PFAN Expert - Mainstreaming Investments in Low-Carbon, Climate Resilient Projects

Job Description

Organizational Context

UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. Its mission is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in developing countries and economies in transition. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable evelopment in the next fifteen years. UNIDO’s mandate in SDG-9, calls for the need to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in three thematic priorities: * Creating shared prosperity * Advancing economic competitiveness * Safeguarding the environment. UNIDO delivers its services through the following four complementary and mutually supportive core functions: (a) technical cooperation activities; (b) analytical and policy advisory services; (c ) standard- setting and compliance and (d) convening and partnership role. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/ Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Environment and Energy (EAE), headed by a Managing Director, aims to integrate and scale-up the energy and environment activities focusing on supporting governments and industries to provide sustainable and resilient soft and hard infrastructure for industrial development, supporting industries to contribute to climate neutral circular economy, and supporting governments and industries in fulfilling national commitments under multinational climate and environmental agreements.

The Directorate consists of the Department of Environment (EAE/ENV) and the Department of Energy (EAE/ENE).

This position is located in the Climate Technology and Innovation Division (EAE/ENE/CTI) within the Department of Energy (EAE/ENE), where the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) is housed.

The Climate Technology and Innovation Division (EAE/ENE/CTI) is responsible for supporting Member States with access to and uptake of low-carbon, climate friendly and clean energy technologies, innovations and entrepreneurship. It focuses on supporting entrepreneurship and facilitating the establishment of conducive innovation systems. In addition, the Division is also responsible for supporting member states with enabling markets for low-carbon technologies and their use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigations and resilience in recipient countries.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The primary obstacles to the large scale deployment of low carbon, climate resilient technologies required are access to finance and limited pipeline of investment-ready projects. The large investment flows to achieve the transition at the speed and scale necessary to meet global climate and energy challenges can only be achieved by leveraging the private sector. PFAN matches financing with innovative low carbon, climate resilient projects in developing countries and emerging economies with a small public investment through a low-risk, low overhead networking model based on fixed fee project development, transaction advisory services, and investor forums, meeting a need recognized in international development and climate circles. PFAN supports companies for low carbon, climate resilient projects in the areas of upstream technology development and downstream technology deployment. It mobilizes the expertise of private sector companies in financing climate-friendly projects and technologies to screen business plans and select the most economically viable and environmentally and socially beneficial projects. For the entrepreneurs and businesses selected, PFAN provides guidance on economic feasibility, project structure, investment and financing, preparation of the business plan, and introductions to investors. Specifically, PFAN serves three functions:

1. Capacitate entrepreneurs and businesses to develop bankable projects

2. Mitigate investor risk

3. Mainstream investments in low carbon, climate resilient projects for sustainable development PFAN is active in various regions, where it directly responds to the urgent need for capacity building of project proponents as well as investors, and in parallel to the need of market creation to help develop the investment opportunities and stimulate the interest of market participants. In particular, PFAN sources promising and mature projects of significant size (the typical deal size supported by PFAN is 1-50 m USD) and provides highly specialized technical assistance to support the project proponents in developing investment ready proposals. These proposals are then introduced to prospective sources of finance. PFAN aims to ensure that women and men have equal opportunity to benefit from and participate in its services. Promoting gender equality is not only beneficial from a societal point of view, but also from an economic and impact perspective. PFAN recognizes not only its responsibility, but also the opportunity to engage with more women, more women-led businesses and more gender-focused projects.

The main objectives with this regard include:

1) To achieve greater, more sustainable, equitable outcomes and impacts in an efficient and comprehensive manner by empowering women to actively contribute to and benefit from PFAN’s network and services.

2) To encourage every project supported by PFAN to be gender-responsive so that women and men’s resilience to and ability to address climate change, as well as access to clean energy, are equally enhanced.

3) To increase the pool of women-led and gender-focused projects in the clean energy and climate adaptation sector in order to reduce the gender gap of climate change-exacerbated social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities.

Duty station: Islamabad / Pakistan

Main Functions

The Expert managing output 3 (Mainstreaming of investment) will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Party and the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) Programme Management Unit. S/he is expected to closely coordinate with the PFAN Global Coordinator and other members of the Network, as well as with REEEP as executing partner of PFAN.

INVESTOR NETWORK ESTABLISHMENT, DEVELOPMENT & COORDINATION

Together with the Chief of Party, the Global Coordinator and the other Output Leads the Expert will be responsible for establishing the local Partner Network in Pakistan with public sector institutions, agencies and other key stakeholders and for overseeing and coordinating its growth and operation.

This will include the following areas:

• Identification and acquisition as Network Partners of key stakeholders and public institutions instrumental to PFAN’s delivery and success in Pakistan including National and provincial government departments and agencies;
• Multilateral and international donor programmes, initiatives and activities;
• Trade associations;
• NGOs and civil society organisations;
• Account management and coordination of key partner relationships (in cooperation with and support of CoP, PMU & IFT);
• Liaison with the PMU and IFT;
• Tracking of account relationships and funding opportunities with network partners in Salesforce; recording and updating account and opportunity records stored in Salesforce; logging call reports and meeting notes in Salesforce.

PROJECT ORGANISATION

• Together with CoP, Output 1 Lead and GC the Expert will be responsible for identification, early stage development and origination of projects with and from key public sector and network partners in Pakistan.
• S(h)e will also identify projects and programmatic approaches which are under discussion and development by national or provincial government agencies, which address specific market gaps or opportunities and which have the potential for reaching closure with PFAN and other donor / Development Finance Institutions (DFI) assistance.S(h)e will introduce these for consideration for the PFAN development pipeline, for investment facilitation through the Investment Facilitation Team (IFT) of PFAN, for further structuring and development as a programmatic approach or in connection with PFAN’s capital market access strategy and the proposed Tipping Point Fund for Pakistan.
• In particular, also the Expert will monitor (regulatory and political) developments to identify potential opportunities for private sector financing and PFAN in the on-grid IPP space for medium and larger generation and distribution.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & INVESTMENT FACILITATION

Together with the CoP, the Output 1 & 2 Leads and the Global Coordinator, the PMU and the Investment Facilitation Team, the Expert will coordinate and oversee the work of PFAN Advisors providing project development advice and investment facilitation assistance to PFAN pipeline projects in Pakistan as well as to individually tailored programmatic approaches that have been sourced from Public Sector Entities and / or via other donor programmes and activities.

The Expert may also be directly appointed to selected projects to provide project development and financing facilitation support.

This includes the following activities:

• Early stage project development and structuring;
• Late stage project development;
• EPC Contracting;
• Tendering & bidding;
• Structuring & procurement of investment & financing for sell side mandates;
• Investor identification and introductions;
• Investment negotiations;
• Documentation & legal advice;
• Valuation;
• Support on Due Diligence & achieving Conditions Precedent;
• Gender.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Deliver capacity building to selected Public Institutions and Network Partners on:

• Project identification and development;
• Importance of regulation and enabling environment;
• New climate and clean energy business models and opportunities;
• Exposure to and interaction with private sector developers and investors – requirements and expectations;
• market developments;
• new financing and risk mitigation instruments etc.

Provide regular market updates, assessments, commentaries, insights and thought leadership to Public Sector & PFAN Network Partners.

GENERAL OUTREACH & COMMUNICATION

Together with the CoP and the Communications Lead for PFAN in Pakistan the Expert will support the development and implementation of appropriate communication and outreach strategies around investment and financing facilitation in relation to public sector entities and institutions including but not limited to:

• Representation of PFAN and USAID to the public sector (national and local government) in Pakistan;
• Representing PFAN / the PMU and USAID to donors and other stakeholders in the country
• Participation in and representation of PFAN in policy discussion and deliberation and various government / public fora in the country;
• Organization and implementation of PFAN events and outreach activities (including Investor Fora, Workshops, Trainings, Roadshows etc);
• Development and dissemination of appropriate collateral to support Capacity Building of the Public Sector (Output 3) implementation.

M&E/ REPORTING & ADMINISTRATION

Core Competencies

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: to stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

Minimum Requirements

Education

• Advanced University degree in engineering, economics, finance, management or other relevant discipline with exposure to climate technology and innovation.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Field of Expertise

• At least 7 years of professional experience in finance, banking, international development or equivalent.
• Demonstrated track record in developing and conducting capacity building for public sector and/or financial institutions on investment facilitation, access to finance and/or project identification and development is required. Specific focus on climate and clean energy sectors would be highly desirable.
• Good understanding of the energy policy landscape and stakeholders (public, private and civil society) in Pakistan is required.
• Good understanding of the financial sector, debt and equity based financial instruments, as well as risk mitigation instruments (e.g guarantees) is required.
• Knowledge of project analysis, appraisal and evaluation tools and methodologies would be an asset.
• Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems of businesses in developing countries, preferably in Pakistan.
• Ability to work effectively in highly decentralised, multi-cultural teams.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.

Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependants, under the procedures established by the Director General.

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants: UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregards it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org

About the Organization

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its mandate is to promote and accelerate sustainable industrial development in developing countries and economies in transition, and work towards improving living conditions in the world's poorest countries by drawing on its combined global resources and expertise.