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 Regional Readiness Consultant – Asia 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 180 days over a 12 months-month period.

Role

The Regional Readiness Consultant – Asia will be responsible for supporting the readiness (including adaptation planning) proposal development process that focuses on developing countries in East, South, and West Asia. Under the guidance and direction of the Regional Manager, the consultant will provide technical support to developing countries in the co-development of their readiness proposals to meet our quality assurance for submissions by the GCF’s National Designated Authorities (NDA) and their Delivery Partners (DPs). The consultant also will support the development of guidance and knowledge products; contribute to strengthening results, relationships between results, indicator formulation, and performance measurement; and support the country engagement processes towards the delivery of Country Programmes and Entity Work Programmes..

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Regional Manager – Asia, s/he will be responsible for but not limited to:

• Provide technical support for the co-development of Readiness (including Adaptation Planning) proposals and supporting documentation submitted to the GCF under the Readiness Programme, in line with standard operating procedures and with the quality assurance and review criteria established by the Secretariat and the objectives of the GCF more broadly:

• Provide support in reviewing and synthesizing country programmes, country-level climate plans, policies, and strategies and also support countries to undertake or update readiness capacity needs assessments;
• Provide technical support to NDAs, and DPs in addressing comments provided by the Secretariat after each round of review and before resubmission, in alignment with the Secretariat’s quality assurance process;
• Support the preparation and review of reports, operational guidelines, tools, analytical products, presentations and other products including communications and knowledge products with respect to the Readiness Programme, including analyses of expected outcomes, as required, and incorporating lessons learned into the proposal development process;
• Support 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;
• Review of technical deliverables of Readiness (including Adaptation Planning) grants, Country Programmes and Entity Work Programmes and proposing guidance, when required/requested;
• Contribute to the development of policies and strategies to enhance countries’ access to GCF resources for programming, including through the use of readiness and other access modalities;
• Support in-country missions as well as regional and global dialogues and workshops, and other readiness related activities to provide technical assistance with the aim of building capacity in the countries, as required;
• Provide information to the Regional Manager on significant events in the region and/or countries relevant to their relationship with GCF and provide other support the Deputy Director of Country Programming and/or the Programming Coordinator on readiness related matters, or as may be required from time to time.
• Performing related tasks as deemed necessary.

The Regional Readiness Consultant will work with the Regional Manager and the Regional Officer of South, East, and West Asia in managing the support provided to the region for readiness related matters, on a monthly basis.

Deliverables may include:

• Documented support to NDA in the development of draft readiness proposals (e.g. Draft readiness proposal with inputs, or record of inputs made into a draft readiness proposal being strengthened).
• Advisory note recording guidance offered and next steps;
• National level readiness capacity needs assessments of relevant developing country institutions (e.g. NDA, finance institutions, GCF Direct Access Entities);
• Aide Memoire agreed between targeted NDA and GCF, mission reports for missions undertaken;
• Mission and other engagement reports with clear outcomes and follow up actions; and
• Briefing notes, background papers, presentations, speeches/remarks.

In addition to the quality of deliverables, the consultant’s performance assessments may also be linked directly to:

• Client satisfaction ratings (to be assessed periodically/annually);

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public administration/policy, economics, environmental studies, development studies, climate finance or other relevant fields;
• At least 13 years of experience in institutional strengthening, proposal development, technical assistance, and results-based management on climate change related planning or project development in developing countries;
• Strong networks with government officials and/or government organization, civil society, and private sectors involved in climate change responses; and operational experience in providing specialized climate change-related technical assistance to the government officials and/or government organizations in developing country contexts; similar experience with civil society and private organizations will be a plus;
• Experience with the logical framework approach to project design and monitoring, as well as quantitative, qualitative and participatory monitoring approaches; Experience in working with countries in East, South, and West Asia;
• Experience in project/programme formulation and analysis;
• Strong competence and autonomy in the use of standard software programmes: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook; and robust data management skills;
• Fluency in English is essential; knowledge of other UN languages 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 20 April 2023 (KST). Applications submitted after the closing date may not be considered.