Economic Advisor - AFOLU Sector (Home based Retainer) - Windhoak, Namibia

Job Description

This position offers an excellent opportunity to contribute directly to national climate action and the implementation of Namibia’s NDC. Working closely with government, development partners, and local stakeholders, the Economic Advisor will help mobilize resources, support NDC implementation, and advance Namibia’s efforts to fulfill its climate commitments.

Namibia submitted its updated NDC 2.0 in January 2024, committing to a total mitigation potential of 11.902 Mt CO₂e by 2030, 7.669 Mt CO₂e in emission reductions and 4.213 Mt CO₂e in enhanced removals, requiring an estimated USD 9.05 billion in investment. The AFOLU sector represents the largest share of mitigation potential (7.986 Mt CO₂e; 67%), followed by the energy sector (3.613 Mt CO₂e; 30%), where renewable-energy investments of USD 7.68 billion are anticipated.

Namibia is currently developing its NDC 3.0, with submission planned for July 2026, alongside an Implementation Plan and Investment Plan outlining priority actions and financing needs. The country has also drafted a Long-Term Vision for net-zero development, which will inform a full LT-LEDS development process, currently underway, to guide low-carbon transformation beyond 2030.On adaptation, the formulation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) is underway with GCF Readiness support.

MEFT is leading a whole-of-government approach by integrating NDC targets into Vision 2030 and the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), while updating the NBSAP II and LDN targets to align with national climate priorities. Mitigation actions span energy, transport, industry, forestry, and land use, while adaptation focuses on agriculture, water, infrastructure, ecosystems, and livelihoods.

To strengthen implementation, particularly in the AFOLU sector, MEFT seeks an Economic Advisor with a dedicated focus on AFOLU. The Advisor will support NDC 3.0 development, lead AFOLU-sector economic and investment analyses, and assist prepare financing strategies and investment-ready proposals aligned with national priorities.

The incumbent will work closely with MEFT, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, and other key line ministries.

The Economic Advisor will support the Focal Point of the Partnership in their day-to-day responsibilities related to implementing the NDC and coordinating AFOLU-related NDC implementation support.

The Economic Advisor will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and work in close collaboration with the  Government Focal Point in MEFT and the In-Country Facilitator. 

*This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds. 

**This is a Homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software. 

***As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of  Namibia or or have a valid residence permit in the country.

****Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The role provides targeted economic expertise to support climate policy and planning, with a particular focus on developing investment-ready AFOLU projects. While the In-Country Facilitator leads overall coordination, the Economic Advisor serves as the technical lead for economic analysis and pre-feasibility assessments to support climate-finance mobilization and the integration of climate priorities into national development planning. In this capacity, the Advisor contributes to smooth coordination with the NDC Partnership Support Unit, development partners, and line ministries engaged in NDC implementation.

1. Strategic and technical analysis 

• Review national investment policies, strategies, and frameworks for alignment with NDC commitments, with particular attention to AFOLU sector priorities.
• Identify policy, investment and instrumental gaps that may constrain achievement of AFOLU -related and broader NDC targets.
• Conduct detailed economic analyses and support AFOLU-focused pre-feasibility assessments to guide climate-finance mobilization and investment planning.

2. Stakeholder engagement 

• Engage stakeholders across government, private sector, development partners, and civil society using a whole-of-society approach, ensuring meaningful participation of AFOLU actors (forestry, agriculture, land-use institutions). 
• Maintain a stakeholder database, with strong emphasis on AFOLU-related private-sector and community-based entities.
• When applicable, contribute to the development of the Implementation Plan Narrative and its validation by the government.

3. Mobilization of resources implementation

• Produce analytical reports mapping financial sources and investment opportunities across international, regional, and domestic levels, highlighting AFOLU investment pathways.
• Identify financing gaps and propose viable sources of support for the implementation of AFOLU-related and cross-sectoral NDC actions.
• Support processes such as Climate Budget Tagging and expenditure reviews, especially for agriculture, forestry, and land-use interventions.
• Recommend international best practices for financing mitigation and adaptation, including AFOLU-relevant mechanisms (e.g., carbon markets, sustainable forestry finance, regenerative agriculture funding).

4. Coordination and Partnership Support

• Support the establishment and effective functioning of a Donors and Investors Working Group, helping coordinate financing for AFOLU and broader NDC implementation.
• Facilitate linkages between identified AFOLU priorities and available technical and financial resources.

5. Project pipeline development

• Conduct pre-feasibility studies for four (4) priority NDC-aligned project ideas, ensuring at least one or more are AFOLU-focused. 
• Identify and prioritize high-impact, investment-ready AFOLU opportunities, drawing on sectoral consultations, NDC 3.0 priorities, and ongoing technical analyses. 
• Facilitate the development of at least four (4) bankable concept notes to advance priority mitigation and adaptation actions, with particular emphasis on agriculture, forestry, and land-use investment pathways. 
• Work with government and partners to link identified project ideas with appropriate financing instruments, including climate funds, concessional finance, private-sector capital, and carbon-market opportunities. 
• Strengthen government capacity to maintain and update a national NDC-aligned project pipeline, ensuring AFOLU projects are integrated into broader investment planning and donor coordination processes.

6. Organize and support NDC-related meetings as needed

• If requested, facilitate national country specific multi-stakeholder NDC dialogues.
• Support the government in preparing for NDC-related events such as COPs, regional climate weeks, national events, and other convenings relevant to showcase NDC progress and generate support for implementation of the NDC.
• Organize coordination meetings between the Support Unit and the government as needed.

About the Organization

United Nations Office for Project Services