Portfolio Officer, ESARO, (GEF and GCF)- Nairobi at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Portfolio Management;

• Co-lead regional task management for the GEF-GCF portfolio by working closely with executing agencies, PMUs, technical and administrative staff from ESARO, the Regional Portfolio Manager, the Regional Programme Delivery Manager and when required, the Global Multilateral Finance Unit Director and the broader Multilateral Finance Unit.
• Manage the project pipeline and implementation portfolio using institutional tools and platforms (including the project portal), ensuring compliance with IUCN policies, procedures and guidelines for multilateral financing, as well as with GEF and GCF policies and processes.
• Provide substantive technical review of project concepts, PIFs and funding proposals against GEF focal-area and GCF investment-criteria requirements, including climate rationale, paradigm shift potential, and results framework quality, not only process and formatting compliance.
• In collaboration with the Regional Director, MFU Director and Regional Portfolio Manager, identify new project opportunities by convening internal and external stakeholders and aligning priorities with GEF, GCF and IUCN strategic agendas.
• Coordinate with GEF and GCF project development consultancy teams, including quality assurance of technical deliverables.
• Prepare periodic portfolio performance reports, including progress, financial delivery, challenges and risks, as required by IUCN and the Funds.
• Coordinate the preparation and review of annual implementation reports (GEF PIRs, GCF APRs), working with PMUs, executing agencies and IUCN teams, and ensure accurate and timely data entry into donor reporting systems.
• Coordinate the preparation, negotiation and finalization of IUCN implementation agreements with external partners, in collaboration with OLA and executing agencies.
• Review technical and financial reports in coordination with relevant thematic experts, flagging quality or compliance issues before submission rather than passing through consultant or country-office drafts unchecked.
• Ensure donor platforms (GEF, GCF) and IUCN databases are regularly updated with required information.
• Support the development of communication and knowledge materials on the project portfolio and thematic work.
• Perform any other GEF and GCF-related tasks as requested by supervisors.

Fund Mobilisation and Capacity Building;

• This function carries a more explicit resource-mobilisation and capacity-building mandate than an entry-level portfolio support role, reflecting the seniority of the position.
• Participate in, and support the design of new project proposals with countries, thematic experts and potential partners.
• Support the identification and pursuit of new co-financing and resource mobilisation opportunities for the GEF-9 and GCF pipeline, in support of the Regional Portfolio Manager's fundraising targets.
• Support the internal validation process for GEF and GCF projects, integrating feedback from the Multilateral Finance Unit and thematic leads of IUCN ESARO.
• Support the submission of proposals into donor portals, as required.

Institutional Support;

• Promote integration, teamwork and collaboration across initiatives.
• Support coordination mechanisms with IUCN Constituent Units to ensure member and Commission engagement.
• Contribute to the development of materials and content to position the region in alignment with Portfolio objectives.
• Represent IUCN at events or meetings at the request of the Regional Multilateral Programme Management.
• Digital Tools and Responsible as well as Ethical Use of AI;
• Given the volume of technical and financial documentation the portfolio generates, the postholder is expected to use available digital and AI-enabled tools ethically and responsibly to increase speed and consistency, while remaining fully accountable for the substance, accuracy and context-specificity of every output.
• Use AI-enabled tools to accelerate first-pass drafting, data synthesis, and cross-checking of technical and financial reports, portfolio data, and donor submissions, without treating tool output as a finished product.
• Apply sound technical and editorial judgement to review, correct and substantially rework any AI-assisted output before it is used: submissions must reflect the specific country, project and donor context, and must not read as generic, templated, or interchangeable across projects.
• Maintain full personal responsibility for the technical accuracy, climate rationale and results-framework integrity of any document produced with AI assistance; use of such tools does not reduce the standard of quality assurance expected of this role.
• Contribute to team practice on where AI-assisted tools genuinely save time in portfolio management (data entry, first drafts, translation, summarisation) versus where they should not be relied on (technical judgement calls, safeguards risk categorisation, donor-facing analysis requiring nuance).

Multilateral Finance Portfolio Support

• Support the Regional Portfolio Manager in administrative/operational systems management required for the regional GEF and GCF portfolio (projects in implementation and pipeline).
• Organize and document project review meetings and maintain regular engagement with PMUs and executing agencies.
• Oversee data entry and information upload on donor portals (GEF PIRs, GCF APRs, project concepts, proposals and related documentation).
• Other Responsibilities
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the line manager, as required by programme needs.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Master's degree in natural resources management, environmental science, environmental economics, climate change, project management, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of verifiable professional experience in project management, sustainable development, conservation, or climate change, including substantive experience with Adaptation Fund, GEF and/or GCF-funded projects.
• Strong technical background in climate change adaptation and mitigation and in biodiversity conservation, with a working understanding of GEF focal areas and GCF result areas (including forestry and land use, ecosystems and ecosystem services, and adaptation) sufficient to critically assess the technical and climate-rationale content of project design and appraisal, not only its compliance and formatting.
• Demonstrated experience in fund mobilisation or resource mobilisation for multilateral climate or environment finance, including engaging donors and identifying co-financing opportunities.
• Fluency in English required; French or Portuguese will be a strong asset given the regional footprint.
• Proficiency in computer tools and online administrative systems (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams) and in institutional project portals is required; proficiency in QGIS, SQL and other geospatial and data management/visualization tools/software are an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI-enabled tools to increase the efficiency and consistency of technical and administrative work, paired with the critical judgement to identify and correct generic, inaccurate or poorly contextualised AI output. Candidates should be able to describe specifically how they have used such tools in their own work and where they have chosen not to rely on them.
• Experience preparing analytical and financial reports and contributing to technical publications.
• Willingness to travel within and outside the region as required.
• Strong problem-solving skills, initiative, creativity, and innovation.
• Ability to plan, organize and execute responsibilities in a timely and compliant manner.
• Sensitivity and respect for the cultural, social and economic contexts of project partners and beneficiaries.
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusion and diversity principles.

Core Competencies;

• Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
• Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provides a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
• Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.