Climate Finance and Country Platform Specialist
Organizational Context
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) supports sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding globally. Within this, the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio manages significant climate initiatives. The NDC Partnership, jointly hosted by WRI, UNOPS, and UNFCCC, strengthens capacity for country-owned climate action. This role is embedded within Lesotho's Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, supporting the NDC Partnership.
Job Purpose
This role serves to provide strategic technical support to Lesotho's Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, enhancing the nation's capacity to mobilize, coordinate, and effectively deploy climate finance. The Specialist will act as a central point for climate finance programming, ensuring alignment between national priorities, development financing frameworks, and international climate commitments. A key objective is to foster private sector participation and integrate Just Transition principles into climate finance strategies, thereby supporting national development and climate objectives and contributing to the operationalization of Lesotho's first Just Energy Transition Country Platform.
Responsibilities
The Specialist will coordinate the His Majesty III Country Platform, fostering collaboration among government, development partners, and the private sector to align climate investments with national priorities. Responsibilities include developing a pipeline of bankable climate investment projects, assisting in their classification against global green taxonomies, and supporting the preparation of investment-ready proposals. The role involves developing and implementing strategies for mobilizing climate finance from diverse sources, including exploring innovative instruments like green bonds and carbon markets. Engagement with development partners, climate funds, and investors will be coordinated, alongside providing technical advice on climate finance policies and mechanisms. Monitoring climate finance flows, supporting private sector participation, integrating Just Transition principles, and building government capacity in climate finance access and project preparation are also key duties. Knowledge sharing and documenting best practices will further enhance effectiveness.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressive professional experience in climate finance, sustainable development, or related fields is required. This includes significant experience working with climate funds, multilateral development banks, or international financial institutions. Demonstrated experience in mobilizing climate finance, developing investment pipelines, and supporting public-private partnerships is essential. Experience working with government institutions on climate change policy and strategies is also required.
Skills
Capacity Building, Climate Finance, Policy Analysis, Project Management, Report Writing, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Thinking, Partnerships, Resource Mobilisation, Investment Pipeline Development