UNDP Climate Finance and Development Economist || Apply Now |

The Climate Finance and Development Economist works under the guidance of the UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia and s/he will work closely with the programme and operations teams in the country office, Accelerator Labs team, and staff in the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) and New York both in Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific as well as the Global Policy Network (GPN) of UNDP. S/he will also collaborate with the Asia-Pacific regional network of country economists. This will include systematic engagement with and oversight from the lead regional economic advisors based in Bangkok and New York. S/he is also expected to develop and maintain a network of colleagues across development partner agencies, government institutions, academe, the private sector, and civil society at the country level.

Duties and Responsibilities of Climate Finance

1.) Provision of strategic policy advice to the UNDP country office management and national government counterparts on climate finance, inclusive green economy transition, just energy transition, and SDG acceleration:

• Advise UNDP country office management with preparation and implementation of country programmes and strategies, including the development of country programme document and related analysis, including on inclusive green economy transition, just energy transition and climate/development financing;
• With the Programme Officer of Diversified and Inclusive Green Transition, co-leading UNDP country office efforts to support the government in the operationalization of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and use existing financial resources more effectively and efficiently to achieve the SDGs;
• Provide policy and programming advice and support for development planning, policy and financing formulation at the national, sub-national and local levels;
• Lead the programming of initiatives linked to the National Human Development Paper (NHDP) that will be launched 2024 and ensure that it provides added value in terms of development economic analysis, updated data and information for policy formulation;   
• Support the creation of large-scale development solutions to help address complex development challenges;
• Lead the expansion of country office service offers on inclusive green economy transition, just energy transition and financing for development with a focus on climate financing, including innovative financing models and country specific/sector specific studies. 
• Support the identification and analysis of interventions that can impact multiple development goals and targets at the same time; 
• Support monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks, including to help strengthen national and local level data collection and statistical capacity;
• Support to leverage UNDP’s regional and global programmes, to provide holistic and effective support to the country;  
• Leverage support and expertise from the UNDP’s global/regional Economist networks to assist in strengthening UNDP’s support on climate and development financing, economic analysis and policy development to the Government and the UN Country Team.

2.) Advise and support the development of a new climate finance programming initiatives portfolio and partnerships with IFIs, multilateral development banks, vertical funds (GEF, GCF and others), bilateral donors, and the private sector (corporates, investors):

•  Advise and facilitate dialogue on climate finance programming and sustainable development issues with government officials, development partners, civil society, and the private sector;
• Provide policy and programming advice and support for climate finance and development planning, policy and financing formulation;
• Support the identification and analysis of interventions that can impact multiple development sustainable development goals and targets at the same time;
• Provide expert advice and support in developing strategic partnerships with UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral development agencies, private sector entities, and civil society;
• Support analysis and mapping of potential partners for UNDP’s work on climate/development finance and SDG acceleration.
• Develop and coordinate partnerships across the public and private sectors to develop a pipeline of bankable projects.
• Carry out outreach to key partners for strategic advocacy for common objectives,
• Lead the development of programmatic proposals and assist in the preparation, implementation, and follow-up of external partnership engagements.

3.) Provision of technical advisory support to the implementation of inclusive green economy transition, just energy transition, and sustainable financing programme:

• Provide technical advisory support and to programme teams on inclusive green economy transition, just energy transition and climate finance.
• Develop Terms of References (TORs), identify and evaluate experts, and provide quality assurance to reports produced as part of programme implementation.
• Coordinate the provision of the required technical inputs to the implementation of inclusive green economy transition, just energy transition and climate finance projects, including assisting in executing the implementation strategy and ensuring coordination and leveraging resources from other initiatives.
• Provide technical inputs to annual work plans and corporate reporting processes (e.g. ROAR).
• Provide technical inputs to the development of programme briefs and communication materials.
• Provide technical advocacy among key stakeholders, assisting government agencies and service providers in design and implementation of programme interventions.
• Organize capacity building activities on inclusive green economy transition, just energy transition and climate finance to UNDP and government project teams.

4.) Contribution to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas:

• Participate actively in the UNDP Asia-Pacific regional network of economists, through attending regional meetings (in-person and/or virtual), sharing relevant experiences, and conducting peer reviews;
• Collaborate and contribute to regional publications, practice notes, and Regional Human Development Reports;
• Substantively contribute as possible to UNDP regional knowledge products and development of programming offers in regional priority areas (e.g., inequality, future of work, innovative financing);
• Enhance UNDP’s understanding and design of new approaches to sustainable development across the region by acting as a regional thematic lead where possible.

Check: HACU National Internship Program – Summer 2025 (Paid)

Required Skills and Experience

Education: