Sustainable Finance Specialist - Integrated Watershed Management
Organizational Context
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) leads and partners in environmental stewardship, aiming to improve quality of life without compromising future generations. UNEP monitors planetary health, centers science in decision-making, and upholds environmental law. Facing unprecedented environmental challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, UNEP is crucial in transforming economies and societies. This assignment is part of a European Commission-funded Sustainable Watershed Management Project in India, operating within UNEP India.
Job Purpose
This UN Volunteer assignment supports the India component of the Sustainable Watershed Management Project, funded by the European Commission. The role focuses on developing sustainable finance frameworks for integrated watershed management in India. The volunteer will conduct research, analyze financing approaches, document findings, and develop recommendations. A key contribution will be supporting the creation of a global guidance document based on lessons learned from India and Brazil, aiming for a scalable and replicable approach to sustainable watershed management. The position involves close collaboration with UNEP teams, project partners, national counterparts, and technical experts.
Responsibilities
Conduct targeted research and analysis on existing financing approaches and enabling conditions for integrated watershed management at national, state, and local levels in India. Analyze best practices and challenges through literature review and stakeholder consultations. Support the documentation of findings related to the financing dimension of the India pilot project. Develop a draft sustainable finance framework with recommendations for integrated watershed management, including assessing investment opportunities. Facilitate stakeholder consultations and coordinate with government agencies, financial institutions, partners, and experts. Draft technical outputs such as reports and presentations. Contribute to a global guidance document on sustainable finance for watershed management by synthesizing lessons from India and Brazil. Coordinate with UNEP teams and partners to integrate technical inputs. Support knowledge-sharing activities on sustainable finance and watershed management. Report regularly on progress and deliverables to the supervising officer and project lead.
Work Experience
Requires a minimum of 4 years of professional experience in sustainable finance, environmental finance, climate finance, investment analysis, or natural resource economics. Demonstrated experience in developing technical reports, policy papers, or financing frameworks is essential. Strong research and analysis skills for financing mechanisms and proven ability to produce high-quality written outputs are necessary. Experience with government institutions, financial sector engagement, watershed management, or UN system contexts is desirable.
Skills
Excellent written and verbal communication, strong drafting and reporting abilities, high accuracy, attention to detail, and professionalism. Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills for collaborative work with diverse stakeholders. Ability to work effectively in complex, multicultural environments under tight deadlines. Proficiency in MS Office and standard digital communication tools. Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of independent work. Expertise in natural resources management, communication, advocacy, economics, poverty reduction, and livelihoods is beneficial.