Description
The Climate Change Specialist role is to provide strategic advice regarding access to various climate financing mechanisms (e.g. GEF, GCF etc.), accreditation processes, understanding and adherence to DBSA obligations. Continuous dialogues with relevant external climate change partners, and providing inputs to, and coordinating as requested, internal knowledge management and communications.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Outputs.
Conceptualise and develop project proposals responsive to the priorities of the DBSA, GEF and GCF focal areas/sectors
Provide advisory services to all Bank’s sectors regarding environment and Climate Change matters, particularly with regards to GEF and GCF.
Create opportunities to co-finance projects and leverage GEF/GCF and other funding sources to achieve the Bank’s climate finance targets by liaising with sector departments within the Bank, other DFIs and Private Investors.
Advise lending units on accessing climate and green finance by building strong links with other units within the Bank.
Ensure that the Bank fulfils internal and external reporting obligations to GEF/GCF and any other sources of environment and climate finance by ensuring that reports are prepared in a timely and accurate manner.
Ensure that the Bank contributes actively to the development, management and administration of funds in line with its accreditation obligations.
Provide operational support to sector managers on specific projects across the Bank under each of the sources of climate finance.
Provide technical expertise on climate change and green finance to the projects in order to enable them to mobilize climate finance.
Provide guidance and technical support for the implementation of projects and programmes as requested, e.g., the GCF Readiness Support Programme, Low Emission Capacity Building Programme, including consultations with relevant stakeholders as needed;
Provide, and coordinate as requested, policy submissions to the GCF/GEF, UNFCCC mechanisms (Work Programme on Long-term Finance, Standing Committee on Finance, Warsaw Platform for Effective Climate Finance), and other collaborative forums.
Support, and coordinate as requested, DBSA’s representation at GCF/GEF meetings and other related events, including development of key messages for senior management and dissemination of relevant information.
Advise on climate finance for adaptation and mitigation projects and new market-based financing, providing expert advice to client and counterpart organizations and Bank Management with regard to national and climate change policy, including the implementation of the NDCs under the Paris Agreement and related operational issues.
Assist in development of new business opportunities in climate change adaptation, resilience and mitigation activities in line with relevant country strategies
Provide technical inputs and guidance to counterparts on appropriate scope, technology, costs, alignment with the DBSA/GEF/GCF social and environmental safeguards and fiduciary policies.
Perform regular reviews of technical design and implementation issues, as well as related governance, safeguards and budgetary issues, and prepare relevant reports and updates on implementation progress as part of Bank teams
Provide guidance and hands-on support to executing agencies and management units as part of Bank teams, assisting them in monitoring project progress, procurement processing, preparing and maintaining essential documentation for these processes in-line with GCF/GEF requirements.
Key measurements of outputs.
Conceptualised & developed project proposals from GCF/GEF/Other for project implementation.
Opportunities created to co-finance projects and leverage GCF/GEF/Other.
Mobilising Climate Finance
Value of projects catalyzed
Accreditation to new sources of climate finance
Team behavioural KPI’s
Expertise & Technical Competencies:
Minimum Requirements:
Advanced degree (PhD or Master's) in economics, management, social sciences, engineering, natural sciences or related field
Minimum 6 years’ experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in climate change, climate finance, environmental and public policy.
Past experience in analytical work in climate change adaptation, resilience or mitigation issues is required.
Desirable Requirements:
Past experience in lending operations/ investment projects in energy, water or transport sector(s) would be an asset.
Past experience in policy dialogue in complex environment and climate change mitigation or adaptation issues would be an asset.
Past experience in gender policy/ project specific gender action plan development
Past experience in developing Monitoring and Evaluations (log frames), project specific experience most desirable
Past experience in developing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment reports
Technical Competencies:
Written & Verbal Communication
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