Vacancy Announcement

     Secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) 

                     Division of Project Facilitation and Support (PFS)

Publication Date:                                     23 July 2024

Deadline for Application:                        22 August 2024 (at midnight, Abu Dhabi Local Time)

Title and Grade:                                       Associate Programme Officer – Project Facilitation, P-2 

Indicative Annual Remuneration:          (a.) Annual Net Salary[1]: USD 50,377 to USD 58,737

                                                                   (b.) Post Adjustment[2]: USD 36,976.72 to USD 43,112.96                                                                  

Duration of Appointment:                        One Year, with possible extension

Duty Station:                                             Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates                    

Entry on Duty:                                           Position for Roster Talent Pipeline Development

Background

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organisation headquartered in Abu Dhabi, mandated to promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. IRENA’s mission is to play a leading role in the ongoing transformation of the global energy systems as a centre of excellence for knowledge and innovation, a global voice of renewable energy, a network hub for all stakeholders and a source of advice and support for countries. At present, IRENA has 169 Members (168 States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 15 additional States in the process of accession and actively engaged. IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. The Agency implements its mandate with the view to sustainable development, increased energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

The Project Facilitation and Support (PFS) division integrates all the previous initiatives of IRENA related to project facilitation. It has an ambitious goal to achieve a tangible impact by facilitating funding and investments for promising projects, co-organising regional Investment Forums with matchmaking events, and fostering cooperation between international institutions that have compatible objectives.

The core of the PFS modus-operandi is to facilitate and support IRENA Member States to achieve their Nationally Determined Contribution renewable energy targets by building a solid pipeline of projects covering the entire project size spectrum from utility scale projects to commercial and industrial level, and micro & small level projects, as well as energy efficiency measures. This includes facilitating their realization through a comprehensive set of operational tools including – but not limited to – project-based technical assistance packages, targeted de-risking instruments and structured capacity building.

The division hosts the Climate Investment Platform (CIP), as well as the Energy Transition Accelerator Finance (ETAF) Platform. Both CIP and ETAF are inclusive, multi-stakeholder climate finance platforms, which pursue facilitating capital mobilisation to scale up the development of renewable energy projects to advance the energy transition across developing markets.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Director of PFS and the direct supervision of the Head of the Project Facilitation Unit, the Associate Programme Officer (APO) will primarily support the operationalisation of the Climate Investment Platform (CIP), one of the main instruments that organises IRENA’s contribution to project facilitation. The activities that the APO will undertake, primarily include supporting promising renewable energy (RE) projects to achieve financial close, organising regional Investment Forums with matchmaking events, and fostering cooperation between international institutions that have compatible objectives. Specific responsibilities include:

• Assessment of incoming enquiries and registrations on the CIP: PFS receives daily requests for project-related support and offers to cooperate on project facilitation initiatives. The APO will register incoming requests and assess their potential contribution to the objectives of the platform and organise feedback.
• Monitor the renewable energy investment landscape: The APO will systematically review other initiatives that are comparable or relevant to the work of PFS, make recommendations on the best way to engage them, and take initiatives to maximise the efforts, leverage synergies and avoid duplications.
• Account management of partners: The APO will liaise with registered partners in the CIP regarding projects and initiatives of IRENA; and with financing partners on proposals that meet their eligibility criteria; and give feedback to registered partners on relevant matters. The APO will coordinate the different actions and ensure seamless cooperation among stakeholders.
• Project support: The APO will monitor the projects that have been accepted on the platform, collect information that is required by partners, help them to use IRENA’s project facilitation tools and organise the support needed to make them “investment ready” and/or “bankable”.
• Collect, organise and assess information: The APO will coordinate data collection and database management including information related to countries and their financing needs for relevant projects and capacity to attract investment in the renewable energy sector.
• Capacity building and training delivery: The APO will assist in the preparation of capacity building and training for developers and financial institutions, in targeted regions or countries as necessary. 
• Contribution to marketing efforts: The APO will contribute to the various communications and marketing initiatives to make the project facilitation work of IRENA more visible and better understood.
• Preparation of Investment Forums and matchmaking events: The APO will assist with the organisation of relevant regional events, including logistics, content, engagement of partners, preparation of projects and practical organisation activities.
• Contribution to project facilitation tools: The APO will contribute to the management, development and dissemination of the different instruments managed by IRENA that are helping projects to achieve financial close. Additionally, the APO will contribute to IRENA’s publications and presentations from time to time.
• The APO will perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of renewable energy finance, project finance and project management, with a particular focus on developing countries. Familiarity with renewable energy economics and technologies. Ability to assess RE projects feasibility with minimal guidance. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions and make conclusions and recommendations. Demonstrates professional competence in subject matter and pays attention to detail; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. 

Communication: Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills, both oral and written; creates and promotes enabling environment for open communication; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients.

Accountability: Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organisational regulations and rules; supports peers and colleagues, provides oversight and takes ownership of delegated responsibilities; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable;

Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, public policy, political science, energy management, sustainable development, environment, natural science, finance, economics, or another relevant field. A first- level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience, some of which should be at the international level and involve the private sector; including direct involvement in renewable energy projects and/or renewable energy project preparation and project management, or project finance.

Language: Excellent command of written and spoken English. Fluency in other UN languages would be an advantage.

                                                                           *****

Qualified candidates must apply for the above-mentioned vacancy on-line, through IRENA’s recruitment platform, ORC by submitting a complete and comprehensive application, CV and a letter of interest, including details of three professional references who will be contacted if their application is shortlisted.

Applications from qualified women, especially from nationals of developing countries, are highly encouraged.

Please note that only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for an interview and will receive notice of the outcome of the selection process.