Consultant (13 months, home-based), Senior Expert on Climate Finance, Division of Private Fundr[…]

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF. For every child, the right to peace PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT The Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC analyses, and recent World Bank/OECD studies converge on one conclusion: mobilizing private finance at scale is indispensable to achieving climate goals. Yet major bottlenecks persist, including policy and regulatory uncertainty, high perceived risks, lack of risk‑mitigation instruments, limited bankable project pipelines, weak local financial sector capacity, and insufficient investment in adaptation and social services. To bridge these gaps, UNICEF aims to develop a comprehensive proposal that brings together public, philanthropic, and private sector actors to co‑create financing mechanisms capable of unlocking investment in climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience, particularly in social sectors that directly affect children and communities. SCOPE OF WORK UNICEF Partnerships Division intends to engage an international expert to advise on strategies to mobilize climate finance and to prepare and review concept notes and proposals to unlock climate capital for children. The consultant will support the development of a high‑impact proposal that: Identifies and addresses key barriers to private‑sector investment in climate action. Defines blended approaches that combine public finance, philanthropic capital, concessional resources, and private investment. Creates an actionable roadmap for scaling sustainable, green, blue, and climate finance into social services and adaptation sectors. Positions UNICEF and partners as credible conveners on sustainable, green, blue, and climate finance. Advises UNICEF on strategies and opportunities for co‑financing with development partners and climate funds in social services targeting children in Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) and other vulnerable communities. Follows up on opportunities for UNICEF to engage with development partners, including climate funds, as: Financial partners – co‑financing projects and programs by leveraging grant capital to de‑risk innovative financing instruments and business models; and Technical partners – leading or co‑leading social services targeting children in projects and programmes. The consultant will: Review evidence from GST, UNFCCC, World Bank, OECD, and MDBs to map bottlenecks and successful solutions. Build on findings from stakeholder consultations with public sector actors (ministries, DFIs, MDBs, development partners), philanthropists, foundations, corporates, banks, investors, pension funds, and insurance companies. Identify financing instruments and structures (e.g., guarantees, blended funds, local‑currency facilities, PPPs, aggregation vehicles) suitable for social sector adaptation and resilience targeting children. Develop a financing architecture that mobilizes public, philanthropists, and private sector partners to jointly address bottlenecks. Draft a resource mobilization initiative targeting both concessional and commercial capital. Integrate equity, child‑sensitivity, and resilience outcomes into the proposal framework. DELIVERABLES Initial concept (3–4 pages) for discussions across PPD and PFP to prompt feedback from public partnerships and high‑value channels. Draft of concept note with objectives, methodology, mapping of key stakeholders, identification of financial instruments, and key opportunities. Draft proposal including objectives, results framework, methodology, design of financing architecture, instruments, business models for each stream (loans and grants), leverage potential, roles of public and private actors, and a stakeholder engagement strategy. Final Proposal Package – a full proposal with executive summary, theory of change, results framework, financing strategy, and partnership roadmap, ready for donor and investor engagement. Monthly Summary Report – follow up with the development partners, including climate funds, on opportunities identified in the Proposal Package, and raise new co‑financing opportunities for UNICEF, as required. WORK ASSIGNMENTS Initial concept idea to present to internal consultations. Development of an initial draft concept note. Development of a draft proposal. Final Proposal Package. Summary Monthly Report. DELIVERABLES (Timeline) Deliverable 1: Ongoing from December 2025 until December 2026 – 3–4 page concept idea enriched by inputs from relevant teams in PFP and PPD on public partnerships and high‑value channels. Deliverable 2 (by March 2026): Initial draft concept note with objectives, methodology, mapping of key stakeholders and financial instruments and key opportunities. Deliverable 3 (by May 2026): Draft proposal including objectives, results framework, methodology, financing architecture, and stakeholder engagement strategy. Deliverable 4 (by June 2026): Full proposal with executive summary, theory of change, results framework, financing strategy, and partnership roadmap. Deliverable 5 (ongoing December 2025 – December 2026): Monthly report on follow‑up with development partners, including climate funds and co‑financing opportunities. QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in areas related to water, sanitation, and hygiene; climate change, environmental management, and public policy, or other related disciplines. Alternatively, a first‑level degree with an additional five years of relevant work experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. EXPERIENCE 15–20 years of responsible professional experience at international levels and a demonstrated track record in climate‑resilient projects, climate change, and environmental project design and management. Experience working in operations across the project cycle for multilateral development banks and climate funds and managing environmental and social safeguards. Experience developing successful climate funding proposals to international climate funds, including the Green Climate Fund. Experience designing or mobilizing blended public‑private climate finance mechanisms. Strong knowledge of international climate finance architecture (GCF, GEF, MDBs, bilateral donors). Excellent proposal development, partnership‑building, and communication skills. Experience working with UNICEF and knowledge of organizational strategies and priorities. LANGUAGE Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset. EEO STATEMENT UNICEF is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status, and encourages applicants from all backgrounds. All shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. Selected candidates will be responsible for ensuring all visa and health insurance requirements are met for the duration of the contract. #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply tot his job