Job Description
This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to Viet Nam’s green growth and climate action agenda, working directly with key government stakeholders and international partners. The position offers a unique opportunity to shape climate finance strategies, build capacity, and mobilize resources for impactful projects, contributing to the country’s commitment to “Net Zero” by 2050.
The Senior Climate Finance Specialist will be embedded within MOF to provide support on climate and green economy activities. This role focuses on developing provincial green investment portfolios that align with national climate strategies, providing strategic inputs on climate finance initiatives, identifying and evaluating funding opportunities, offering technical support for project preparation, building capacity, and facilitating stakeholder dialogue. The position will support MOF’s NDCP National focal point to effectively coordinate climate finance activities and maximize impact from the funds.
The Senior Climate Finance Specialist will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of Partnerships Development Specialist, serves as the close counterpart of the NDC Partnership In-country Facilitator to collaborate with NDCP National focal points in MOF and MAE, strengthening the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operating as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members.
* This is a retainer national vacancy/position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds for the period of the NDC.
** 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 Vietnam or have a valid residence permit in the Country.
**** Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Senior Climate Finance Specialist independently manages projects and adapts existing policies to meet emerging needs in climate finance and green growth within Viet Nam’s Ministry of Finance (MOF). The role provides authoritative advice, solves complex problems, and maintains relationships with clients to ensure reliable service delivery in support of the NDC Partnership’s objectives.
The following responsibilities are part of the embedded incumbent role:
1. Support the MOF’s NDCP National focal point in providing technical guidance to develop and implement the Provincial Action Plan for Green Growth Strategy
- Support to assess the readiness for green growth and green transition at provincial level and provide recommendations for prioritized sectors for green transition and green growth implementation;
- Coordinate to develop provincial green growth and green transition scenarios by assessing (i) Socio-economic development scenario and (ii) Low-emission and Net-zero development scenarios, considering the feasible scope of economic modelling applications to measure and forecast the economic contribution of green growth at the provincial level, ensuring alignment with the real context and conditions of each province;
- Coordinate to prepare Provincial Green Investment Portfolios (for at least two provinces) using state and non-state budget resources. The investment portfolios will also include key criteria for identifying green investment projects to ensure alignment with NGGS and potential sources and financial tools for the portfolio.
2. Provide strategic inputs to MOF:
- Support the MOF’s NDCP National focal point in coordinating and managing climate finance activities, ensuring that all financial operations are aligned with the strategic objectives of climate initiatives.
- Collect and update information on the latest developments and trends in global climate finance and green economy to provide advice for policy-making processes and strategic planning.
- Assist the MOF’s NDCP National focal point in maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date database of international climate finance initiatives and identifying new opportunities for resource mobilization and best practices.
- Take the lead in supporting meetings, workshops, and conferences to foster collaboration and dialogue between MOF, development partners, and various stakeholders.
- Collaborate with the NDC Partnership Support Unit to document changes in the operating context and provide support to MOF and stakeholders in decision-making processes.
- Monitor and track resources mobilized (and resource gaps) to implement measures identified in strategic climate and green growth-related documents.
3. Technical support for Project Pipeline preparation
- Provide technical assistance, guide and oversee the preparation of the draft project concept papers (to be further developed into full concept papers with support from development partners) by local project preparation staff for climate resilient and green growth investment projects that funding partners are interested in co-funding with international climate funds, such as the GCF etc.
- Collaborate closely with the NDC Partnership In-country Facilitator to support government focal points in preparing concept notes to access financing for unfunded priorities and preparing project pipelines based on the NDCs, NAP, TNA and LT-LEDS that align with NGGS, JETP Resource Mobilization Plan and National Climate Strategy.
- Work closely with the NDC Partnership In-country Facilitator to identify and track funding opportunities relevant to the National Action Plan for Green Growth, NDC3.0 implementation, JETP and other climate-resilient and low-carbon projects and programs of MOF and MAE
4. Capacity building and Identifying lessons-learned
- Conduct a rapid capacity needs assessment and support the development of local capacity for climate finance management through training and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
- Organize workshops for consulting with line agencies for collecting data and information in order to develop green growth and green transition “readiness” and scenarios, prioritized sectors at the provincial level.
- Organize capacity-building activities for provincial organizations and agencies on approaching non-state capital for the potential project development and implementation in the green investment portfolios, including on the modalities, requirements and criteria of the project application process of GCF and other types of funding sources available for the country.
- Strengthen MOF’s capacity to efficiently coordinate and oversee financial activities related to various climate initiatives, ensuring that the allocated funds are effectively managed, distributed, and utilized for maximum impact.
- Liaise with the NDC Partnership Support Unit to access and/or feed into global knowledge products relevant to project development, financing, and resource mobilization.
- Assist the NDC Partnership Support Unit in the identification and dissemination of information on best practices and lessons learned from in-country engagement.
5. Coordination and communication with key stakeholders
- Engage, as appropriate, with relevant sectoral ministries and national institutions implementing complementary climate or energy-transition initiatives to support MOF in liaison and alignment efforts, promote coherence with its green growth agenda, and identify synergies and financing options that can inform resource mobilization.
- Collaborate closely on technical matters, including contributing to pipeline development, with the JET-P Secretariate bringing in perspectives from MoF
- Support the strengthening of coordination among different agencies for accessing external climate finance resources.
- Work closely with focal points in MOF to participate in external negotiations and discussions with donors, MDBs, Climate Funds etc.
- Work closely with NDC Partnership In-country Facilitator to organize Partner Coordination Meetings, NDC Partnership mission and other multi- stakeholder NDC dialogues. Provide inputs and participate in the NDC Partnership’s conferences, trainings and other activities at the global, regional and national levels
- Guide, mentor and support the Climate Finance Analyst in his/her functional responsibilities and reporting.
- Provide any other support needed by MOF and MAE to coordinate development partners in the context of green growth, project development, financing, and resource mobilization.
