PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Climate Change Division supports international partners in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and strengthening environmental management in developing countries. The role is within the Climate Finance Unit in Nairobi, focusing on unlocking and redirecting capital towards sustainable land use and deforestation-free commodity production to achieve net-zero, nature-positive impacts.

Job Purpose

This role coordinates the implementation of the 'Innovative Finance for the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco (IFACC)' initiative, a partnership between UNEP, TNC, and WEF. The purpose is to drive systems-level change in commodity markets, ensuring food production ceases to drive deforestation or habitat conversion. The incumbent will manage project implementation, coordinate catalytic capital and agricultural transition finance activities, ensure timely delivery of UNEP's responsibilities, engage with financiers and stakeholders, and contribute to unlocking catalytic capital. The role also involves donor engagement, reporting, seeking synergies with other projects, and assessing potential geographic expansion of the initiative.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the effective implementation of the IFACC initiative, monitoring progress, analyzing challenges, and initiating remedial actions. Prepare and review project documents and reports, including progress, technical, fiscal, and briefing notes. Manage the recruitment of experts and procurement of equipment. Lead UNEP's activities on catalytic capital and agricultural transition finance, engaging with public and private financiers. Ensure timely delivery of all UNEP responsibilities through internal coordination and work-plan assessment. Travel as needed to engage with stakeholders, including government agencies, finance institutions, agri-food companies, and NGOs. Collaborate with TNC and WEF to unlock catalytic capital. Manage donor engagement, ensuring timely and accurate reporting of progress, challenges, and achievements. Liaise with other Climate Finance Unit projects to identify and implement synergies. Assess and report on the potential for geographic expansion of the IFACC initiative. Collect and analyze data to provide insights for planning, decision-making, and reporting.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressive experience in sustainable finance, sustainable agricultural supply chains, private sector engagement, or project management, with at least two years at the international level, is required. Experience with private finance institutions is mandatory. Experience with agricultural supply chain corporates and UN entities is desirable. Two or more years of data analytics experience is also desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning and Organizing, Communication, Sustainable finance, Sustainable agricultural supply chains, Private sector engagement, Project management, Data analysis, Research and analysis, Problem-solving, Reporting, Stakeholder engagement.

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