Tasks:

• Programme implementation quality assurance, for results delivery (Output 1, 20%)
• Ensure capacity development to countries on topics such as carbon market, and other REDD+ related issues, provide input into papers and briefing notes, conduct meetings with stakeholders from both the private and public sector.
• Support on reporting and ad hoc requests from colleagues in the organisation.
• Access to REDD+ financing and private sector engagement (Output 2, 65%)
• Jointly with the UNEP UN-REDD Africa Regional Coordinator and the Global UN-REDD Finance Specialist leads the agenda on REDD+ and forest carbon finance, as well as private sector engagement initiatives and activities in in the Africa r region.
• Provides policy advisory support to African priority countries in accessing and scaling up sustainable financing for REDD+ activities (upfront, carbon finance and results-based financing).
• Liaise with and convene other REDD+ initiatives and potential co-financing agencies and institutions to ensure REDD+ implementation consists of one nationally owned REDD+ process.
• Bring about purchases or investments of REDD+ projects in target countries and foster better policy and financial instruments to encourage further investment.
• Generate and disseminate knowledge around financial mechanisms such as blended finance to be used to scale investment into REDD+ and NBS. This requires both public and private relationships and joint conversations.
• Establishes good working relationships with partners (public and private) working towards the REDD+ and carbon finance field in Africa.
• Contributes to advance global UNEP UN-REDD led initiatives agenda on upfront financing and results-based financing by generating and disseminating knowledge, including but not limited to forest carbon markets and by convening relevant actors to act.
• Provide support as requested by ROA and other UN agencies
• Support the resources mobilization process (Output 3, 15%): Identify strategic opportunities, needs and gaps to contribute to the planning process in line with the UN-REDD Results Framework for the 2021-2025 period.
• Transform these opportunities into project ideas with theory of change to be implemented on the ground.
• Initiate drafts project concept notes, documents/proposals according to donors’ procedures and support the submission process.
• Consult with partners, country focal points and related stakeholders to collect feedback and update the documents as needed.
• Contribute to finding and arranging new funding opportunities within the branch.

Requirements

Qualifications/special skills

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Natural Resources, Forestry, Environmental Engineering, Economics, Public/Environmental Policy, Environmental impact assessment of projects, public management, or forest management, economics, finance, sustainable development, business administration, Biology or Agronomy, economics, finance, sustainable development, business administration or related field is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in public or private sector entities, including in the African region is required.
• Strong knowledge about REDD+ mechanism, not limited to the financing aspects, as well as understanding of financial institutions and sustainable finance with practical experience with at least an African country is required.
• Within the required 5 years, a minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in the provision of technical assistance in sustainable forest management or conservation, coordination and planning with national and regional actors related to forest management and/or forest management and climate change will be desirable.
• Excellent knowledge of Africa’s REDD+ context would be an asset.
• Experience working with international organizations is desirable.

Skills

• Strong and proven project management skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Ability to convene partners and facilitate consensus.
• Ability to coordinate a wide range of different outputs and partners.
• Ability to analyse materials from various sources and expertise and recommend alternative options if needed.