Biodiversity Finance Manager

JOB DESCRIPTIONS  

RESPONSIBILITIES

1.) Policy and Institutional Review (PIR)

• Support and advise the Policy Manager in developing an inventory of existing Biodiversity Financing Mechanisms in the country;
• Support the Policy Manager in reviewing of existing economic valuation studies relevant to the BIOFIN process.

2.) Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER)

• Carry out a desk review to map existing studies/information/databases on biodiversity expenditures, including an overview of earlier environmental expenditure reviews;
• Develop a proposed national definition for “biodiversity expenditures”, based on the BIOFIN methodology or other methodologies; 
• Develop a workplan for the Biodiversity Expenditure Review for discussion with the national BFP programme team and GPMTSU;
• Determine a target list of organizations to include in the analysis based on the PIR work;
• Collect data for the desk review to map existing studies/information/ databases on biodiversity expenditures, including an overview of earlier environmental expenditure reviews; 
• Establish, with the support of the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead), a system to tag biodiversity expenses into categories (GBF targets, BIOFIN categories, NBSAP themes, etc.) and a system of coefficients/attribution to estimate the contribution of mixed actions towards biodiversity; 
• Gather data from the targeted organizations to conduct the expenditure review on budgets and expenditures. Follow existing methodologies for guidance (includes mapping of sources of funding, subsidies, and biodiversity-based revenues, etc.);
• Develop tools or Excel tool to analyze the total biodiversity-related expenditures filtered by major strategy groups using existing methodology (or national categories such as in the NBSAP);
• Coordinate the compilation of relevant data and liaise with relevant Ministries and partners as required and complete all BIOFIN data entry sheets for the BER; 
• Support the Organization of bilateral consultation meetings/interviews/ discussions with national level stakeholders to define and then validate the attribution of biodiversity significance in all relevant expenditures; 
• Applying budget projections and other assumptions, estimate future funding baseline under a “Business-As-Usual Scenario”: an analysis of projected estimated funding in the future;
• Based on international best practices and the BIOFIN methodology or other methodologies, work closely with the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead) to develop and implement a specific strategy for data collection of the private sector and organize dedicated consultation meetings with private sector stakeholders (e.g. chamber of commerce, multinationals) on tracking biodiversity expenditures;
• Based on results from the research, analysis and the national consultation workshop, develop, with the support of the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead), the draft BIOFIN Biodiversity Expenditure Review for review by the GPMTSU (Global Project Management and Technical Support Unit); 
• Develop the final Biodiversity Expenditure Review, with the support of the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead), for review by the GPMTSU and present at the validation workshop.

3.) Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment (FNA)

• Review the available methodologies, examples from other countries, the latest NBSAP and the National Biodiversity Reports to develop an initial workplan and outline for the FNA; 
• Consult with the NBSAP team and government entities responsible for NBSAP implementation to obtain background information about NBSAP activities and government budgeting processes; 
• Work with the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead) to review the scope of the NBSAP, its alignment with other national policies, and identify policy areas and activities that are not covered by the existing NBSAP; 
• Review the activities listed in the NBSAP and other key strategic documents to assess if they are detailed and quantified enough for their budgets to be estimated in detail.  If not, work with the NBSAP national focal points and other relevant stakeholders to define clearly the NBSAP actions so that they can be budgeted; 
• Coordinate the compilation of relevant data and liaise with relevant Ministries and partners as required and organize a national consultation workshop to define the financial needs of all major biodiversity programmes; 
• Develop detailed calculations and complete all datasheets related to the national biodiversity finance needs; 
• Organize a workshop to validate the cost assumptions and models and refine the analysis through additional meetings as needed; 
• Support the comparison of the results of the BER future projections with the FNA in as great detail as the categories allow and produce an estimate of the financing gap; 
• Lead the development (with support from the team) of a draft report for the Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment for discussion at the validation workshop and review by the project national team and GPMTSU;
• Support the Production of the final report of the Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment.

4.) Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP)

• Support the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead) in the conception and preparation of the BFP;
• Support detailed feasibility analyses on a range of financing mechanisms depending on knowledge and experience.

5.) Project Outreach and Communication

• Preparation of workshops, meetings, networking and presentations as required, to complete the Biodiversity Expenditure Review, the Financial Needs Assessment and engage stakeholders;
• Provide substantive comments and feedback on how to improve the existing methodologies;

6.)  Knowledge Management and Reporting

• Document decisions and assumptions made while completing the Biodiversity Expenditure Review and the Biodiversity Finance Needs Assessment; 
• Document lessons learned from conducting the BFP project ranging from institutional considerations to technical issues;
• Prepare reports and case studies, as required, for submission to global meetings (e.g. CBD COP).

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

The Biodiversity Finance Manager will be under the direct supervision of the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead).

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

Institutional Arrangement

The Biodiversity Finance Manager will be under the direct supervision of the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead).

UNDP shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have a direct relation to the project.

Competencies

CORE 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships 
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

2030 Agenda: Nature, Climate and Energy        

• Ecosystems and biodiversity: Biodiversity Finance

Business Development: Knowledge Generation            

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need

Business Development: Collective Intelligence Design             

• Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions

Digital & Innovation: Data storytelling and communications    

• Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the  meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.

Digital & Innovation: Data Governance

• Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies

Digital & Innovation: Data Collection

• Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data, satellite data, sensor data).

Digital & Innovation: Data analysis       

• Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making

Required Skills and Experience 
 

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Business Management or a closely related field, preferably with an environment / biodiversity focus OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 2 years’ experience (master’s degree) or 4 years’ experience (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in environmental finance, accounting, economics, management or related field.

Required Skills

• Proven experience in collaborating with international and national experts and institutions;
• Proven knowledge of key software packages (MS Office);
• Proven previous experience in drafting reports on environment related policies  writing and communication skills;
• Proven ability to prepare publications, reports and presentations; 
• Proven ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.

Desired Skills

• Exposure to environmental issues or biodiversity is desirable;
• Previous experience with expenditure reviews would be an asset;
• Familiarity with the government is strongly desired.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of one or more local language is a strong asset.