Climate Finance Expert (Home based Retainer) - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Job Highlight This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact in international development while advancing your career in a prestigious UN organization. The position offers exposure to high-profile projects, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional development opportunities in project management, stakeholder engagement, and operational excellence within the UN system.

About The Project Office WEC Background The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country-specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

About The Group The NDC Partnership The NDC Partnership is a global coalition, bringing together more than 250 members, including more than 130 countries, developed and developing, and more than 110 institutions to deliver on ambitious climate action that helps achieve the Paris Agreement and drive sustainable development. Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). For this project, the Consultant will be contracted through UNOPS.

Role Purpose The Climate Finance Advisor will provide expert advice on the successful implementation of measures identified in the main strategic climate related documents, such as the NDC, NDC Implementation Plan, Carbon Neutrality Concept and National Adaptation Plan through access to international climate finance. This role involves the provision of technical and strategic inputs to support the work of the MNRETS and Climate Finance Centre in accessing international climate funds and funds from the MDBs in order to implement measures identified in the NDC Implementation Plan and in the updated Climate Investments Plan. This position will contribute to the strengthening of the climate project portfolio of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Functions / Key Results Expected The position will involve working with the Cabinet of Ministries of Kyrgyz Republic as well as high-level engagements with donors, climate funds, MDBs, and bilateral donors to identify projects and generate resources for the implementation of the NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS. The Climate Finance Specialist will implement all tasks in close coordination with the NDC Partnership Focal Point, and the NDC Partnership Support Unit. The following responsibilities are part of the Climate Finance Specialist role in the Kyrgyz Republic:

• Identifying a pipeline of projects Prepare a project pipeline by conducting a preliminary assessment of potential investment projects and provide recommendations on them in accordance with the requirements of global climate funds and MDBs.
• Guide and oversee the preparation of the draft project concept papers (to be further developed into full concept papers with support from development partners) by local project preparation staff for climate resilient investment projects that funding partners are interested in co-funding with international climate funds, such as the GCF etc.
• Assist the government in preparing concept notes to access financing for unfunded priorities based on the updated NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS.
• Review the structuring and technical analysis of project concepts and proposals developed by Climate Finance Centre and MNRETS.
• Tracking and analyzing funding opportunities Identify and track funding opportunities relevant to the NDC implementation as well as climate-resilient and low-carbon sectoral projects and programs.
• Facilitate the mobilization of financial and technical resources for the implementation of NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS, including the identification of implementing agencies and partners for the developed project concepts.
• Ensure that project concepts meet the requirements of possible funders, global climate funds, MDBs, as well as bilateral and multilateral development partners, or a combination of those listed here (e.g., multilateral development partner seeking funding from a global climate fund).
• Lead the process of populating and regularly updating Kyrgyz Republic’s monitoring/reporting tool for climate finance.
• Assist the government in development of such tool.
• Providing strategic inputs to MNRETS and CFC Monitor and assess financing requirements and gaps for the implementation of NDC, including supporting transparency of support from different development partners.
• Collaborate with the NDC Partnership Support Unit to document changes in the operating context.
• Provide strategic insights for identification and development and direct access entities.
• Support the Kyrgyz Republic and the NDC Partnership Support Unit in initiating a financing plan for NDCs implementation.
• Support the government in identifying potential and appropriate implementing and development partners for each action/priority and identify the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder.
• Support the government in identification (and subsequent negotiations) of relevant accredited entities for partnership in project development.
• Coordination and communication with key stakeholders Support the strengthening of coordination among different agencies for accessing external climate finance resources.
• Work closely with MNRETS and CFC to participate in external negotiations and discussions with donors, MDBs, Climate Funds etc.
• Support the country in following up on and mobilizing partner support for its needs and priorities (and update those along the way as needed following the government’s guidance) along with a preferred process for coordination of country engagement under the NDC Partnership, as proposed and agreed upon by the Cabinet of Ministries of the Kyrgyz Republic.
• Engage with partners in the country to link needs to financial resources in accordance with the NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS, including by providing the government’s inputs on alignment of partners’ country strategies with priorities and gaps identified in the above policy documents;
• Provide inputs and participate in the NDC Partnership’s conferences, trainings and other activities at the global, regional and national levels that are relevant for project development, financing, and resource mobilization.
• Support the in-country facilitator in periodic reporting of donor/partner support to the NDC Partnership.
• Identifying lessons learned and results Liaise with the Support Unit to access and/or feed into global knowledge products relevant to project development, financing, and resource mobilization Assist the Support Unit in the identification and dissemination of information on best practices and lessons learned from in-country engagement.
• Capacity building Build capacities of MNRETS staff to prepare project concepts considering requirements and criteria of international climate fund and MDBs.
• Share the knowledge and skills of access modalities, requirements and criteria of the project application process of GCF and other types of funding sources available for the country.
• Strengthen capacities by mentoring and training relevant MNRETS and CFC staff on developing bankable projects.
• Identify capacity needs related to climate financing for implementation of NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS.

Expected deliverables:

• Q1: Inception report and 12-month workplan developed jointly with the government. Funding Opportunity Tracker: A live database/table identifying and tracking at least 10 relevant funding windows from GCF, GEF, MDBs, and bilateral partners aligned with the updated NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS. Baseline Capacity Assessment: a brief report identifying specific technical gaps within MNRETS and CFC regarding bankable project development.
• Q2: Policy Paper on methodological recommendations for prioritization and shortlisting projects for successful NDC Implementation. Preliminary Project Pipeline Report: a prioritized list of at least 5-7 potential investment projects with preliminary technical and financial assessments. Prepare mapping report for Climate Finance Ecosystem in Kyrgyzstan across MNRETS, CFC, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance and other line ministries and intergovernmental coordination bodies. The report should incorporate evaluation of capacity of the ministries in attracting climate Finance.
• Q3: Development of training programme for government personnel on development of Concept Notes and Project Information Notes for International Climate Funds, including key description of major ICFs and IFIs, their application criteria and funding windows. Resource Mobilization & Stakeholder Mapping: A document identifying potential Implementing Agencies (IAs) and Accredited Entities (AEs) for the identified pipeline, including a record of initial outreach/negotiations. Draft Concept Notes: At least 3 high-quality draft concept notes (CNs) ready for review by international funding partners. Based on mapping report and (Deliverable 6) develop policy note capturing innovative approaches, policy enhancements and capacity-building initiatives to enhance efficiency of mobilizing climate finance across key ministries engaged in NDC Implementation.
• Q4: A series capacity-building workshops delivered for government personnel based on the prepared training programme. The series of workshops should incorporate at least 1 train-for-trainers to ensure capacity retention. Finalized Concept Notes project: At least 3 high-quality CN incorporating feedback from the government and international funding partners are prepared. The final CNs should include recommendations on pathways towards full funding proposal. Draft Concept Notes: At least 3 high-quality draft concept notes (CNs) ready for review by international funding partners. Lessons Learned & Knowledge Product: A document/briefing note summarizing best practices from the Kyrgyz Republic’s engagement with global climate funds to be shared with the NDC Partnership Support Unit. Capacity Building Final Report & Retention Plan: Summary of training outcomes and a list of remaining high-priority capacity gaps to be covered in the next NDC cycle. Final Contract Completion Report: Comprehensive summary of delivered technical assistance and recommendations for the next year.

Required Education Requirements An advanced degree (Master's or higher) in business, finance, law, public policy, public finance, sustainable development, environment management, or a similar relevant field. Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience (7 total) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Required Experience Requirements At least 5 years of experience working in international development and development finance with a track of structuring, design and implementation of projects in climate change mitigation and adaptation, particularly in energy, waste, agriculture, forestry and other land use, and industry. Familiarity with access modalities, project management frameworks, and investment criteria of MDBs and prominent global climate funds such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), The International Climate Initiative (IKI), Mitigation Action Facility (MAF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), and/or Adaptation Fund (AF). Knowledge about the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, NDCs and SDGs; Understanding of public finance modalities for climate change-related projects Desired Experience in mobilizing resources for the implementation of NDCs. Experience in structuring, including technical and financial development, of projects that are commercially viable and present replicable and scalable business models in compliance with requirements of various climate finance funds with Kyrgyzstan as the main recipient. Understanding of and experience with banking products relevant to low-carbon and resilient development projects. Ability to network and develop partnerships across a range of stakeholders and record of accomplishment in managing complex multi-stakeholder strategies and plans.