Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) South Africa country office is seeking a qualified and experienced national expert in biodiversity finance to provide technical support in the effective implementation of the UNDPโs Biodiversity Finance Initiative โBIOFINโ. This initiative aims to mobilize financial resources to enhance biodiversity conservation in South Africa, jointly implemented by UNDP and the Government of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
The UNDP - Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is a global partnership addressing biodiversity finance challenges comprehensively. It provides an innovative methodology for countries to measure biodiversity expenditures, assess financial needs, and identify suitable finance solutions to bridge national biodiversity finance gaps. BIOFIN supports country members in initiating national policy dialogues and transformational processes through a customizable approach to mobilize resources and policies needed to implement national biodiversity plans and achieve biodiversity targets. Currently, BIOFIN operates in 41 countries globally, including South Africa, and has been coordinated by UNDP since 2012.
BIOFIN South Africa has already developed a Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) with prioritized finance solutions to address the biodiversity finance gap. Currently, four of these solutions are being implemented, and additional solutions are being identified and developed with secured funding.
As part of this role, the Biodiversity Finance Analyst will contribute to updating the BFP by assessing current progress, identifying new opportunities, and refining finance solutions to better align with emerging biodiversity finance trends and international commitments. This update will ensure that South Africa remains on track to meet its biodiversity goals, particularly in relation to Targets 15 and 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Target 15ย emphasizes the importance of business assessment, disclosure, and reduction of biodiversity-related risks and impacts. This position will help engage the private sector in assessing and disclosing their biodiversity impacts, aligning financial flows with biodiversity conservation goals. Target 19ย focuses on mobilizing substantial financial resources for biodiversity from all sources, including private and public sectors. The Biodiversity Finance Analyst will play a crucial role in mobilizing these resources, developing innovative finance solutions, and enhancing partnerships with the private sector to support biodiversity conservation.We are recruiting this position to help actualize Targets 15 and 19, among others, by leveraging private and financial sector engagement. The Biodiversity Finance Analyst will provide technical guidance, create strategic partnerships, mobilize resources, and develop knowledge products to increase financial and technical resources for sustainable biodiversity management and conservation. This role is pivotal in aligning financial flows with biodiversity goals and ensuring that South Africa meets its international biodiversity commitments effectively.
Scope of Work
The core responsibility of the Biodiversity Finance Analyst is to provide overall technical guidance at the national level to implement the identified Finance Solutions related to private and the financial sector. The National Biodiversity Finance Analyst will work in close collaboration with the BIOFIN National Coordinator , Project Management Specialist and other ย National BIOFIN Team members, UNDP CO and the UNDP BIOFIN global team to assure the high-quality delivery of BIOFIN outcomes of the Finance Solutions implemented at the national level.ย
The Biodiversity Finance Analyst is expected to have good experience in mainstreaming green finance in the private and financial sector and to provide substantial technical expertise in assuring horizontal integration and consistency of workstreams/studies, as well as quality assurance of national products and processes throughout the duration of the project. S/he will provide sound technical expertise and implementation of finance solutions. S/he will support outreach activities to national (Private Sector, Financial institutions, Government, donors'ย delegation, academia, etc.) and relevant international stakeholders, and the preparation of synthesis reports, policy briefs, press releases, and briefing notes for Government, UNDP etc.
Duties and Responsibilities
Technical guidance (70%)
Develop/review and implement BIOFIN South Africa private and financial sector finance solutions, in coordination with national finance solution working groups and key experts at the global level, as well as the national level (with the BIOFIN National Project Coordinator at DFFE and BIOFIN Programme Management Specialist to support the implementation of the BIOFIN finance solutions). This may include a set of measures or activities addressing legal, institutional, entrepreneurial, financial, awareness, and capacity matters to put the BIOFIN results into action; Provide technical leadership and support towards mainstreaming green finance into the private and financial sector. the working groups and experts implementing the BIOFIN South Africa finance solutions, including reviewing reports for quality assurance, conducting necessary meetings, workshops, and field visits to support progress and guarantee the quality of work; Contribute to the national dialogue on policies and measures that can improve the sustainable management and protection of South Africaโs natural resources.Strategic partnerships, promotion, and awareness (20%):
Work with the BIOFIN National Project Coordinator and Project Management Specialist to create strategic alliances with other partners on biodiversity finance notably the private and financial sector as well as key public sector entities such as National Treasury, DFFE, SARB etc. Facilitate collaboration between partners and key stakeholders in the development/review of new finance solutions; Provide opportunities for enhancing private sector collaboration on finance plans and hence coordinating where applicable task teams comprising of pubic, private and private stakeholders; Development of partnerships with the Private Sector, Financial institutions in biodiversity financing based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donorsโ priorities; Establish and maintain links with other national and international programmes, projects and priorities ย (e.g. NBSAP, GEF programmes, and integration of national priorities such as the White paper on Sustainable Use).ย Facilitating knowledge building and management (10%):
Creating high level advocacy on pertinent development policies instruments across the representatives of top echelon of the countryโs stakeholders; Advocating for UNDP with Financial Institutions and Private Sector counterparts; Develop and share knowledge on biodiversity financing for sustainableย development; Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice; Organization of training for BIOFIN project stakeholders on biodiversity financing issues.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Biodiversity Finance Analyst will report to the BIOFIN Project Management Specialist and will work in close collaboration with, the whole Country Office team.ย
CompetenciesCore 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: ย 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.Functional/Technical competencies
Business Direction and Strategy
Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPโs 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.ยBusiness Direction and Strategy
Business Direction and Strategy
Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.ยBusiness 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.Business Management: Communication
Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.ย Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.ยFinance: Finance business partnering
Able to support business units and add value by innovating and providing solutions to financial issues/queries, including through FAQs, financial tools, advisory, etc. Influences and appropriately challenges non-finance colleagues for whom the service is being provided.ย Understands the operations, opportunities and challenges of the organization. Holds a commercial outlook, demonstrating accountability towards organizational goals.Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent)ย in Finance, Business Administration (MBA), Economics, Development Finance, Environmental Economics, Environmental Finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in a relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Applicants with Masterโs degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelorโs degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international levelย in sustainable finance, capital markets, banking (corporate finance), public finance, conservation finance orย environmental finance.Required skills:
Practical experience with private and financial sector operations in South Africa; Proven ability to prepare publications, reports and presentations; Proven ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.Desired skills:
Experience in green and blue finance, particularly especially biodiversity finance; Exposure to operations of the financial sector i.e. banking, capital markets etc; Experience in dealing with international and national experts and institutions;ย Evident exposure to environmental issues or biodiversity; Previous experience or involvement in the BIOFIN Initiative; a self-starter with strong internal motivation, able to set up systems and procedures in a โstart upโ environment;ย A high degree of financial sector operations awareness/experience; Demonstrated ability to network and strike collaborative linkages.Languages:
Fluency in English, with excellent writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills is required.Professional Certificates:
Any professional certifications in green finance, banking, ESG, Environmental finance, corporate finance, capital markets etc. is desired.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.ย
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.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
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