UNEP FI / GFANZ Pipeline and De-risking Coordinator Consultant – Africa

Result of Service

The consultant will work closely with UNEP FI and GFANZ regional networks to drive engagement with financial institutions and other key stakeholders in Africa to scale up investment for climate projects and collaborate with key partners and stakeholders for research, publication, dissemination, and management of knowledge products relevant for the flagship activities.

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. UNEP-FI works closely with the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) to engage financial institutions ontowards 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 finance 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 (GCBC), 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 derisking approaches and project financing, working across UNEP-FI and with GFANZ and the GCBC. This position will support the Africa Regional Network’s engagement with financial institutions and other stakeholders  to accelerate the mobilization of capital for projects that support the Paris Agreement in Africa.. UNEP FI needs a consultant to support activities towards capital mobilization for FIs focusing on scaling up development of financially viable pipeline of projects and de-risking solutions for those projects 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 to scale up capital mobilization focusing on promotion of bankable projects and de-risking solutions. The consultant will work closely with MDBs, DFIs and private FIs in Africa on de-risking solutions for private sector projects andlead the capacity building and visibility activities in the region. The consultant will work with UNEP FI’s global and Regional Coordinators as well as with GFANZ’s Secretariat team and other strategic partners. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The consultant will perform the following tasks: ●  Collaborate with partners to co-organize events on de-risking and scaling up Net Zero finance projects at events such as the Africa CEO Forum and the GCF Global Private Investment for Climate Conference. ●  Work with partners to provide capacity building for structuring financial instruments for projects that takes into consideration risk capital from climate funds for de-risking, covering incremental costs of climate measures and facilitating investments on concessional terms. ●  Drive bilateral and collective engagement with financial institutions and other key stakeholders in Africa to scale up investment transactions for climate projects in the pipeline, including engaging on existing efforts such as the Senegal JETP. ●  Support engagement with fund managers, pension, and sovereign wealth funds in Africa in collaboration with partners. ●  Co-organize engagement with key stakeholders and partners on nature financing Partner MDBs/DFIs and PFIs with operations in Africa to develop and deploy appropriate risk mitigation and de-risking solutions to support scaling up of investments for climate projects in the pipeline. ●  Collaborate with key partners and stakeholders for research, publication, dissemination, and management of knowledge products on de-risking solutions for climate projects in Africa. Outputs and Deliverables: ●  Engaged investors and other financiers for up to 6 projects. ●  Audio-visual training materials on structuring financial instruments for projects that takes into consideration risk capital from climate funds for de-risking, covering incremental costs of climate measures and facilitating investments on concessional terms. ●  Training of national experts with the materials developed. ●  Executive proceedings focusing on pipeline and de-risking solutions. ●  Engagement with Pension and Sovereign Wealth Funds. ●  Collaborative research and publication on de-risking solutions for climate projects in Africa. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of 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 engineering, international development studies, climate change, climate finance, climate technologies and economics. Professional Experience: At least a combined 7 years of working experience in ideally (i) net zero infrastructure project development and (ii) execution and management of renewable energy, energy efficiency and nature-based projects

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: ● Knowledge and experience in early-stage preparation and financial structuring of projects that focus on low-carbon technologies, net zero and nature-based solutions. ● Demonstrate excellent knowledge and experience in project financing, including projects that take into consideration risk capital from climate funds such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Climate Investment Fund (CIF) for de-risking, and facilitating investments on concessional terms. ● Knowledge and experience developing and/or deploying different de-risking solutions such as guarantees, local currency capital market instruments, and FX hedging mechanisms. Previous experience working with MDBs, DFIs and private investors to develop de-risking instruments would be an added advantage. ● Sound understanding of the current global climate finance architecture, the governing instrument of climate funds such as GCF and related criteria and standards. ● Strong analytical, operational, conceptual, and strategic skills. High degree of initiative and strong record of performance with low supervisory requirements to function effectively. ● Understanding of climate and green finance issues, challenges, opportunities, and practices relating to scaling up climate finance in Africa. ● Knowledge and experience in communication, high-level policy dialogue and cross-collaboration. Desirable: Previous working experience in Africa.

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.