Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories across the world, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build the resilience of people and the planet so that countries can progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s global policy network and communities of practice bring a wealth of development policy insights to each country where we serve, while helping to share those countries’ experiences with the world.
In Thailand, UNDP partners with national and local institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector to advance the SDGs, combining local, regional, and global solutions and expertise to help Thailand respond to complex challenges in an agile and inclusive way. Among them are strengthening institutions, promoting inclusive and sustainable development, tackling climate action, and conserving biodiversity
UNDP launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) in October 2012 as a global partnership aimed at addressing the biodiversity finance challenge comprehensively. This initiative seeks to build a robust business case for increased investment in the ecosystems and biodiversity management, with a particular emphasis on national needs and transformational opportunities. The Global BIOFIN Programme supports 133 countries to design and implement the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP). The BFP will support countries to achieve the national targets of their National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plans (NBSAPs) align with the 23 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
These solutions aim to achieve four key results: a) Generate revenues: identify existing or innovative mechanism to generate and leverage financial resources for biodiversity, such as attracting impact investments in conservation projects. b) Realign current expenditures: Implement measures to redirect existing financial flows towards biodiversity initiatives. c) Avoid future biodiversity expenditures: Develop strategies to prevent or reduce future investment needs by eliminating or amending counterproductive policies and expenditures. d) Deliver financial resources more effectively and efficiently: Enhance cost-effectiveness and efficiency in budget execution, achieve synergies, and promote a more equitable distribution of resources.
In Thailand, the BIOFIN implementation in Phase II (2018 – 2030) will continue to support the Royal Thai Government and other key stakeholders from the private sector and civil society in implementing the Biodiversity Finance Plan (2023 – 2027). This Plan outlines a mix of suitable biodiversity finance solutions aimed at closing the biodiversity finance gap in Thailand. As a result, Thailand is now implementing key biodiversity finance solutions designed to align with National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and achieve national biodiversity targets.
UNDP is seeking a National Environmental Finance Analyst to provide technical assistance and support to Thailand which is implementing its national biodiversity finance plan. The National Environmental Finance Analyst will be part of the BIOFIN Team in Thailand and will be under direct supervision of the National Project Manager. The ultimate purpose of this assignment is to work closely with international, national and local stakeholders and engage such stakeholders with the BIOFIN tools to mobilize and/or catalyze public and private finance in the implementation of the national Biodiversity Finance Plan to achieve national biodiversity targets and Kunming - Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in Thailand. The National Environmental Finance Analyst will be a crucial team member of UNDP Thailand and will need to work closely and collaborative with other UNDP initiatives in advance sustainable development as well as support resource mobilization efforts.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with strict confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision and guidance of the National Project Manager of BIOFIN in Thailand, the National Environmental Finance Analyst will be responsible for providing technical and project-related support, especially the BIOFIN team, and government counterparts to implement finance solutions identified through the BIOFIN process, to achieve finance results in the country.
A) Contribute to the Preparation and Periodic review of the National Biodiversity Finance Plan:
- Provide technical inputs and conduct reviews and impact assessments of key BIOFIN outputs and processes, including multi-year workplans, Country Results Reports, indicator tracking tables, inception reports, Policy and Institutional Reviews, Biodiversity Expenditure Reviews, Financial Needs Assessments, Biodiversity Finance Plans, and the GLOBE Taxonomy for the public sector.
B) Ensure Effective and Impactful Interventions of the Finance Solutions
- Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of complex finance solutions, from ideation to implementation
- Collaborate with government counterparts to identify, design, and implement context-specific finance solutions aligned with national priorities.
- Foster and maintain strategic partnerships with stakeholders across government, private sector, civil society, academia, and consultants.
- Contribute to the development and review of finance solution proposals, ensuring alignment with the BIOFIN Finance Solution Proposal template.
- Support the preparation of key project documents, including terms of reference, multi-year workplans, M&E frameworks, country results reports, indicator tracking tables, and final deliverables.
- Review and provide feedback on technical documents such as feasibility studies, concept notes, policy briefs, and advocacy strategies.
- Participate in field missions and stakeholder engagements to advance the implementation and scaling of finance solutions.
- Contribute to the development of tailored guidance materials, knowledge products, and resource mobilization proposals related to prioritized finance solutions.
- Supervise and provide technical guidance to national consultants, connecting them to relevant expertise, tools, and platforms.
- Integrate gender equality and sustainable livelihoods considerations into the design and delivery of biodiversity finance solutions.
- Collaborate closely with relevant UNDP and UN initiatives to ensure effective integration, alignment, and synergy across programs.
C) Facilitate Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement
- Facilitate a community of practice among public and private finance actors to exchange lessons learned and improve approaches for financing NBSAPs and implementing the Biodiversity Finance Plan in Thailand.
- Strengthen the technical capacity of national stakeholders on prioritized finance solutions and support their integration into government training curricula and relevant institutional frameworks.
- Organize knowledge-sharing sessions with partners and stakeholders to promote the practical application of innovative finance solutions.
- Contribute to global, regional, and national technical workshops, webinars, conference calls, and online discussions, as requested by the global BIOFIN team.
- Actively contribute to resource mobilization efforts by identifying opportunities, supporting proposal development, and engaging with potential partners which could include, but not limited to, government, private sector, philanthropies, and others
D) Facilitate Knowledge Management and Learning
- Document, analyze, and share best practices and lessons learned from the implementation of prioritized finance solutions through both virtual and in-person platforms.
- Contribute to the development of case studies and knowledge products that capture key insights and outcomes from the BIOFIN implementation process.
- Support the ongoing refinement of BIOFIN methodologies, tools, and guidance materials tailored for Thailand’s context.
- Provide high-quality inputs for national progress reports, ensuring timely delivery, and contribute to other knowledge outputs such as concept notes, case studies, communications, and learning materials developed by the BIOFIN Team.
- Actively support the dissemination of the project’s results and achievements to wider audience in close partnership with UNDP Communications Team.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
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 Development
- Knowledge Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations
- 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.
Business Management
- Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
2030 Agenda: Planet
- Nature: Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme: Nature-positive economy and Biodiversity Finance
- Nature: Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme: Biodiversity Mainstreaming
Partnership Management
- Emerging partnerships: Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Political Science, Environmental Science, or any other related fields on Environment and Finance is required. OR
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in the areas of public or private sector finance, sustainable development/biodiversity finance, resource mobilization, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, or a related field;
Required skills:
- Prior experience in designing or implementing sustainable finance mechanisms or projects;
- Experience in working with governments and/or private sector on sustainable finance;
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
- Prior experience in the development of knowledge materials would be an advantage;
- Experience with UNDP policies, procedures, and practices particularly to project development and implementation and/or working experience in an international organization/UN Agencies is an advantage;
- Previous experience in the private sector and local governments is an advantage;
- A specialization in sustainable finance and development, or other closely related field, is an advantage;
Required Languages
- Fluency in English and Thai is required.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Scam alert
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