Senior Investment Officer, Climate Finance Access Network, PNG

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) was established to support developing countries in accessing finance to achieve their climate objectives. By cultivating a network of highly trained climate finance advisors, CFAN builds the capacity of developing countries to (1) identify the sources and instruments for delivering climate finance, (2) establish relationships with climate finance providers, and (3) structure financing for mitigation and adaptation investments. CFAN works across developing countries with a focus on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. CFAN work in the Pacific was funded by the Government of Canada from 2021 and from June 2023 will also be funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia.

The CFAN advisors will be hired by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) under funding from DFAT to join a global cohort of investment officers and climate finance advisors. The postholder will attend a cohort-based training program, which includes technical training as well as relationship-building with public and private finance institutions. The CFAN advisor will take part in the CFAN network and the management of CFAN program/projects, particularly in relation to projects centered on finance, investment and investment planning and related capacity building and training.

PURPOSE

The CFAN advisor will be deployed in the Climate Change & Development Authority in PNG for the duration of the contract with a targeted mandate to access international and domestic sources of public and private climate finance, and to support stakeholders in structuring finance for investment in their host country’s priority mitigation and adaptation projects.

The Climate Finance Advisor plays a critical role in support of building, maintaining, and strengthening partnerships with government counterparts and international/local stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Finally, the Climate Finance Advisor will also conduct climate finance workshops for civil servants, ensuring lasting capacity in-country through knowledge transfer to government officials.

ENGAGEMENT

The Climate Finance Advisor will report to the Green Investment Service Lead for the Pacific Region and GGGI PNG Country Representative, working closely with other teams in Pacific Region, and GGGI Headquarters to develop the business case, investment documentation, identify and analyze project opportunities, competitive strengths and weaknesses of projects and their sponsors. As part of Climate Finance Advisor, the advisor is expected to:

• Support CFAN in designing and facilitating in-country capacity building efforts to support transfer of skills and knowledge to local staff in relevant ministries and government offices.
• Serve as an active member of the CFAN community, including by representing CFAN at events and external meetings, as well as by advancing CFAN’s value-add through peer-to-peer learning, knowledge exchange, and cohort activities.

DELIVERY

• Participate and successfully complete CFAN Advisor Training Program
• Advise and provide assistance to relevant ministry focal point and other government line ministries, NGOs and private sector stakeholders in developing project proposals to submit to Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund and other relevant donors and partners.
• Provide assistance to the Government on relevant needs.
• Support development and submission of climate finance funding proposals, including by navigating the range of financing sources, engaging stakeholders to fulfil funding proposal requirements, and assessing financial instruments to structure investments.
• Analyze financial data and use financial projections to design and recommend suitable financial structures.
• Coordinate between national ministries to accelerate projects through the investment pipeline.
• Where possible, pursue opportunities to finance projects through domestic resources as a means of enhancing country ownership.
• Support or lead project origination activities and actively contribute to adding to the green investment project pipeline.
• Conduct gap analysis of green investment/infrastructure projects and programs engaging all relevant stakeholders.
• Perform financial, economic, and regulatory analysis throughout project concept and design stages in collaboration with the country teams and government counterparts.
• Any other analytical work to ensure that deliverables are provided in a timely manner to support subsequent work and consistent with work plan.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Advanced university degree in economics, finance, business administration or another related field.
• 5 – 7 years of experience working in climate finance, preferably for financial institution or development agency
• Sectoral expertise in coastal resilience and infrastructure, agriculture, adaptation or water security, is a plus
• At least two years of international experience– living and working outside of home country. Studying and short-term training visits will not be considered.
• Experience accessing and structuring finance for climate investments
• Experience with international climate finance institutions, particularly technical aspects of mitigation and adaptation activities
• Experience working in developing countries on climate and development issues
• Ability to efficiently manage a large number of activities simultaneously and to navigate through complex and challenging environments.
• Experience in the Pacific is an advantage
• Fluency in written and spoken English

FUNCTIONAL

• Demonstrated ability to formulate concept notes and project proposals in compliance with requirements of various climate finance funds, multilateral development banks, donors and financiers from private sector
• Demonstrated relationship-building and facilitation skills.
• Resourceful and able to develop and operationalize strategies to achieve outputs and outcomes
• Knowledge of and experience in adhering to internationally agreed environmental and social safeguards (ESS) and gender-sensitive design requirements.
• Analytical and modeling skills with full knowledge of excel functions is a plus.
• Willingness and ability to commit to in-country work for and travel as required and where possible.

CORPORATE

• Project management: Proven ability to independently plan, manage and complete projects that deliver quality outcomes in a timely and inclusive manner.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver products or presentations that are concise, easy to understand and influential.
• Influencing change: Track record of engaging effectively to secure buy in, underpinned by strong listening, trust building, influencing, facilitation and negotiation skills.
• Team player: Capacity to be selfless team member, to operate across organizational boundaries, and maintain a resilient, positive and results-focused mindset in a dynamic environment.
• Promotes an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership

APPLICATION DETAILS

We will review and conduct selection on an ongoing basis and a successful applicant will be evaluated for final approval by the CFAN Steering Committee.