The Green Climate Fund (GCF)—a critical element of the historic Paris Agreement—is the world’s largest climate fund mandated to support low-emission, climate-resilient development pathways. As an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF contributes to the goal of keeping an average global temperature rise well below two degrees Celsius.

The Fund seeks to engage a Associate Counsel 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 HQ based. The assignment is for an initial 160 days over a 8-month period.

Role

Under the guidance of a Senior Counsel, the Consultant will carry out any task required for the support of OGC in a timely manner in close consultation with the General Counsel, Senior Counsels, Legal Counsels and Associate Counsels in OGC.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose
Under the guidance of the General Counsel, Senior Counsels, Legal Counsels and Associate Counsels, the Consultant will be responsible for:

• Reviewing and preparing notices under Funded Activity Agreements (FAAs) and/or Accreditation Master Agreements (AMAs), including but not limited to notices of extension and notices of effectiveness;
• Reviewing and confirming execution memoranda in respect of FAAs and AMAs;
• Reviewing and confirming evidence submitted by Accredited Entities to the Fund in connection with the satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness of FAAs and/or AMAs and conditions to disbursement under FAA;
• Reviewing and confirming memoranda to be presented to GCF’s Operations Committee and/or Senior Management Team, which will include memoranda analysing the implications of extension and change requests from Accredited Entities for existing Funded Activities, and preparing briefs for the General Counsel in relation to such requests;
• Assisting in the drafting and review of legal agreements with Accredited Entities including side letters and amendments to such legal agreements for existing Funded Activities;
• Coordinating the preparation of briefs for the General Counsel with respect to matters to be considered by GCF’s Climate Investment Committee and Operations Committee and the written votes by the General Counsel with respect to such matters; and
• Undertaking other tasks as may be assigned by the Senior Counsel.

Engagement

• Engaging and coordinating with assigned project lawyers and relevant Task Teams or lead Secretariat division;
• Advising Task Teams and relevant Secretariat divisions on the legal obligations under FAAs, AMAs and the policy framework of GCF;
• Advising and updating the General Counsel on the status and clearance of legal documents, notices and/or memoranda to be approved, endorsed and/or signed by the General Counsel; and
• Participating in OGC Team and OGC Projects Team meetings.

Delivery
• Timely delivery of legal documents, including accompanying briefing notes, and thorough, accurate and timely completion of legal review of notices and memoranda;
• Timely confirmation and/or clearance of legal documents, notices and memoranda;
• Sound practical legal advice on the legal and reporting obligations under FAAs, AMAs and the policy framework of GCF; and
• Accurate and complete summaries and presentations to the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel and/or in OGC Team and Projects Team meetings.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Juris Doctor, LLB, or equivalent law degree; qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction (additional LLM degree is a plus);
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience with a well-recognized law firm, an international financial institution and/or a development institution (experience related to public international law and/or international organizations would be an advantage);
• Ability to work independently and under pressure with a high-level of accuracy;
• Excellent legal drafting, writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, and highly developed cultural sensitivity in communicating with all levels of staff and external clients, both orally and in writing;
• Emotional intelligence and values-driven work ethic;
• Good problem-solving aptitude and creativity;
• A willingness and enthusiasm to delve into novel areas of law; and
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential for this position; knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Please indicate your earliest availability to take up assignment, and notice-period required, if employed.

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

Closing date for applications is 21 August 2023, 23:59 (KST). Applications submitted after the closing date may not be considered.