Senior Ecosystems Management Specialist

Grade: IS-5
Deadline: 25 June 2023 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 138,750 net (plus attractive benefits), that include the following allowances (as applicable): Relocation, housing, dependency, education assistance and home country travel)

Introduction
The mission of the Green Climate Fund is to assist developing countries to respond to climate change while bringing prosperity to their people.

Established in 2010, the GCF invests in transformational climate projects in the developing world. The Fund makes an ambitious contribution to global climate action and channels significant financial resources into developing countries to help build low-emission and climate-resilient societies. It is country-driven and undertakes actions that reflect the circumstances of each country concerned and its national aspirations. The GCF is a key enabler of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Since its establishment, the GCF has approved 209 projects in 123 countries and has committed USD 11.4 billion in climate finance. In addition, it has built up an extensive program to support developing countries to identify their needs, in particular, those who are most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The GCF’s diverse workforce is advancing its mission from its headquarters in South Korea. Our talented staff makes unique contributions to the Fund, enriching the institution through their combined expertise and professional commitment.

Context
Global warming, reaching 1.5°C in the near-term, would cause unavoidable increases in multiple climate hazards and present multiple risks to Ecosystems and People. The latest IPCC report reiterates the close relationship between ecosystems’ health and vulnerability of people: ecosystems degradation increases the vulnerability of people. It also emphasizes that loss of ecosystems and their services has cascading and long-term impacts on people globally, especially for most vulnerable including Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities who depend directly on ecosystems to meet basic needs. Nature-based solutions can address the climate crisis, land degradation and biodiversity loss, as well as contribute to addressing a variety of social issues, such as water scarcity management and poverty alleviation. The recent convergence between biodiversity and climate is highlighted by the UNFCCC Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan as well as the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework; the latter including ambitious targets of protecting 30% of the world’s lands/inland waters/coastal areas/oceans by 2030. The State of Finance for Nature report estimates that finance flows to nature-based solutions would need to more than double by 2025 to USD 384 billion and more than triple to USD 484 billion by 2030 to keep climate change to below 1.5°C, halt biodiversity loss and achieve land degradation neutrality. There is an urgent need to reorient and realign the way public finance is planned and disbursed and catalyze private finance at scale for nature.

Position Objective
The Senior Ecosystems Management Specialist, reporting to the Climate Impact Area Lead, is responsible for the expansion and evolution of GCF’s ecosystems and ecosystem services result area, and widely, the ecosystems transition.

Working closely with other senior sector specialists at DMA, as well as with climate investment managers and officers at the Private Sector Facility of the GCF; accredited entities, national designated authorities and other internal/external stakeholders, the Senior Ecosystems Management Specialist provides thought leadership for programming the pipeline of investments in ecosystems and ecosystem services, thus expanding the Ecosystems portfolio in accordance with the Updated Strategic Plan of the GCF.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose

• Leads the origination of strategies and policies focused on ecosystems, nature-based solutions and investment, in alignment with programming allocations and targets including adaptation/mitigation, country/regional/sectoral, and other targets dictated by the Updated Strategic Plan (USP) of the GCF;
• Expands materially the range of programmes and projects on ecosystems and nature-based solutions in alignment with the USP;
• Oversees the Ecosystems pipeline and overall portfolio performance to ensure investment targets are met;
• Innovates knowledge products that will enable the development of transformational programming and enable /enhance access to the fund's resources.

  Engagement

  • Advocates with DMA and GCF programming leadership on ecosystems and nature-based solutions planning and development approaches, relevant methodologies, and country needs;
  • Negotiates with external stakeholders as they access the Fund’s investment resources (including scalable catalytic programmes), and provide technical advice on ecosystems-related activities in line with GCF objectives;
  • Guides, facilitates and engages in the development of internal and external networks relevant for the advancement of programming in Ecosystems and nature-based solutions.

    Deliver

    • Oversees ecosystems portfolio activities from origination to monitoring of project and programme implementation, and ensures their alignment with cycles of funding and project development;
    • Organizes knowledge management resources and tools to strengthen the quality of sectoral and country-level projects to shift the paradigm on low-emission and climate-resilient ecosystems development, and develops frameworks and processes that synthesize lessons learned and best practice following an adaptive management approach;
    • Plans resources and timeframes with anticipation of substantive, programming and political dimension;
    • Contributes to corporate and team activities such as strategic planning and programming, Board support, hiring processes, consultant selections, communications, and replenishment, by providing relevant inputs, and managing consultants, interns and other GCF staff as necessary.
    • ons as observers to the GCF and serving as a focal point for engagement with observers.

      Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

      • Master’s or higher-level degree in ecosystem ecology, geography, environmental science, environmental economics; natural resources management; engineering or other relevant fields; or a Bachelor’s degree and 2 additional years of professional experience.
      • 11 years or more experience in project origination, development, and management and/or financing with specific emphasis on ecosystems and nature-based solutions;
      • Specialization in the following topics: ecosystems management/restoration/conservation, ecosystem services, natural capital accounting, ecosystems-based adaptation, nature-positive businesses; climate change adaptation and resilience of various ecosystem types (i.e., terrestrial, coastal and marine, desert and dryland, forests, mountains, grasslands etc.), methodologies for nature valuation; nature-related financial disclosures, others;
      • Substantive experience in developing and implementing nature-based solutions and related investments in developing countries settings is required;
      • Relevant experience in economic and financial analysis and financial structuring;
      • Relevant experience in climate finance operations in ecosystems management; familiarity with multilateral funds, including the UNFCCC framework;
      • Ability to work in a multicultural environment with diverse stakeholders at different technical and strategic levels– staff, Board, GCF’s independent bodies, and external stakeholders.
      • Unquestionable integrity and adherence to the highest ethical standards.
      • Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills required with ability to interact with multiple internal/external stakeholders and at different levels; and
      • Fluency in English with knowledge of Spanish and/or French is an advantage.

        The closing date for application is 25 June 2023. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

        *The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references.

        Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged.