International Consultant - Direct Access to GCF & Private Sector Mobilization

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

Through its Country Offices, or FAO Representations, FAO assists governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to address hunger, food security and malnutrition, and provides technical support for the sustainable development of their agricultural, livestock, animal health, and irrigation and forestry sectors as well as emergency preparedness and response to conflict and natural affected events. The activities of the FAO Representation include design and implementation of country-tailored field programmes, liaison with local donor representatives and active public awareness raising and outreach activities related to the mandate of FAO.

FAO assistance in Afghanistan achieves its objectives through capacity development and direct project implementation in four specific areas of FAO’s technical expertise:

• Better governance through improved capacity for policy planning, land reform, decentralization, and management of common natural resources;
• Fostering expansion of irrigation and field water management;
• Intensive agriculture for surplus commercialization, value chains development, and job creation; and
• Supporting vulnerable farmers for improved food & nutrition security, resilience, and emergency response to natural and man-made disasters and climate change.

To cope with climate change challenges that pose a direct threat to marginalized, vulnerable communities and sustainable economic development, Afghanistan needs to strengthen its capacity to access global climate financing, including building a fruitful partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The “Further Strengthening Country Capacity for Engagement with GCF and Direct Access to Climate Finance (GCF Readiness II)” aims to

• Further strengthen NDA capacity, addressing the gaps identified under the GCF Readiness I;
• Increase stakeholder engagement, particularly at sub-national levels and of civil society and private sector;
• Strengthen capacity for gender considerations in GCF country programming and projects;
• Further develop the Country Programme;
• Develop system and capacity of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of climate finance;
• Prepare for accreditation of the potential entities as Direct Access Entity (DAE) to the GCF; and
• Develop climate finance strategy including strategy for the private sector to access the GCF and unblock the private investments in climate actions.

The Readiness II implementation will draw on the NDA office and coordination mechanisms established under Readiness I while providing critical technical support a more strategic engagement with the GCF to boost climate finance in Afghanistan.

This project will support NEPA to put in place necessary arrangements to access and effectively implement GCF resources, responding to the needs to strengthen capacities mentioned above.

Reporting Lines:

The International Consultant – Direct Access to GCF & Private Sector Mobilization will be under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Afghanistan, the direct supervision of the Lead Technical Officer, and in close collaboration with relevant FAO staff/NPP and NDA.

Technical Focus

The main objective of the consultancy is to support NEPA and the project to ensure the achievement of quality deliverables under the project. The International Expert for private sector mobilization and DAE accreditation will focus on:

1. Development of a strategy and provide technical guidance/support for Afghanistan’s direct access to GCF and global climate finance
2. Development of a strategy and mobilize private sector’s climate finance and engagement in the GCF in Afghanistan

Tasks and responsibilities

The International Consultant – Direct Access to GCF & Private Sector Mobilization will perform the below key tasks:

Direct Access to GCF:

• Develop a strategy for direct access to global climate finance and GCF in particular for Afghanistan
• Support the NDA in setting up institutional mechanisms and processes for DAE accreditation and implementation including i.e. criteria and guideline for the technical committee to shortlist the potential DAEs
• Guide/support the project team in identifying potential entities that could be nominated as DAEs.
• Undertake gap assessment, guide the development of action plan for potential entities for DA accreditation
• Guide and support national specialists (fiduciary, environmental and social safeguard, gender and others) in coaching, assisting the potential DAEs to prepare DAE application and response to GCF review. Review and provide feedback to ensure at least two potential DAEs submit application and progress to GCF stage II review.

Private Sector Mobilization:

• Design and guide the scoping study on private investments on climate change in Afghanistan and potential for private sector engagement in GCF in Afghanistan
• Develop the strategy for the private sector engagement in the GCF in Afghanistan
• Training design (preparation of concept note, agenda and training materials) for technical training/workshop for the private sector engagement particularly in the GCF project formulation and implementation.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advance University degree in development planning, development management, environmental science, climate finance, public administration, and or related fields;
• At least Twelve (12) years of relevant experience in governance and institutions capacity building, private sector mobilization and engagement, climate finance, as well as developing institution capacity, implementation, and monitoring in the south Asian countries for environment and natural resource management projects;
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Familiar with relevant international standards and benchmarks on governance and institutions in private sector engagement and climate finance;
• Language requirement: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
• General knowledge and skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Extent and relevance of experience in privet sector engagement;
• Extent and relevance of experience in global climate finance mechanisms and its access modalities, specifically the GCF;
• Familiarity with privet sector in Afghanistan, and its potentiality for engagement with the GCF.

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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