Technical Specialist

The Biodiversity Finance (BIOFIN) is a global initiative launched in October 2012 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to respond to the needs for detailed national level analysis regarding biodiversity finance and boost the mobilization of financial resources for parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to achieve the Aichi Targets. It is a global partnership seeking to address the biodiversity finance challenge in a comprehensive manner by building a sound business case for increased investments in the management of ecosystems and biodiversity, with a focus on the needs and transformational opportunities at the national level. In Zambia the implementation of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) started in 2015 under the Climate Change and Natural Resources Management Department within the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to support Strategic Intervention #46 of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP-2) aimed at developing a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy for implementation of the NBSAP-2.One of the key outputs of the BIOFIN initiative in Zambia is to develop a national biodiversity finance plan (BFP) aimed at identifying and prioritizing a mix of suitable biodiversity finance solutions to reduce the envisaged biodiversity finance gap. At the initial workshop which took place from the 26th to 27th April 2018 at Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre in Kafue District, a total of 30 possible proposals were discussed which were later trimmed to 11. These 11 proposals were later reviewed and validated by stakeholders at a workshop that was convened from the 26th to 29th November 2018 at Ibis Gardens. From this workshop, 7 proposals were validated to form Zambia’s Biodiversity Finance Plan. Among these 7 proposals, 3 proposals have since been earmarked for BIOFIN Phase 2 Implementation.

The BIOFIN Initiative in Zambia has now commenced the process to implement the 3 agreed proposals.

Finance Solutions 1 – Technical Assistance for Green Bond Transaction Preparation and issuance

System;

Finance Solutions 2 – Mainstreaming biodiversity in the Green Finance Policy and implementation plan for the Financial Sector;

Finance Solutions 3 – Developing a Green Finance Tagging/reporting for the Financial Sector.

Scope of Work

The Technical Specialist will provide technical advisory services to the BIOFIN Project Team in the implementation process of BIOFIN Phase 2. The nature of the work entails submission of policy papers, technical papers to the Government of Zambia for the relevant Ministries approval processes and final acceptance for implementation by Government.The scope of work covers the following specific areas:

A.        Finance Solutions 1 – Technical Assistance for Green Bond Transaction Preparation and issuance

• Lead the development of the Green Bond Guidelines in consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);
• Finalize the green bond taxonomy and green bond guide;
• Provide technical assistance in the internal approvals of the Green Bond Guidelines and listing rules by the Committees and Boards of SEC and LuSE;
• Provide technical assistance and organize 1 international and national outreach event;
• Provide technical assistance and organize 2 dissemination workshops;
• Develop a sensitization /outreach plan and undertake a sensitization programme within the private and financial sector;
• Development of TORS for the recruitment of a consultant to provide TA support to the Green Finance Mainstreaming Working Group, including the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as develop the green bond Sectoral Taxonomy and green bond guide for Zambia;
• Development of TORs for the recruitment of a consultant to develop on green bonds market development as well as development of a green bond Sectoral Taxonomy for Zambia;
• Supervise and review documents from the consultants and provide technical assistance to finalization of the documents

B.         Finance Solutions 2 – Mainstreaming biodiversity in the Green Finance Policy and implementation plan for the Financial Sector

• Provide technical advice on the creation of a green bond compendium detailing potential issuers and types of projects;
• Provide technical advice to a potential maiden issuer of a green bond;
• Development of the TORs for the recruitment of the consultant to develop the Green Finance Policy for Zambia’s finance sector;
• Supervise and review documents from the consultants and provide technical assistance to finalization of the documents.

C.        Finance Solutions 3 – Developing a Green Finance Tagging/reporting for the Financial Sector

• Development of TORs for the recruitment of a consultant to develop Green Finance Tagging for the Financial Sector;
• Supervise and review documents from the consultants and provide technical assistance to finalization of the documents.

D.        General Reporting and adhoc BIOFIN Global Assignments

• Submission and acceptance by UNDP of a Bi- Annual report on the BIOFIN Project in Zambia;
• Submission and acceptance by UNDP of an Annual report on the BIOFIN Project in Zambia;
• Submission and acceptance by UNDP of a report on the technical advisor’s work and attendance to various adhoc assignments by BIOFIN Global, Ministry of Green economy and Environment as well as UNDP Country Office.

Institutional Arrangement

The Technical Specialist will be under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Regional Technical Advisor for Africa and Central Asia Region BIOFIN and Zambia Country Office Energy & Environment Unit, the Director Climate Change and Natural Resources, Ministry of Green Economy and Natural Resources.

Core

Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop innovative ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Strategic Thinking:

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks, and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight to model what future developments and ways forward look like for UNDP.

Effective decision making:

• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise, and resources.

Business acumen:

• Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and;
• ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.

Entrepreneur Thinking:

• Ability to create clarity around UNDP Value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop services offers responding to client needs based on UNDPs organizational priorities and mandate.

Partnerships Management:

• Ability  to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Change Management:

• Ability to prepare, support, and help individuals and teams in designing and implementing organizational change.

Communication:

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience;
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Finance, Economics or closely related fields.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in management or public finance, preferably at senior level in government;
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills;
• Ability to prepare publications, reports and presentations;
• Ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team;
• Strong motivation and ability to work and deliver under short deadlines;
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
• Able to work independently with little or no supervision;
• Experience in dealing with international and national experts and institutions;
• Evident exposure to environmental issues or biodiversity;
• Sound understanding of key software packages (MS Office);
• Previous experience or involvement in the BIOFIN Initiative preferable;
• A self-starter with strong internal motivation, able to set up systems and procedures in a ‘start up’ environment;
• Commercially astute: A high degree of business acumen, entrepreneurial spirit and willing to grow the loan guarantee activities;
• Flexibility: readily adapts to change, new products, systems, methods, and products;
• Demonstrated ability to meet aggressive deadlines per business demands, and ability to change work schedule to accommodate competing priorities.

Required Language

• Fluency in English.

Professional Certificates

• Professional Chartered Accountant (CA)-ACCA is an asset.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters