Senior (Climate) Finance Advisor - (Retainer, Multiple positions), Multiple positions

UNOPS is a UN entity that provides infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources services to support development projects worldwide. It has over 4,000 personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, representing a wide range of nationalities and cultures. The UNOPS Strategic Plan 2022-2025 highlights the importance of channeling public and private investment in sustainable infrastructure, and harnessing the power of innovation and technology.

UNOPS supports developing countries to better understand and access international financing opportunities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), based on its mandate and strength.  The UNOPS Helsinki Office supports the organization in developing its capacity and services for the Financing for Sustainable Development Agenda, including on capacity building and implementation; Projects origination and preparation; and help countries to access global financing opportunities.   Against this background, currently the Helsinki Office team is providing support to UNOPS business units and regional and country offices, advising and facilitating better access to global financing opportunities, with a focus on infrastructure and climate finance, based on the projects’ readiness, bankability and sustainability and a broad considerations of risks.  

The Access to Finance Advisor will be responsible for designing, implementing, and coordinating the global access to finance workstream of UNOPS under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Director of the Helsinki office, and in close coordination with the UNOPS country offices, and will be part of the current technical team.

Based on organizational priorities and individual background and profile, the Advisor will work in one or more areas described below:

●        Help governments in the global south to better prepare projects and to access global financing opportunities, such as strengthening enabling environment, improve regulatory issues, and developing the appropriate project structure, together with key stakeholders of infrastructure and climate projects;

●        Advise on key issues that affect success, such as  project bankability and sustainability

●        Develop investment-ready project proposals and facilitate the matching process

●        Develop cooperation and partnerships with the donors and global financial institutions, including MDBs, DFIs, and institutional investors.

This position supports the UNOPS Helsinki office and will have the following objectives:

1. Strategy and service offer development

●        Develop services that focus on the access to development finance, such as attracting new sources of capital, improving risk-sharing, and increasing financial sustainability including the following deliverables:

■        Assess the potential roles and opportunities for UNOPS in supporting and implementing climate finance initiatives with other UN entities.

■        Pilot opportunities in the design and implementation of large climate finance initiatives: identifying financing gaps, structuring projects transactions, developing risk sharing mechanisms, negotiating financing documents that can attract private sector investment and improve the sustainability of UNOPS programs and projects.

2. Stakeholder engagement, capacity building and knowledge sharing

●        Work closely with the technical team to establish a community of practice within UNOPS and drive its implementation. This group can be composed of UNOPS personnel from different business units, regions and country offices, and can be responsible for developing strategies, identifying opportunities, and implementing development finance solutions.

3. Process development and knowledge management

●        Review key documents such as feasibility studies, project due diligence requirements, financial modeling, commercial assessments and viability of the proposed financial structure.

●        Contribute to the preparation of diagnostics and project plans, based on regulatory and operational knowledge of the regulations or lack thereof.

●        Provide knowledge updates to the technical team on the development financing, with a focus on climate finance.

●        Develop knowledge products to strengthen UNOPS’ branding and positioning.

4. Support on resource mobilization and business development

●        Develop a resource mobilization strategy for UNOPS to further scale this access to finance agenda, with potential opportunities identified;

●        Advise the team to identify opportunities with a clear understanding of the restrictions and possibilities within the regulatory and operational frameworks.

●        Convene relevant partners to explore potential financing opportunities. This involves organizing meetings, workshops, and other events to bring together stakeholders from different sectors, and facilitating discussions on how to structure and implement solutions.

●        Perform other tasks as necessary and be responsible for identifying opportunities, and implementing solutions.

●        Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of development finance solutions to ensure they are delivering the desired results. This involves tracking fund flows and grant performance, assessing the impact of development finance solutions on UNOPS and identifying areas of improvement.

5. Monitoring and evaluation of functions

●        The reports of activities and services delivered

●        The pilot projects performance

●        The high-level engagements

●        Internal capacity building

●        High impact Knowledge products 

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience leading the development of effective institutional partnerships, development finance or resource mobilization, in an international development context is required.

• In-depth understanding in the industries in which UNOPS operates and knowledge of the international development finance sector, including bilaterals, multilaterals, foundations, and the private sector; insights into the workings of financial institutions, bilateral agencies and donors, and the global context of development finance is required.

• Established national and international networks, specially in climate finance solutions and/or project finance in diverse policy environments .Proven ability to apply and adapt proven models and approaches to access to development finance is required.

• Experience with conceptualizing and writing technical proposals and reports is required.

• Strong capability to develop and innovate on access to finance mechanisms and structuring projects, which is not limited to financial analysis and modeling, project management, and matchmaking is an asset.

• Capacity to strengthen and build partnerships and synergies across functions and externally with key stakeholders to drive integration and development is an asset.

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in business, finance, economics or closely related areas, is required. 

• University Degree (Bachelor’s degree / first level) with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent writing and oral skills in English is mandatory.

• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: I-ICA 3
Contract duration: Initially from June to 30 December, 2023, with opportunity to renewal subject to performance and funds availability

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.