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Environmental Policy Specialist

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Background

 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

 
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description 
 
  • UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. 

 

  • UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

 

  • In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. Biodiversity Finance Plans have become increasingly recognised as a relevant tool to help countries to identify and fill the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative www.biofin.org. In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. This included numerous targets with relevance for financing. Target 19 on resource mobilisation includes reference for countries to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans. 

 

  • The GEF created a global programme to support countries to design a national Biodiversity Finance Plan. A Biodiversity Finance Plan includes a systems analysis of a country’s economy including to map existing financing mechanisms, subsidies with potential harmful impacts on nature, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, public and private expenditures committed towards biodiversity objectives and a country’s national financial needs for biodiversity. The biodiversity finance plan itself consists of a series of actions with the aim to significantly scale up available funding, green or phase out harmful finance flows and improve the effectiveness of available expenditures. The programme allows for active sharing of experiences across countries and includes a knowledge sharing platform and the provision of continuous technical support to country teams.
  • The implementation of the project in Suriname falls under the GEF8 Umbrella programme for the development of the first National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The overall implementation of the project will be led by the Project Lead/Senior Finance Expert with the support of a technical team and in coordination to a government project director and the National Steering Committee.

  

  • For the implementation of the GEF8-BFP Umbrella programme at the national level, UNDP is recruiting a national team composed of a Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead), a Project Support Associate, a Policy Specialist and a Biodiversity Finance Analyst. 

 

  • The Environmental Policy Specialist will lead the production of the Policy and Institutional Review and will provide initial input to support the Project Lead to develop the Biodiversity Finance Plan. 

 

Scope of Work 

Under the over-all guidance of the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead), the Environmental Policy Specialist (‘the Policy Specialist’) is expected to lead the production of the Policy and Institutional Review (PIR) and provide initial inputs to start development of the Biodiversity Finance Plan, following the guidance provided by the latest version of the BIOFIN Workbook and with detailed data.

The Policy Specialist will also, as much as possible, provide input to all other national outputs, including critical stakeholder analysis for the Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER) and summarize critical priorities and policies for the latest part of the methodology Biodiversity Finance Plan. The Specialist should provide input to the feedback on the BIOFIN methodological framework.

The Policy Specialist will assess and describe major biodiversity related policies, legal framework and identify existing finance solutions relevant to biodiversity finance as described in the most recent version of the BIOFIN Workbook. The Specialist will focus on the most recent National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) that would ideally be in the process of alignment with the new Kunming Montreal GBF Framework.   

The Policy Specialist will review BER and CPEIR consortium deliverables, produce drafts and analyses that will be reviewed and ultimately validated by the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead) and the BIOFIN Global Team.

1.) For the Policy and Institutional Review (PIR)
  • Collaborate the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead) in the conception and preparation of the PIR. 
  • Plan and implement the PIR step of the BIOFIN methodology.
  • Identify relevant stakeholders to inform and participate this step.
  • Stocktake and analyse relevant biodiversity related policy instruments and studies (such as harmful subsidies analysis that might be delivered prior or parallel to this step of the methodology), these include NBSAPs and beyond.
  • Develop an inventory of existing Biodiversity Financing Mechanisms in the country.
  • Review existing economic valuation studies relevant to the BIOFIN process.
  • Review legal framework relevant to the BIOFIN process.
  • Review other sources relevant to BD finance. 
  • Identify existing national positive and negative incentives/subsidies following available guidance.
2.) For Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER)
  • Ensure clear description of relevant stakeholders, sectors, and institutions to inform the BER analysis.

 
3.) For the Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment (FNA)
  • Ensure the relevant findings of financial mechanisms that contribute to biodiversity finance and potential areas in need of finance 

 
4.)  For Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP)
  • Provide to the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead) a summary of findings, finance mechanism baseline, and initial preparation guidance of the BFP. 
  • Support detailed feasibility analyses on a range of financing mechanisms depending on knowledge and experience.
5.) For Project Outreach and Communication
  • Preparation of workshops, meetings, networking, and presentations as required, to complete the Policy and Institutional Review.
  • Provide substantive comments and feedback on how to improve the existing methodologies.
6.)   For Knowledge Management and Reporting
  • Document decisions and assumptions made while completing the Policy and Institutional Review (PIR) 
  • Document lessons learned from conducting the BFP project ranging from institutional considerations to technical issues.
  • Prepare reports and case studies, as required, for submission to global meetings (e.g. CBD COP).
  • Provide insights and recommendations for the BFP. 
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

None

 

Institutional Arrangement

The Environmental Policy Specialist will be under the direct supervision of the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead). At the national level, Suriname will have as a part of the National Project Management Unit (NPMU), a full-time dedicated Project Lead/Sustainable Finance Expert, a Finance Specialist, an Environmental and Forest Policy Specialist supported by a cost-shared full-time Project Associate, and consultant team, comprised of Technical/Policy Lead, Policy and Institutional Review, Finance Specialist, Environmental Finance Expert and others, as needed.

 

UNDP shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have a direct relation to the project.

Competencies

Core :   

Achieve Results:

 

 LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 

Think Innovatively:

 

 LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 

Learn Continuously

 

 LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility 

 

 LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
Act with Determination  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

 

 LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

 

 LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

 

 

Cross-functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

2030 Agenda: Planet

Nature, Climate and Energy

Ecosystems and biodiversity: Biodiversity Finance

Administration & Operations 

Events Management (including retreats, trainings, and meetings)

Support offices with event management including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.

Business Direction & Strategy 

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

Partnership management

Private sector resource mobilization

 

Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.

Business Management

Project Management 

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Finance

 

Financial Planning and Budgeting

 

Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.

Procurement

Procurement management

The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source

 

 

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements

Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public policy, economic policy, with an environment /biodiversity/economic focus or an environmental/biodiversity specialist with public policy focus is required, or

A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

 
Min. years of relevant work experience  Minimum 5 years  (with master’s degree) or 7 years  (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in environmental finance, economics, management or related field.
Required skills 
  • Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner. 
  • Excellent verbal communication skills. 
  • Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously; 
  • Excellent analytical and organizational skills; 
  • Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner. 
  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback. 
  • Experience with the government, environmental policy and legal framework, environmental financial mechanisms is strongly desired. 
  • Experience in collaborating with international and national experts and institutions is desired.
  • Knowledge of key software packages (MS Office)
  • Ability to prepare publications, reports and presentations.
  • Able to work independently with little or no supervision.
Desired skills and competencies 
  • Exposure to environmental issues or biodiversity is desirable.
  • Previous experience with environmental finance would be an asset.  
  • Ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team. 
  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards; 
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; 
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; 
  • Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
Required Language(s) 
  • Fluency in Dutch and English is required. 

 

 

Diclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the NPSA  categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

 

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

 

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

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