Agriculture & Forest Finance consultant at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities

• UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Ecosystem Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of the UNEP’s IFACC Project Manager and in close cooperation with the Chief, Climate Finance Unit the consultant will act as the analyst responsible for supporting the different activities related to innovative finance in the Latin America region with focus on the Innovative Finance for the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco initiative.

The specific tasks that he/she will be responsible for across these projects include:

• Engage companies, banks, investors, and other financiers of the value chains of beef, soy, and other agricultural products to promote sustainable production without further deforestation or conversion;
• Support the relationship management of current and potential IFACC signatories;
• Support in organizing IFACC and partner organizations events;
• Develop short post-event content to support IFACC Communications team;
• Participate in meetings and provide technical content to the IFACC Communications team;
• Develop the adaptation of content and support in delivering training on innovative financial mechanisms for companies, producers associations, cooperatives, financial institutions, and/or central banks in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay;
• Administer a post-training survey to at least 70% of the participants of the trainings delivered in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay;
• Lead in conducting interviews and surveys with signatories to collect feedback in cooperation with IFACC partners;
• Develop lessons learned reports based on the feedback collected with the IFACC signatories;
• Support the UNEP-WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Center) team in evaluating the impacts of financial instruments launched by IFACC signatories;
• Support the UNEP’s IFACC project manager and/or Chief, Climate Finance Unit to organize meetings, workshops and other activities related to IFACC and/or innovative finance initiatives in Latin America region;
• Assist UNEP’s IFACC project manager and/or Chief, Climate Finance Unit in project management activities related to IFACC on behalf of UNEP;
• Support identifying synergies and engage with other UNEP-managed projects taking place in Brazil and neighboring countries such as the TEEBAgriFood, the TradeHub (managed by UNEP-WCMC), GEF-funded FOLUR and other relevant projects to be identified by the consultant.

Qualifications/special skills

• The consultant should have a bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, economic, international relations, or natural resource management with at least seven (7) years of professional experience working with financial institutions on forest and/or agricultural finance, agribusinesses, non-governmental organizations, and governments.
• In addition, it would be an asset if the consultant has an excellent network with government agencies in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, as well as having a network with agribusinesses, traders, banks, and investors.
• In addition, he/she should be autonomous and computer literate in standard software applications; have excellent writing and communication skills; good analytical skills with an interest in the topic of sustainable land use and green finance; have good interpersonal skills. Although, he or she will work in a small team, it is essential that the chosen candidate can work in an independent manner to complete the given assignments.

Languages

• Fluency in oral and written English and Portuguese is required. Being able to speak, write and communicate in Spanish is a distinct advantage.

Closing Date: 01 November 2023