NDCP Senior Climate Finance Advisor (Technical Specialist Environmental) - Ethiopia (Retainer - Homebased)

The Senior Climate Finance Adviser will primarily contribute to the delivery of all outputs planned for 2023/24/25 and assist MoPD/ ECCMD and the CRGE Facility/MoFED in addressing capacity challenges limiting climate sector institutions access to finance for implementing NDC initiatives they have identified. More specifically, the Climate Finance Advisor will: 

1) Policy and resource mobilisation support

• Support and contribute to the development of the ECCMD midterm Strategic/Operational plan (2023-2025); 

• Contribute to the CRGE Facility in climate finance needs assessment and on-going work related to NDC resource mobilization strategy development and raising finance from national and international sources including the private sector;

• Contribute to enhancement of the institutional and technical capacity of MoPD/ECCMD and the CRGE Facility to coordinate climate finance; private sector engagement, and innovative financing;

• Advice and provide technical support for the ECCMD, the CRGE Facility and Climate Sector institutions in developing concept notes and project proposals for climate financing and low carbon development, and development of climate bankable projects pipeline/investment plans; 

• Lead initiative to develop private sector engagement strategy and greening government and private banks and financial institutions; 

• Coordinate capacity building needs for national experts in salient aspects of climate finance and design and conduct appropriate on-the-job training and coaching. Organize technical training on climate finance requirements, policies and procedures related to GCF, GEF and Adaptation Fund;

• Develop “National Protocol for the Issuance of a No-Objection Letter for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Projects by the NDA”, and for other related funds;

• Contribute to the National delegations to climate change negotiations through preparatory meetings and capacity strengthening on thematic negotiating issues;

• Work across line ministries to identify and develop climate financing initiatives, including low-carbon, climate resilient projects that can be readied for finance;

• Support mainstreaming of the NDC and related climate projects in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and National Budget;

• Collaborate with ECCMD, EPA and CRGE Facility in integrating MRV and M&E indicators and systems, setting and strengthening institutional structures for enhanced transparency framework in line with the UNFCCC’s requirements, and providing follow up support in institutionalising and operationalisation of the integrated MRV/M&E system;

• Solicit input from the line Ministries and other expertise from agencies within the Government and private sector to develop pipeline green projects, conduct initial due diligence of project proposals and assessment of bankability, prepare project concept notes, identify potential sources of finance including climate finance or blended finance windows and support the development of suitable funding proposals and proposals to access project preparation facilities.

• Support MoPD/ECCMD in revitalization and strengthening of the national climate institutional governance and coordination systems and structures for mobilizing climate finance. To this end, study and develop recommendations and options for MoPD/ECCMD and the CRGE Facility senior management to Develop/establish a multi-institutional climate finance mechanism, which could be a Climate Finance Advisory Committee that includes representative from the MoPD, the CRGE Facility/MoFED and public Climate Sector Organizations;

• Support ECCMD /MoPD in design and management of Consultancy assignments and ensuring quality deliverables agreed.

• Advanced degree and experience in climate change finance, Environmental economics, Development finance and investment.

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required

• At least 5 years professional experience in public and private sectors, international organisations, ideally working on climate finance, infrastructure/project finance and/or blended financing in development institutions, equity and impact funds, other financial institutions, and advisory firms; 

• 5 years of substantial experience in concept notes/proposal/project pipeline/business development, capital raising, and/or developing public-private partnerships with a successful track record in climate finance related activities across multiple contexts in a multi-cultural environment.

• Understanding of climate change and resilience issues in Ethiopia at both field and policy levels and institutional architecture/landscape; 

• Track record in successful business development/fundraising from different funding instruments and donors such as GCF, USAID, FCDO, European Commission, Corporate and Private Sector and Corporate Foundations;

Asset

• Experience in  developing project proposals for institutional donors/financiers and Multilateral Development Finance institutions, including designing financial strategies for capital improvement projects and/or climate related projects; 

• Demonstrated expertise in networking with senior leaders and high level audiences, partnership development, and managing multi-stakeholder strategies, coupled with extensive experience in collaborating with government counterparts at all levels in Ethiopia, providing technical support, capacity-building, coordination,; 

• Knowledge of GCF accreditation requirements, especially environmental and social safeguards and fiduciary standards and their application in developing country institutions;

• Experience working with government stakeholders in national and/or regional policy development and implementation in climate change activities; 

• Strong understanding of global climate and development issues that influence resource allocation by governments and development organizations and  international policy debates and challenges in climate finance and economics.

• Proficiency in English is required;

• Knowledge of Amharic is an added advantage.