National Climate Finance Coordinator

Over the past two decades, Cambodia has realized exceptional rates of economic growth averaging over 7% prior to the pandemic, with persistent declines in poverty and rapid improvements in human development. Yet Cambodia faces several development challenges. Pressures stemming from Cambodia’s rapid progression as a Middle-Income Country (MIC) have tended to be resource and carbon-intensive, resulting in environmental challenges and natural resource depletion. Moreover, the country is facing the impact of climate change. As Cambodia is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are opportunities for a more sustainable and resilient development pathway.

UNDP Cambodia has been playing an important role in supporting the development and implementation of environment and climate change-related policies and strategies of the Royal Government of Cambodia. The current priorities of the Nature, Climate and Energy programme include: 1) Turn climate commitments into action; 2) Increase access to electricity and promote sustainable energy solutions; 3) Promote nature-based solutions to enhance natural resource management and reduce deforestation; and 4) Advance Cambodia’s transition to a circular economy. UNDP has a solid project portfolio to deliver on these priorities and an active pipeline to expand it and grow the partnership base.

Under the first priority, climate finance is one of the key areas of work for UNDP. The Country Office is implementing different initiatives to help the country scale up public and private investments in climate action. Such initiatives include the “Climate Finance Network” project (funded by the Government of the United Kingdom) and the “Strengthening the Governance of Climate Finance to Promote Inclusive Climate Resilience in the Asia Pacific” project (funded by the Government of Sweden). UNDP Cambodia is therefore looking for a National Climate Finance Coordinator to coordinate these efforts.

The National Climate Finance Coordinator will be supervised by the Environment Policy Specialist and will work closely with other colleagues from UNDP Cambodia Country Office and UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub, consultants, and partners. 

The incumbent may be required to undertake field missions to various provinces of Cambodia where applicable to conduct project-related activities or meetings, stakeholder engagements, and monitoring purposes. Any travel related to the official performance of duties will be covered by the UNDP project.

The incumbent may also be required to take on other programmes/projects/initiatives within the scope of TOR depending on workload at the time.

The National Climate Finance Coordinator will perform the following key functions: 

• Coordinate implementation of projects related to climate finance.
• Provide technical support on climate finance-related issues.
• Contribute to UNDP’s programming and pipeline formulation related to climate finance.

Coordinate implementation of projects related to climate finance:

• Design roadmaps and annual work plans of activities related to climate finance.
• Design and coordinate key activities related to climate finance in partnership and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Develop ToRs of and supervise relevant assistant, consultants and provide quality assurance.
• Provide management support to the day-to-day operation of the portfolio through circulation of documents, taking of minutes, drafting concept notes, coordinating internal and stakeholder meetings, and feedback of information.
• Prepare quarterly and annual project progress reports according to their respective reporting guidelines/ requirements.
• Monitor and keep track of project implementation progress and project risks, ensuring effective application of RBM tools.
• Ensure proper use of project resources in line with UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures.
• Support the design and operation of workshops/events/seminars/forums.
• Ensure visibility of projects.

Provide technical support on climate finance-related issues:

• Provide technical guidance to all project personnel, consultants and project executing partners.
• Assist in conducting analyses of the programme/project portfolio.
• Support in providing technical input to working documents, studies and technical reports as required in project activities on the topics of climate finance.
• Identify best practices and lessons learnt from the project and from other initiatives that can be helpful to the project in achieving its goals and objectives.
• Provide support to capacity-building programmes by designing themes and specific topics and structuring courses tailored to the background of participants, with a focus on enhancing key stakeholders’ understanding of climate finance and beyond.
• Facilitate expert group meetings, panels, round tables, training seminars, workshops, etc.
• Prepare talking points, Op-ed, statements, speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior personnel on climate finance issues.
• Prepares issue briefs and knowledge management materials on issues relating to climate finance.
• Leads in generating knowledge products such as best practices and lessons learnt for knowledge sharing.

Contribute to UNDP’s programming and pipeline formulation related to climate finance:

• Assist UNDP’s team in formulating project concept notes, project proposals and full project documents including information materials in consultation with relevant stakeholders among others. 
• Assist in creating and maintaining strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Impact of Results:

• The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and efficiency of UNDP climate finance activities in the country, including short, medium and long-term planning, improved business results and client services. They also impact on increasing Governments’, partners’, and civil society and communities’ awareness and knowledge of climate finance. Accurate analysis, presentation and knowledge sharing promote timely positioning and readjustment of UNDP programme management.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making. 

People Management competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy             

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management            

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Project Management : Ability to plan, organise, prioritise and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• 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.
• Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature, Climate and Energy: Climate Change Policies: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC); Climate Change Policies: climate finance (advantage)