Financing Consultant

Result of ServiceThe UN Country Team in Eritrea has the capacity, tools, and partnerships needed to mobilize diversified, sustainable financing and build investment-ready pipelines that advance national priorities and the UNSDCF. Work LocationAsmara Expected duration3 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesI. Background The Government of the State of Eritrea (GoSE) and the United Nations System in Eritrea are jointly implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022–2026—the central strategic instrument that guides collective efforts to advance national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Operationalization of the UNSDCF is achieved through costed Joint Work Plans, while requiring the mobilization of a broad coalition of development partners as well as private sector actors, including the Eritrean diaspora. However, structural factors, the limited presence of bilateral and multilateral partners, and the unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) under which the country operates have contributed to a constrained partnership landscape. To address these challenges, during the UNCT retreat in Asmara (June 2025), under the agenda item “From Funding to Financing: What it means for UNCT Eritrea”, the UNCT recommended to: “Identify and consolidate priority investment opportunities into a comprehensive catalogue, including instruments such as carbon financing, environmental finance, and diaspora bonds, to guide engagement with investors, partners, and the mobilisation of expertise from across the UN system.” This recommendation underscores the need for specialized expertise within the UN Country Team to more effectively accompany Eritrea in accessing development and climate finance and advancing sustainable solutions. II. Specific Responsibilities and Tasks Under the overall guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator, the consultant reports to the Head of RCO and coordinates closely with the UNCT Programme Management Team and designated GoSE counterparts, the consultant is expected to undertake the following: 1. Identify, package, and promote priority investment opportunities aligned with GoSE priorities and the UNSDCF (e.g., food systems, renewable energy, climate action and resilience). 2. Strengthen UNCT capacity to engage a broader ecosystem of financing partners (MDBs, bilateral agencies, vertical funds—GCF/GEF/AF—philanthropy, impact investors, diaspora). 3. Propose feasible financing pathways and instruments (blended finance, guarantees, concessional windows, results-based finance, carbon/ environmental markets, diaspora bonds). 4. Support the pivot from funding to financing through practical tools, partner dialogues, and capacity transfer to programme teams, while operationalizing collaboration with UNCDF, UNDP, and other partners to develop investment-ready pipelines and financial engagement modalities. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced degree in economics, development finance, public policy, business administration, or related field is required. 10+ years in development/climate finance, investment structuring, blended finance, or partnership brokerage in frontier markets required. Demonstrated ability to build investment pipelines and mobilize financing across public–private sources; familiarity with climate funds (GCF/GEF/AF) and MDB instruments is required. Strong analytical writing, stakeholder facilitation, and presentation skills; ability to transfer practical know-how to programme teams is required. Experience working with/within the UN development system and government counterparts is an asset. Experience working in Africa; East Africa experience an advantage. LanguagesProficiency in written and spoken English is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.