Finance Specialist (Retainer)

South East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops, and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: EAPMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia,  EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Lao PDR, EAPMCO Philippines and EAPMCO Cambodia.

The EAPMCO head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight, and assurance of excellence of business processes and quality standards across all locations. It is also responsible for managing the portfolio of engagements in the MCO location itself.

In 2022, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 95.7 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.  

Background Information – Job-specific

Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP)

The Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP), a project under EAPMCO, brings together governments, philanthropies and other partners to work towards modern, sustainable energy systems. It focuses on Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which have the highest energy demand, a pipeline of fossil fuel-based projects, and potential for renewable energy and energy efficiency. ETP provides technical advice, support on financing, capacity and skill development, and dialogue facilitation. It is supported by a Secretariat incorporated into UNOPS, which will manage and operate the ETP Fund, launch calls for proposals, assess proposals, provide assistance to partners and monitor progress on projects. Members of the Secretariat are selected in line with UNOPS rules and regulations.

The Importance of Finance Specialist in Energy Transition

Sustainable finance plays a crucial role in addressing climate change, promoting sustainable development, and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. It involves collaboration between financial institutions, governments, businesses, and investors to create a financial system that fosters both economic growth and environmental responsibility.

Finance specialists are critical for organizations involved in energy transition due to the specialized knowledge to navigate the complexities of sustainable financing. These specialists ensure that financial strategies align with sustainability goals, contributing to projects focused on reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and fostering overall environmental sustainability. Their role extends beyond traditional finance as they play a pivotal part in risk mitigation, optimizing socio-economic benefits, and ensuring compliance with evolving industry standards and environmental regulations.

Finance specialists facilitate access to a diverse range of funding sources, including public and private funds, development banks, and climate change funds. Their strategic approach involves analyzing market trends, identifying opportunities, and recommending financial models that enhance the impact of energy transition initiatives. Additionally, these specialists contribute to policy advocacy, promoting innovative financial products such as green bonds and sustainability-linked loans. Ultimately, their expertise is indispensable in shaping a sustainable future by effectively deploying financial resources and supporting projects that align with the broader goals of energy transition.

Reporting to the Senior Programme Manager, the incumbent will have tasks that draw from the following areas: 

• Develop and establish clear criteria and a framework for sustainable loans, including specific terms and conditions that projects must meet to be eligible for funding. Ensure that these criteria align with industry standards, sustainability goals, and the overarching mission of the sustainable financing initiative. 

• Monitor the disbursement of public/private/blended finance to ensure they are used exclusively for sustainable initiatives and in accordance with the agreed-upon project plan.

• Arrange for periodic review or third-party verification to ensure that the use of public/private/blended finance and project outcomes align with sustainable loan requirements.

• Establish mechanisms for regular reporting and transparency, ensuring that stakeholders are informed about the progress and impact of the sustainable projects.

• Assess and manage potential risks associated with the funded projects, including environmental risks and financial risks.

• Regularly review and update these criteria to reflect evolving best practices and environmental standards.

• Thoroughly evaluating proposals of early retirement of coal-fired power plants and renewable energy projects submitted for access to the public finance facilities, especially its impact on the fiscal budget.

• Provide input for a blended finance scheme that combines funding sources from various entities, including government agencies, development banks, commercial banks, climate change funds, equity investors, insurance companies, and philanthropists.

• Contribute to the formulation and refinement of a financing and investment framework for the energy transition. This includes providing insights, analysis, and recommendations to enhance the strategic approach.

• Provide expertise in financial modeling and analysis, to assess the financial viability and potential returns of energy transition projects and initiatives.

• Assist in the identification, selection, and prioritization of energy transition projects based on their potential impact, feasibility, and alignment with sustainability goals.

• Provide guidance on the structuring and management of sustainable loans, ensuring that they align with sustainability criteria and contribute to environmentally friendly projects.

• Provide recommendations on the development and promotion of financial products and instruments that align with sustainable finance principles. This may include green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, and other innovative financial tools.

• Provide recommendations for advocating policies that incentivize and support sustainable finance initiatives. This may involve engaging with policymakers to create an enabling environment for sustainable financial practices.
  
  

• Prepare and maintain monthly work plans

• Maintain the ETP Results Based Monitoring Framework for planned and completed work flows.

• Prepare and deliver powerpoint presentations to ETP and ETP partners upon request.

In addition to the aforementioned deliverables, the consultant is expected to conduct regular bi-weekly and ad-hoc meetings with ETP to ensure ongoing updates, information sharing, and effective communication throughout the project duration.

A significant number of critical deliverables are expected between May and October 2024. Additional deliverables will be determined on a monthly basis, first through the development of a work plan, and then through biweekly meetings with ETP.

Education

• An advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) or higher degree in preferably Management, Finance, Economics, Environmental Economics, Sustainable Finance, or a related field.

• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the above-mentioned fields with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Work Experience

• At least five (5) years of experience in project finance, green finance, sustainable finance or related financial fields, with a preference for experience in the energy or infrastructure sector, in combination with a relevant advanced university degree is required .

• Experience collaborating with state-owned enterprises, government agencies, international organizations, and various stakeholders involved in sustainable finance is highly preferred.

• Strong understanding of the financial perspective of energy transition-related issues and familiarity with sustainable finance policies, regulations, and sustainability frameworks is preferred.

• Proven track record project management on sustainable financing , particularly in the energy sector is desirable.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to articulate complex financial issues in a clear and concise manner.

• Familiarity with sustainable finance assessment instruments and methodologies to evaluate the potential environmental and financial impacts of projects is preferred, such as financial modeling for renewable energy projects, environmental risk analysis, and overall sustainability impact.

• Previous successful engagements with and a good understanding of donors, government bodies, state-owned enterprises, private sector entities, and civil society, particularly in the context of sustainable finance initiatives is preferred.

• Relevant training in climate change issues, project development related to sustainable energy development, or related fields is preferred.

• Familiarity with financial modeling tools and software is an asset.

• Computer literacy in Google Suite/Google Workspace is required. 

Language

• Full working knowledge of English is required. 

• Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia is required.

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contractual Agreement (LICA) - Retainer
2. Contract level: ICS-10/LICA-10
3. Contract duration: 22 April 2024 - 21 April 2025 (max. 100 working days in total)
   
   
   

• 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.