Biodiversity Finance Specialist

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are core principles at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Organizational Context

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.

UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. Biodiversity Finance Plans have become increasingly recognized as a relevant tool to help countries to identify and fill the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative www.biofin.org . In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. This included numerous targets with relevance for financing. Target 19 on resource mobilization includes reference for countries to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans.

The GEF created a global programme to support countries to design a national Biodiversity Finance Plan. A Biodiversity Finance Plan includes a systems analysis of a country’s economy including to map existing financing mechanisms, subsidies with potential harmful impacts on nature, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, public and private expenditures committed towards biodiversity objectives and a country’s national financial needs for biodiversity. The biodiversity finance plan itself consists of a series of actions with the aim to significantly scale up available funding, green or phase out harmful finance flows and improve the effectiveness of available expenditures. The programme allows for active sharing of experiences across countries and includes a knowledge sharing platform and the provision of continuous technical support to country teams.

The UNDP Namibia Country Office has organized its programmatic activity into three portfolios: Sustainable, Inclusive and Green Growth (SIGG); Governance, Inclusive Institutions and Civic Engagement (GRICE) and Sustainable Environmental Management and Enhanced Resilience to Shocks and Crises (SEMER) Portfolio. The SEMER portfolio can broadly be divided into three overlapping areas of work: (a) Climate Change (mitigation, adaptation and reporting to UNFCCC); (b) International Waters (marine and freshwater) and (c) Natural Resource Management (sustainable land-use; human-wildlife interaction; sustainable mining, waste management). The implementation of the project in Namibia falls under the GEF-8 Umbrella programme for the development of the first National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The overall implementation of the project will under SEMER, led by the Project Lead with the support of a technical team and in coordination to a government project director and the National Steering Committee.

As such, for the implementation of the GEF-8-BFP Umbrella programme at the national level, UNDP is recruiting a national team composed of a Project Lead, a Project Support Associate, a Policy Expert and a Biodiversity Finance Specialist. The Biodiversity Finance Specialist will lead the production of the Biodiversity Expenditure Review, the Financial Needs Assessment and support the development of the Biodiversity Finance Plan.

Scope Of Work

Under the over-all guidance of the Project Lead in collaboration of the SEMER Head, the Biodiversity Finance Specialist (‘the Specialist’) is expected to lead the production of the Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), the Financial Needs Assessment (FNA) and support the development of the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) following the guidance provided by the latest version of the BIOFIN Workbook and with detailed data.

The Biodiversity Finance Specialist will provide input to all other national outputs, including the Policy and Institutional Review. The Biodiversity Finance Specialist will also contribute to the assessment and development of detailed feasibility studies for priority finance mechanisms in the BFP and the production of summary for Policy Makers. The specialist should provide input to the feedback on the BIOFIN methodological framework.

The specialist will collect, explore and work on national and subnational level budgeting datas and biodiversity expenditures of different organizations, agencies, ministries, NGOs and private sector actors for the production of the BER. For the Finance Needs Assessment (FNA) the consultant will produce a detailed realistic costing of key biodiversity policies and plans – generally focused on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

The Biodiversity Finance Specialist will produce drafts and analyses that will be reviewed and ultimately validated by the Project Lead and the BIOFIN Global Team.

• Lead Policy and Institutional Review (PIR):
• Advise and support the Policy expert in developing an inventory of existing Biodiversity Financing Mechanisms in the country;
• Advise and support the Policy expert in reviewing of existing economic valuation studies relevant to the BIOFIN process.
• Ensure effective Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER):
• Carry out a desk review to map existing studies/information/databases on biodiversity expenditures, including an overview of earlier environmental expenditure reviews;
• Develop a proposed national definition for “biodiversity expenditures”, based on the BIOFIN methodology or other methodologies;
• Develop a workplan for the Biodiversity Expenditure Review for discussion with the national BFP programme team and GPMTSU;
• Determine a target list of organizations to include in the analysis based on the PIR work;
• Collect data for the desk review to map existing studies/information/ databases on biodiversity expenditures, including an overview of earlier environmental expenditure reviews;
• Establish, with the support of the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead), a system to tag biodiversity expenses into categories (GBF targets, BIOFIN categories, NBSAP themes, etc.) and a system of coefficients/attribution to estimate the contribution of mixed actions towards biodiversity;
• Gather data from the targeted organizations to conduct the expenditure review on budgets and expenditures. Follow existing methodologies for guidance (includes mapping of sources of funding, subsidies, and biodiversity-based revenues, etc.);
• Develop tools or Excel tool to analyze the total biodiversity-related expenditures filtered by major strategy groups using existing methodology (or national categories such as in the NBSAP);
• Coordinate the compilation of relevant data and liaise with relevant Ministries and partners as required and complete all BIOFIN data entry sheets for the BER;
• Facilitate the Organization of bilateral consultation meetings/interviews/ discussions with national level stakeholders to define and then validate the attribution of biodiversity significance in all relevant expenditures;
• Applying budget projections and other assumptions, estimate future funding baseline under a “Business-As-Usual Scenario”: an analysis of projected estimated funding in the future;
• Based on international best practices and the BIOFIN methodology or other methodologies, work closely with the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead) to develop and implement a specific strategy for data collection of the private sector and organize dedicated consultation meetings with private sector stakeholders (e.g. chamber of commerce, multinationals) on tracking biodiversity expenditures;
• Based on results from the research, analysis and the national consultation workshop, develop, with the support of the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead), the draft BIOFIN Biodiversity Expenditure Review for review by the GPMTSU (Global Project Management and Technical Support Unit);
• Develop the final Biodiversity Expenditure Review, with the support of the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead), for review by the GPMTSU and present at the validation workshop.
• Lead the development of Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment (FNA):
• Review the available methodologies, examples from other countries, the latest NBSAP and the National Biodiversity Reports to develop an initial workplan and outline for the FNA;
• Consult with the NBSAP team and government entities responsible for NBSAP implementation to obtain background information about NBSAP activities and government budgeting processes;
• Work with the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead) to review the scope of the NBSAP, its alignment with other national policies, and identify policy areas and activities that are not covered by the existing NBSAP;
• Review the activities listed in the NBSAP and other key strategic documents to assess if they are detailed and quantified enough for their budgets to be estimated in detail. If not, work with the NBSAP national focal points and other relevant stakeholders to define clearly the NBSAP actions so that they can be budgeted;
• Coordinate the compilation of relevant data and liaise with relevant Ministries and partners as required and organize a national consultation workshop to define the financial needs of all major biodiversity programmes;
• Develop detailed calculations and complete all datasheets related to the national biodiversity finance needs;
• Organize a workshop to validate the cost assumptions and models and refine the analysis through additional meetings as needed;
• Advise and support the comparison of the results of the BER future projections with the FNA in as great detail as the categories allow and produce an estimate of the financing gap;
• Lead the development (with support from the team) of a draft report for the Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment for discussion at the validation workshop and review by the project national team and GPMTSU;
• Support the Production of the final report of the Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the SEMER portfolio and resource mobilization:
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the SEMER portfolio, beyond the BIOFION project Including (but not limited to) raising requisitions; preparing payments; developing terms of reference (TORs); organizing meetings and events; drafting talking points; and capturing minutes;
• Preparation of workshops, meetings, networking, and presentations as required, to complete the Biodiversity Expenditure Review, the Financial Needs Assessment and engage stakeholders;
• Provide substantive comments and feedback on how to improve the existing methodologies;
• Document decisions and assumptions made while completing the Biodiversity Expenditure Review and the Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment;
• Document lessons learned from conducting the BFP project ranging from institutional considerations to technical issues;
• Prepare reports and case studies, as required, for submission to global meetings (e.g. CBD COP);
• The Specialist is required to work closely with the SEMER Programme Specialist, UNDP RTA, and national partners to identify potential projects to be developed in in the area of natural resource management and biodiversity in line with national needs;
• Guide the Project Lead in the conception and preparation of the BFP;
• Support detailed feasibility analyses on a range of financing mechanisms depending on knowledge and experience.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Biodiversity Finance specialist will be under the SEMER Portfolio with the direct supervision of the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead).

UNDP shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have a direct relation to the project.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact ;

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

2030 Agenda

• Nature, Climate and Energy
• Ecosystems and biodiversity: Biodiversity Finance

Business Direction and Strategy

• System Thinking
• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system.

Business Development

• Collective Intelligence Design
• Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.

Digital & Innovation

• Data storytelling and communications
• Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data powerfully and compellingly.
• Data Governance
• Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies.
• Data Collection
• Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation, and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data, satellite data, sensor data).
• Data analysis
• Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education Requirements:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Business Management, or a closely related field, preferably Natural Economics/Environment / Biodiversity focus is required or;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum Years Of Relevant Work Experience

• Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in environmental finance, accounting, economics, management or related field.

Required Skills

• Proven experience in collaborating with international and national experts and institutions;
• Proven knowledge of key software packages (MS Office);
• Proven experience in drafting reports on environment-related policy writing;
• Proven ability to prepare publications, reports, and presentations;
• Demonstrated experience in working with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Proven experience in managing environmental issues or biodiversity is desirable;
• Previous experience with expenditure reviews would be an asset;
• Familiarity with the governmental institutions is strongly desired.

Required Language(s) (at Working Level)

• Fluency in English (oral and written) is required.

Disclaimer

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Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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