Background

The Green Climate Fund (“GCF”) is a multilateral fund created to make a significant and ambitious contribution to the global efforts towards attaining the goals set by the international community to combat climate change. 
GCF will contribute to the achievement of the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In the context of sustainable development, GCF will promote the paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change, taking into account the needs of those developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. GCF is governed by a Board, composed of an equal representation of developed and developing countries. The Fund is operated by an independent Secretariat headed by an Executive Director. 

The Fund seeks to recruit a Readiness and Adaptation Planning Consultant to carry out the tasks, duties and responsibilities, deliver the set deliverables and provide support to the hiring unit as detailed below. The consultant will join GCF team on  Remote based. The assignment is for an initial 150 days over a 12-month period. 
 

Role

The Readiness Technical Assistance Consultant for Africa will report to the Regional Manager - Africa and will have as key role to support developing countries to identify their institutional Readiness needs (in terms of accessing GCF finances), identify action plans to address these needs through GCF Readiness funds and support NDAs/DAEs and national or regional Delivery Partners to develop good quality GCF Readiness proposals.

The Readiness and Adaptation Planning Consultant will be responsible for supporting the Readiness and adaptation planning proposal co-development process. S/he will provide technical support to National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and Readiness Delivery Partners in i) the co-development of Readiness proposals and adaptation planning Readiness requests, ii) quality assurance check prior to the submission of Readiness proposals and adaptation planning Readiness requests and inform the clearance of subsequent submissions by  GCF National Designated Authorities (NDA) and their Delivery Partners (DPs), following the interdivisional review and leading to endorsement by the Readiness Working Group (RWG). S/he will also support the development of guidance and knowledge products and will contribute to strengthening results, relationships between results, indicator formulation, and performance measurement over the Readiness programme cycle.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the supervising Regional Manager, the Consultant will be responsible for:

• Providing advice and support to NDAs and Delivery Partners in accessing GCF support programmes for Readiness and adaptation planning through the identification of country’s needs and priority areas for GCF interventions;
• Providing technical support for the co-development of Readiness and Adaptation Planning proposals and supporting documentation submitted to the GCF under the Readiness Programme, in line with the quality assurance criteria established by the Secretariat and the objectives of the GCF more broadly;
• Contributing to the quality assurance of Readiness and Adaptation Planning proposals prior to the submission and interdivisional review process, and to subsequent iterations following proposal resubmission;
• Supporting the preparation and review of reports, operational guidelines, tools and other products including communications and knowledge products with respect to the Readiness Programme, including through analyzing the expected outcomes on a monthly basis and incorporating lessons learned into the proposal development process;
• Supporting the refinement of the guidance provided to NDAs and DPs, to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of the delivery of readiness resources, in consultation with relevant stakeholders;
• Reviewing of technical deliverables of Readiness and Adaptation Planning grants, Country Programming documents and proposing corrective actions, when requested;
• Contributing to the development of strategies and plans to enhance countries’ access to GCF resources for programming;
• Providing advice and support to NDAs and Delivery Partners in accessing GCF support programmes for Readiness and adaptation planning through the co-development of Readiness proposals;
• Conducting in-country missions when required to provide such technical assistance with the aim of also building capacity in the countries;
• Performing other related tasks as deemed necessary.

Deliverables

For each specific assignment, the Readiness Technical Assistance Consultant will be requested to produce and seek approval of a work plan from the Regional Manager - Africa. Deliverables will be expected to include, as applicable:

• National level capacity assessments of relevant developing country institutions (e.g. NDA, finance institutions, GCF Direct Access Entities, national or regional DPs);
• Aide memoire agreed between NDA (of target country) and GCF;
• Draft Readiness proposal, or record of inputs made into a Readiness proposal being strengthened; and
• Mission reports, when applicable.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in environmental studies, development studies, international affairs, economics or another relevant field;
• At least 13 years of experience in climate finance, project development and strategic planning in developing countries including in Africa and Least Developed Countries. Experience in GCF projects and Readiness programme or experience from a similar organisation is an advantage;
•  Extensive experience in managing or supporting the development of sectoral, national, and/or sub-national climate change policies and plans, including adaptation planning;
• Demonstrated ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions and make quality decisions;
• Ability to persuade, convince and create buy-in for ideas and initiatives in order to advance goals and strategies;
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in the pursuit of organisational goals;
• Exceptionally strong organisational skills and focus on details;
• Ability to multi-task and meet strict deadlines;
• Fluency in English and French is essential; knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese is an advantage.

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged.

Please indicate your earliest availability to take up the assignment.

The closing date for applications is 02 May 2023, 11:59 PM (KST). Applications submitted after the closing date may not be considered.