UNDP has been in Nigeria since the country became independent in 1960 providing capacity building and policy development support to the Federal Government of Nigeria in areas of Governance & Peace Building, Inclusive growth and Sustainable Development. UNDP continues to support, the government in the preparation of the second National Implementation Plan of the National Vision 20:2020. UNDP works in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, development partners, UN agencies, civil society and local communities to help identify local solutions to meet national development challenges through a range of interventions that combine UNDP’s expertise and comparative advantage in the areas of Governance & Peace Building, Inclusive growth and Sustainable Development.
- Job Type: Full Time
- Qualification: BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
- Experience: 7 – 9 years
- Location: Abuja
- Job Field: NGO/Non-Profit , Project ManagementÂ
The primary objective of this post is to provide technical expertise and lead in mobilizing, accessing, and effectively utilizing climate finance for climate change adaptation, disaster & climate risk reduction and financing, access to clean energy, nature-based solutions, and climate security initiatives in Nigeria. The Post-Holder will work closely with relevant government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen the country’s capacity in climate finance management.
Scope of Work
Summary of Key Functions:
Under the direct supervision of the Resident Representative, the Climate, Energy and Finance Specialist will be responsible for the following duties:
Provide policy direction, strategic advisory and advocacy.
- Provide policy and strategic advisory support to relevant Government institutions and UNDP on climate change, access to energy, finance, climate security, and other environmental themes;
- Develop and advocate for innovative policy and financial mechanisms for climate change, renewable energy, climate security etc;
- Guide the development and implementation of policies, strategies, and initiatives aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, access to clean energy, climate resilience, and low-carbon development in Nigeria;
- Provide strategic guidance and technical expertise to support Nigeria in achieving its climate goals, including implementing the Paris Agreement and fulfilling its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);
- Contribute to global and country-level debates on environment, climate change, energy, and climate security.Â
Lead Programme Development and Resource Mobilization.
- Lead and direct the development of programmes, projects, and other initiatives in consultation with government counterparts and the Energy and Climate Change Team;
- Identify potential funding from vertical funds, multilateral and bilateral donors;
- Negotiate funding and partnerships, including with the private sector, development banks, and other development finance institutions;
- Identify, develop and roll-out new business opportunities, and self-funding environment, energy and climate change interventions and initiatives;
- Facilitate partnerships and resource mobilization efforts to support climate action initiatives in Nigeria, including engaging with government agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, and the private sector.
Facilitate effective learning and development, and sharing knowledge, advocacy, and communication.
- Ensure development interventions are geared towards achieving results frameworks;
- Create platforms that promote learning and development of knowledge products;
- Analyze and synthesize data, information, and prepare lessons learned reports. Develop programming kits, methodologies, training manuals, and codified knowledge products;
- Guide the UNDP Nigeria Country Office on integrating climate change and environmental considerations, and climate security into its programming, with a focus on promoting green economy and durable peace.
Lead develop and operationalize climate finance and investment strategy.
- Lead and direct the development of financing options for programmes, projects, and other initiatives in consultation with government counterparts and identify potential funding from vertical funds and bilateral donors;
- Provide advisory support to the UNDP Nigeria Country Office and government counterparts on emerging issues related to innovative climate finance;
- Guide the development of a climate finance and investment strategy to guide resource mobilization and investments;
- Support the mainstreaming of climate finance, disaster risk reduction, climate risk financing, nature-based solutions, and climate security considerations into national development plans, policies, and strategies;
- Mobilize climate finance for the NDC Implementation Framework, Adaptation Compact, and Net-Zero Investment Plan;
- Strengthen coordination and collaboration to enable effective mobilization of climate finance in Nigeria.
Facilitate effective partnerships with Government, Donors, Bilateral and Private Sector.
- Advise and support the national framework/policy for Article 6 and related financing instruments, and the deployment of carbon market mechanism;
- Strengthen partnerships with international climate finance institutions, bilateral donors, private sector entities, and other stakeholders to leverage additional resources for climate action in Nigeria;
- Provide technical assistance to government agencies and other stakeholders in developing bankable project proposals;
- Lead the mainstreaming of NDC into national development plans, budgets, and other strategies.
- Align ETP/NDC/Net-Zero-decarbonization/Long Term Strategy and related opportunities.
Develop, implement, and track mitigation, adaptation, and energy projects.
- Develop at least four project ideas, concept notes, and proposals per year, and present them to investors, identified from priority projects in the Climate Investment Plan and other national climate investment plans or programmes;
- Map, identify, and prepare an inventory of high-profile, low-emission, and climate-resilient projects developed by MDAs, state governments, and the private sector to a bankable stage;
- Advise and support the operationalization of the Climate Change Fund established under the Climate Change Act;
- Support Donor/Investors Round Tables aimed at mobilizing resources for NDC Implementation.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Negotiation and Influence: Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations
Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
Nature, Climate and Energy: Energy efficiency concepts, renewable energy, access to energy technologies and practical application.
Nature, Climate and Energy: Energy: Energy access
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Economics, Climate Change Environmental Management, or other closely related field 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 degreeÂ
Experience
- A minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in climate change, natural resource management, environmental assessments, political affairs, diplomacy, international relations, law, disarmament, peace and security, development management, conflict resolution or related areas is required;
- Experience in climate/environment-security issues and/or environmental governance, climate finance, decarbonization, and resource mobilization, preferably in least developed countries (LDCs) both at field level as well at senior management positions and in Africa is desirable;
- Experience working in an international organization or non-governmental organization – in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable;Â
- Extensive demonstrable experience in political outreach, facilitation, analysis, advice, and reporting is required;Â
- Demonstrable experience in drafting and editing high quality analytical reports is required.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section
- Experience in climate/environment-security issues and/or environmental governance, climate finance, decarbonization, and resource mobilization, preferably in least developed countries (LDCs) both at field level as well at senior management positions and in Africa is desirable;
- Experience working in an international organization or non-governmental organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable;
- Experience in aid coordination, aid management, resource mobilization and work with UN Country Teams is desirable
Languages
- Fluency in oral and written English is required.
- Working knowledge of another UN language is desirable.