NDC Partnership Economic Advisor – The Kingdom of Eswatini (Technical Specialist Environment) – Retainer Homebased

Functional Responsibilities

1. Enhanced coordination and dialogue 

2. Mobilisation and Preparation of Climate Finance Projects/Programmes and policy advocacy

3. Needs and Readiness Assessment for Implementing Article 6 in Eswatini

4. Capacity building, Knowledge management, Communications and Reporting 

Enhanced coordination and dialogue 

• Facilitate the revival of the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) and its role in the critical area of coordination in the management of national climate issues and interface with the international conjuncture;

• Contribute to the development of key national climate plans and strategies, including the NDC Implementation Plan, climate project investment plans across the different Ministries and relevant organisations, while ensuring their compatibility with the conditions of access to various sources of climate finance and ensuring the buy-in of key partners and stakeholders; 

• Identify and map opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with implementing and development partners and curate information of current trends across the climate and finance ecosystem;

• Contribute to the definition of agendas and preparation of concept notes for relevant high-level dialogues, panels and round tables on climate finance; 

• Propose inter-ministerial coordination approaches to climate change, scientific committee on climate change among others from the central to the local level; 

• Liaise with climate-related sectoral units to ensure coordination and integration of national climate policies

• Promote bilateral and multilateral agreements between the MTEA, MEPD and new strategic cooperation partners such as the countries of South-South cooperation.

• Coordinating the costing the NDC 3.0 and updating the NDC Implementation Plan costing

• Contribute to the NDC Investment Plan development process 

• Coordinate the LT-LEDS costing process

Mobilization and Preparation of Climate Finance Projects/Programmes and policy advocacy

• Identify climate finance opportunities and mechanisms for the implementation of climate-resilient and low-carbon sectoral projects and programmes; 

• Facilitate information sessions on climate finance opportunities and mechanisms with sectors, implementing and development partners and multilateral institutions; 

• Develop five funding proposals, with a potential combined value of USD 75 million, are finalised and approved by Government for submission to Multilateral climate finance institutions by June 2025.

• Advise the MTEA and MEPD on the best strategies for mobilizing climate resources and support national entities in project design

• Undertake prioritisation exercises with relevant regional institutions and national governments for the identification of pipeline projects. 

• Coordinate Government officials to develop concept notes and proposals through provision of technical inputs consulting with ministries and government agencies

• Facilitate the potential use of debt for climate swaps as an innovative financing instrument to provide additional resources to vulnerable sectors and communities to take climate action and support a green recovery in Eswatini.

• Coordinate the development of a study on use of debt for climate swaps as an innovative financing instrument

• Facilitate the planning and hosting of a highly successful Donor and Investor Conference organised jointly with the ACMS  

• Coordinate the updating of the Master (Investment) Plan which would contain a compendium of projects for presentation during the Donor and Investor Conference

• Mapping and documenting financing pledges by donors and ensuring the information is captured in the relevant tools including the Online Partnership Plan Tool.

• Ensure that relevant planning tools including that for proposing new capital project as well as reporting on progress include appropriate climate change questions and considerations.

Needs and Readiness Assessment for Implementing Article 6 in Eswatini

• Lead the development of Terms of Reference for the readiness and needs assessment assignment and manage the consultants to ensure their deliver the scope of work 

• Contribute to the development of the needs and readiness assessment report backed by information collected through survey and interviews/consultations.

• Facilitate a Readiness and Needs Assessment Validation seek stakeholders’ feedback to the findings and recommendations 

• Assess government stakeholders’ views on Article 6 Governance Framework

• Facilitate technical consultations and support to the Government of Eswatini for establishing procedures, processes and institutional arrangements to identify, validate, manage, and supervise Article 6 transactions. 

Capacity building, Knowledge management, Communications and Reporting 

• Coordinate capacity building of line ministries and sector representatives of climate finance

• Produce and submit monthly and quarterly plan and progress reports and submit to the Ministry of Finance Focal Point for feedback and approval

• Support the National delegations to climate change negotiations through preparatory meetings and capacity strengthening on climate finance