Green Financial Mechanism Specialist, NPSA10 – DS Kyiv, Ukraine – National Position

Office/Unit/Project Description:

The UNDP Green Energy Recovery Programme is an integrated approach to address Ukraine’s needs to accelerate efforts towards a more diverse energy mix, following the impact of the war and outdated energy system, with less dependence on gas and coal generation. It has been designed based on extensive consultations with the Government of Ukraine, local and regional authorities, and thorough analysis of barriers and instruments for green energy sector recovery. The Programme supports achieving mid-term objectives and priorities indicated in the National Energy Strategy, contributing to energy security and independence, supporting a green recovery and transition of the energy sector, promoting decarbonisation and facilitating further synchronisation with the EU energy markets.
 

The Programme expands the scope of UNDP’s engagement in supporting reconstruction and recovery of the energy system, building on the partnerships, results and lessons learned under the multi-donor funded project “Winterization support to Ukraine”. In line with the priorities of UN Ukraine Transitional Framework 2023 and UN Winterization plans of 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, UNDP is herein providing immediate and emergency support to the national and local governments to repair energy infrastructure in order to provide critical basic services to the population in war-affected areas.

The Green Energy Recovery Programme will contribute to distributing generation sources throughout the country and decentralizing the power system while increasing the share of renewable energy sources in an effort to contribute to gradually reducing coal generation, in line with Ukraine’s national commitments in reducing Co2 emissions. This will have significant positive impact on people’s access to energy from decentralized renewable energy capacities, economic empowerment, improved public governance of the energy sector, and decreased pollution rates. Outputs under the key objectives will thereby contribute to implementation of Ukraine’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) towards the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in the effort for global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable energy solutions provided through the pilot projects aligns with the UNDP nexus approach, contributing to risk reduction and increasing resilience of sub-national energy systems in war-affected communities in Ukraine. By increasing energy supply in the medium term and contributing to decentralization of the energy system, the proposed Project will furthermore reduce pressure on humanitarian aid for heat, water, and sanitation services, all which depend on electricity supply, in the war affected areas and reduce the vulnerabilities of the energy systems.

In order to ensure effective project implementation and achievement of project objectives of this and the other related projects in the Energy and Environment portfolio, UNDP is recruiting a qualified Green Financial Mechanisms Specialist. 

The Green Financial Mechanisms Specialist will be primarily responsible for ensuring that the project delivers the expected results as outlined in the project document, adhering to the required standards of quality, and within the defined time and budget constraints.
 

The incumbent will ensure mainstreaming of gender equality within the project, support acceleration of gender equality and women’s empowerment within the UNDP Energy and Environment Portfolio and promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance for any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Green Energy Recovery Programme Manager, the Green Financial
Mechanisms Specialist will:

1. Project Delivery:

• Ensure that the project achieves the defined outputs and outcomes within the specified timeframes and budget.
• Lead the project activities on developing investment mechanisms and solutions for Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency projects.
• Identify and describe current and potential sources of financing for renewable energy and energyefficiency projects in Ukraine.
• Assess the current and potential funding sources and needs to significantly enhance energy efficiency, meet the Government’s energy and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) reduction targets, and develop and implement renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Ukraine, and identify any gaps.
• Assess the potential banking and investment solutions that can be developed and implemented under the Project for supporting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects.
• Design project activities leading to the design and development of feasible financial mechanisms and schemes to be promoted by the Project, which will facilitate the funding of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects.

2. Quality Assurance:

• Maintain the quality of deliverables, ensuring alignment with the agreed project standards and
  objectives.

3. Assist in preparing concrete follow-up project proposals for the implementation of the developed Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency investment mechanisms, including Monitoring and Reporting:

• Provide regular updates to portfolio and office management through comprehensive
  reporting on project progress, including key milestones and risks.

4. Risk Management:

• Identify and report delays, challenges, or risks that arise during implementation.
• Identify and describe market, financial and regulatory barriers to address the identified gaps.

5. Recommend specific solutions, including how to remove identified market, financial and
regulatory barriers:

• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to align green financial mechanisms with project goals.
• Guide and supervise upon request of the Project Manager, work of consultants and experts providing advisory services to the National and Local governments and other relevant stakeholders;
• Work closely with the banking and financial sector and regulators to help remove identified barriers and operationalize the recommended/developed investment mechanisms/schemes/tools for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects.
• Work closely with others related to Energy and Environment projects of the organization to improve the environment for green and sustainable finance in Ukraine.
• Design project activities that will involve the provision of technical assistance services to investment scheme applicants, where necessary.
• Design capacity building programs for the existing (or identified and supported by the Project) financial institutions on funding Energy Efficiency projects, if deemed feasible.
• Guide the Project team and short-time consultants in all matters related to investment aspects of the project activities.

6. Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to all relevant policies, regulations, and sustainability criteria for financial mechanisms.
• Recommend the design of the investment mechanisms/schemes/tools and help develop Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency investment products for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects that will be promoted and facilitated under the Project.
• Undertake other duties that contribute to the effective implementation of the Project.

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

Institutional Arrangement:

Under the supervision of the Green Energy Recovery Programme Manager, the Green Financial Mechanisms Specialist is fully responsible for the design and management of the financial mechanisms/schemes/tools to increase investment in Renewable and Energy Efficiency projects according to the project document, UNDP corporate rules, and procedures and for fulfilling the following function.

• Business Management: Risk Management: Identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
• Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
• Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
• Partnership management: IFI Partnerships: Knowledge and understanding of IFIs (strategies, approaches, processes and systems)
• Partnership management: Private sector engagement: Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector
   

• Strong background in cooperation and maintaining high-level contacts with the Government Bodies and IFIs;
• Experience in the development of investment instruments/mechanisms/tools and/or products, for the energy efficiency sector is required;
• Proven prior working experience with similar assignments within a reputable international organization or governmental body is required.
• Proficiency in the use of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages,

• Proven prior experience in identifying and addressing financial and regulatory barriers to funding Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy projects will be considered an asset;
• Proven prior experience of professional or advisory services to the Government (or national level counterparts) and/or reputable international organizations will be an advantage;
• Experience of work with local banks will be an asset;
• Experience of work with UNDP or other UN agencies in the relevant areas will be considered an advantage.

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.