INTRODUCTION

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as green growth, which targets key aspects of economic performance such a poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and the private sector to help build strong economies that are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. GGGI supports stakeholders through complementary and integrated workstreams that deliver comprehensive products designed to assist in developing, financing, and mainstreaming green growth in national economic development plans.

GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programs in developing countries around the world. These in-country programs, together with global products and services, focus on delivering results through an integrated approach of evidence-based green growth planning and implementation aligned to countries’ development priorities.

GGGI in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of the Government of Nicaragua is rolling out a 24-month technical assistance program to the Government of Nicaragua titled “Mobilizing Climate Finance and Private Investments for Low-Carbon Development in Nicaragua”. The program, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Preparatory Support Program, aims to enhance the institutional capacity, strategic frameworks, and project pipeline of the Government of Nicaragua to increase the mobilization of national and international climate finance and private investments for the implementation if the nationally determined contribution (NDC) and low carbon development

CONTEXT

Nicaragua’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) was originally submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2018, and updated in 2020. The development of the country’s NDC followed a highly participatory and consultative process, prioritizing engagement and validation with vulnerable groups, including native, afro-descendants and indigenous communities, women and youth. The resulting NDC is a highly ambitious plan inclusive of mitigation and adaptation measures.

Nicaragua relies on concessional international climate finance from development partners to finance its development and climate change objectives. However, the achievement of Nicaragua’s NDC targets requires a substantial increase in the volume of public and private, national and international climate finance invested in the country. The significant investment and efforts required for Nicaragua to implement its development and climate change plans risks being hampered by the impact of the 2018 attempted coup, COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes Eta and Iota, which hit the country, almost simultaneously, after a prolonged period of high debt-financed public infrastructure investments, weakening the country’s economic outlook, shifting priorities towards economic recovery, and reducing fiscal and policy space to pursue priority climate change initiatives. Although international climate finance offers some relief to the country´s growing debt to GDP ratio, the decreasing level of international aid and limited private sector participation in the country’s development agenda undermines the long-term sustainability of this fiscal approach.

GGGI program aims to support the Government of Nicaragua’s climate finance efforts by delivering a set of complementary workstreams:

– Workstream 1: Development of a climate finance roadmap

– Workstream 2: Accessing the green bond market to raise affordable long-term finance earmarked to priority mitigation and adaptation projects

– Workstream 3: Development of Nicaragua’s debt for climate swap strategy to free fiscal space to pursue NDC priority programs and projects

– Workstream 4: Greening Nicaragua’s banking sector

Project Goal: The Government of Nicaragua has adequate strategic frameworks to access long-term international climate finance and promote private sector participation and investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation through enabling strategies and plans, innovative sustainable finance instruments, and increased sustainability of its banking sector.

Goal Statement: IF the Government of Nicaragua builds its institutional capacity and enabling environment for climate finance THEN Nicaragua will be on track to meet its NDC targets BECAUSE the development of enabling climate finance frameworks, innovative sustainable finance instruments and sustainable banking practices will promote increased flow of international finance and private investments to NDC priority actions

The intervention’s primary beneficiaries include:

• The Ministry of Economy and Public Credit (MHCP) and Nicaragua Central Bank (BCN): the proposed Readiness grant will strengthen the capacity and systems of the MHCP and BCN to raise affordable long-term climate finance to meet Nicaragua’s NDC targets without compromising the government’s fiscal balance. MHCP and BCN will receive capacity building and technical assistance to design, structure and implement innovative climate finance instruments, including, green bonds and debt for climate swaps.
• The Superintendency of Banks and Other Financial Institutions (SIBOIF): the proposed Readiness grant will strengthen the capacity of the SIBOIF to develop, implement and enforce sustainable banking regulations and practices, in alignment with international sustainable banking standards and frameworks. Local financial institutions will benefit from enhanced capacity to screen and mitigate the environmental and social risk of transaction, improving their financial performance and the overall resilience of the domestic banking sector against climate change risks, while increasing the volume of credit disbursed to low-carbon, resilient projects, and vulnerable groups.
• Climate Change Secretariat of the Presidency of Nicaragua (SCCP): the proposed Readiness further the mission of the SCCP of implementing the National Climate Change Policy by strengthening the government’s institutional capacity and systems to access long-term concessional climate finance to implement the priority climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

PURPOSE

• Ensure that financial management of the Nicaragua program are carried out effectively
• Execute the financial management of the Nicaragua program, including budget development and monitoring, donor reporting, procurement and audit support.
• Review of TimeSheets and spending against budgets;
• Support procurement processes of consulting firms and service providers in compliance with the GCF Grant Agreement conditions, GGGI’s Rules and Regulations, and internal systems set up to conduct the process;
• Support hiring processes of staff and consultants in compliance with the GCF Grant Agreement conditions, GGGI’s Rules and Regulations, and internal systems set up to conduct the process;
• Support portfolio management review by producing perioding reports for the Program Lead and Program Steering Committee;
• Provide day to day support to the evaluation of the program operation effectiveness and cost-efficiency
• Take responsibility for day-to-day administration activities needed for the successful implementation of the project. Perform other administrative support as required, including note taking, agenda development, calendar updates and scheduling of meetings;

ENGAGEMENT

• Working closely with the Program Lead, the Finance, Admin and Procurement Senior Assistant will support the program implementation in all aspects related to financial monitoring, budgeting, procurement planning, human resources, administration, project preparation and closing;
• Conduct all budgeting and program financial execution and monitoring tasks in a timely and accurfate manner;
• Manage supplier relations with consulting firms, consultants, service providers and suppliers;
• Support and motivate GGGI in-country staff and individual consultants to know and to adopt efficiently and effectively GGGI’s rules, regulations, processes, and systems related to finance and procurement processes;
• Support the team in preparation of financial reporting and record-keeping complying with donor requirements;
• Coordinates communications with donor focal points for indicated projects for finance and procurement related communications;

DELIVERY

• Consolidate financial analyses and reports and papers for the GCF, Program Steering Committee, GGGI Management team and GGGI Program Lead
• Take responsibility for day-to-day administration activities as needed. Perform other administrative support as required in support to Senior Finance & Procurement Senior Associate.
• Prepare and ensure validation of Terms of Reference
• Develop and deliver onboarding material to new staff and consultants
• Develop, monitor and propose revisions to financial and procurement plans
• Develop and submit requests to the GCF and GGGI MT to obtain approval for the revision of financial and procurement plans
• Ensure the appropriate use of GGGI budget tools and systems by team members
• Support the preparation and presentation of budget execution reports monthly, quarterly, and yearly, including requests for auditing purposes and donor financial reporting;
• Support the provision of required inputs for carrying out internal/external audits in compliance with the requirements and standards of GGGI and respective donors;
• Guide the adequate and efficient use of relevant management and financial modules of GGGI’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System for the Country Program;
• Develop and keep updated the tools for monitoring projects execution of work plan and tasks;
• Develop and keep updated the tools for monitoring procurement planning, execution and amendment process;
• Support and train the team in the use of collaborative-work tools;

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in administration roles, planning and implementation of development plans as well as budgets; preferably in international organizations at the local level;
• Good level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.);
• Strong oral and written English is required.
• Ability to prepare written reports and business correspondence, both in Spanish and English;
• Ability to work well under pressure and have a flexible approach to tasks given;
• Experience/knowledge of green growth and sustainable development is a plus.
• Experience with resource planning softwares is a plus (e.g. ERP)
• Must be a national of Nicaragua;

FUNCTIONAL

• Able to achieve results in a quality, timely, and cost-effective way. Sees priorities, plans the efficient use of resources, and monitors progress against objectives;
• Seek opportunities to improve processes and outcomes. Frequently review performance to identify areas to develop;
• Respond positively to change and able to adapt quickly to new situations. Able to take on a diverse range of tasks equally effectively;
• Expertise with reliable hands in Microsoft Office;
• Exceptional ability to pay attention to details and accuracy, particularly when it comes to budgets, receipt and invoice organization, etc.;
• Fast learner, quick to adapt to new environment, systems and bring an immediate contribution. High literacy with systems, processes, and high level of analytical and logical thinking;
• Self-initiative, motivated, and team-oriented, with the capacity to work under pressure and with little supervision;
• Service-oriented to internal and external clients, with demonstrated abilities to find solutions, resolve problems, and overcome challenges.

CORPORATE

• Understands and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision, and values.
• Promotes an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect, and partnership.
• Has strong client orientation.
• Processes and shares information easily and is excellent at problem solving.
• Manages emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.
• Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Finance, Admin and Procurement Senior Assistant position is a National Position at X5 grade level in GGGI’s national salary scale. The salary range for the position is USD 15,216 – 23,910 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision. GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.