scale up carbon market transactions in Africa. ● Work with key partners for research and outputs on nature finance. Outputs and Deliverables: ● Knowledge and capacity gap analyses. ● Audio-visual training materials and ● training of national experts Executive proceedings focusing on the carbon market. ● Collaborative research and engagement with stakeholders on relevant issues such as nature finance. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of Mr. Head of UNEP FI and report to the GFANZ Africa Regional Director and climate lead UNEP FI.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: A University degree or equivalent experience in international development studies, climate change, climate finance, environmental engineering and management, finance, climate technologies and economics. Professional Experience: At least a combined 7 years of working experience in carbon markets policy and/or project development and transactions, climate, or green finance with financial institutions, private sector developers, investors, or public sector entities.

Languages

Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Proficiency in written and verbal communication in English is required. Good working knowledge of French would be desirable.

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge: ● Demonstrate excellent knowledge and experience in international carbon markets (compliance and voluntary carbon markets), climate change mitigation and adaptation; and familiar with the Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Article 6 on carbon markets mechanisms. ● Demonstrate knowledge and experience of carbon markets mechanisms and associated policy instruments, preferably for credible and transparent carbon markets in Africa. ● Strong experience in accessing climate funds with a focus on mitigation and / or adaptation. ● Knowledge and experience on multilateral climate governance frameworks and global carbon finance architecture, carbon markets mechanisms and initiatives such as Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative (VCMI). Experience in building capacity in emerging markets to deliver high-quality carbon projects will be an added advantage. ● Familiarity and ideally experience with key regional stakeholders such as developers, investors and institutions including the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) and the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). ● Understanding of climate and green finance issues, challenges and practices relating to Africa carbon markets. ● Knowledge and experience in communication, high-level policy dialogue and cross-institutional collaboration.

No Fee

THE 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.