Climate Finance Senior Advisor - Retainer

Organizational Context

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees over 250 projects in 40 countries, focusing on fragile and conflict-affected settings. The Technical Services Unit (TSU), part of this office, provides multidisciplinary design, assessments, and advisory services globally. The TSU is expanding its climate and climate finance expertise to support projects and partners worldwide.

Job Purpose

The Climate Finance Senior Advisor will provide strategic and technical guidance to the Technical Services Unit (TSU) and its partners. This role is crucial for identifying, developing, and advancing opportunities within the climate and climate finance sectors. The advisor will support project managers, donor partners, government entities, and TSU personnel by offering expertise on climate adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable financing mechanisms. The ultimate goal is to enhance UNOPS' engagement and effectiveness in addressing climate-related challenges and securing funding for climate action initiatives across its global portfolio.

Responsibilities

The Climate Finance Senior Advisor will focus on several key areas. This includes identifying strategic entry points for UNOPS in climate finance, covering adaptation, mitigation, and resilient infrastructure, and analyzing current climate portfolios to find synergies and opportunities. The advisor will also engage with global and regional climate financing mechanisms, assess opportunities from UNOPS initiatives, and align donor priorities with UNOPS capabilities. Stakeholder engagement involves mapping key players, developing engagement strategies, and advising on interactions with government institutions. Furthermore, the role entails providing technical advice on institutional readiness, developing capacity-building tools, and offering quality assurance for climate-related proposals. Finally, the advisor will support pipeline development by screening opportunities, conceptualizing projects aligned with national strategies, and assisting in structuring partnerships and integrating climate finance components into existing programs.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of experience in climate finance, development finance, or related sectors is essential. Demonstrated experience with international climate finance mechanisms and multilateral funds (e.g., Green Climate Fund, GEF, Adaptation Fund) is required. Experience engaging with governments, regional institutions, development banks, and donors, along with proven stakeholder engagement and technical advisory skills, is highly desirable.

Skills

Climate Finance, Climate Change, Development Finance, Stakeholder Engagement, Project Development, Technical Advisory, Capacity Building, Partnerships, Finance Management, Strategy and Planning, Communication.

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