Sustainable Finance Senior Associate, Central America
INTRODUCTION
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as green growth, which targets key aspects of economic performance such as poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and the private sector to help build strong economies that are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. GGGI supports stakeholders through complementary and integrated workstreams that deliver comprehensive products designed to assist in developing, financing, and mainstreaming green growth in national economic development plans.
BACKGROUND
Sustainable finance in Central America remains underdeveloped, limiting the regionโs ability to mobilized climate-aligned capital and deliver on NDC and SDG commitments. Key barriers include:
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Insufficient institutional capacity;
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Fragmented regulatory and strategic frameworks;
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Limited experience among market participants in designing and structuring sustainable finance instruments, including thematic bonds.
The existing gaps in institutional capacity, regulatory frameworks, and strategic planning hinder progress toward achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, targeted support to strengthen enabling conditionsโsuch as policy alignment, investment categorization, and climate finance mobilizationโis essential. Technical assistance throughout the pre-issuance, issuance, and post-issuance stages of thematic bonds is key to ensuring their effectiveness and long-term impact in driving sustainable development and climate action in the region.
Under this context, the GTF project Advancing Sustainable Finance in Central America has been approved to accelerate the greening of capital markets in the region. Initial activities include:
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Pre-issuance and post-issuance support for the issuance of BCRโs debut thematic bond, including the development of BCR bond framework, securing the SPO and support in developing the first allocation and impact reports and obtaining external verification of the report.
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Strengthening institutional capacity through targeted training programs that build internal expertise on thematic bond issuances, sustainable finance, ESG integration, and climate-related financial disclosures.
Providing technical assistance across the full lifecycle is critical to ensuring their effectiveness and long-term impact in advancing sustainable development and climate action in the region.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Sustainable Finance Senior Associate, Central America will support the implementation of the GTF expansion by providing technical assistance on sustainable finance instruments, particularly thematic bonds, to public and private sector stakeholders across Central America in coordination with the Sustainable Finance Senior Officer of Central America and the Sustainable Finance Officer of Latin America and Caribbean.
The Senior Associate will assist the Sustainable Finance Senior Officer of Central America in capacity building, policy development, and investment mobilization efforts to enhance the adoption of sustainable finance frameworks. This includes engaging with financial regulators, financial institutions, sovereign and corporate issuers, and development partners to promote green and sustainable investments.
PURPOSE
The Sustainable Finance Senior Associate will support the delivery of technical assistance to perspective issuers, accompanying them throughout the pre- and post-issuance process, including stakeholdersโ engagement (regulators, arrangers, underwriters, stock exchanges, investors, guarantors), green bond framework development, green project pipeline development, roadshow organization and delivery, second party opinion negotiation, development of impact reporting. S/he is expected to Support on the development of pre- and post-issuance processes of thematic bonds.
ENGAGEMENT
- Will report to the Sustainable Finance Senior Officer of Central America and Sustainable Finance Officer of Latin America and Caribbean.
- Support stakeholder engagement, including government agencies, regulators, financial institutions, development banks, and climate finance entities.
- Maintain strong working relationships with various ministries (e.g., Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment), development institutions and financial market players.
- Participate in policy dialogues to advance green finance frameworks in prioritized Central America countries.
- Engage with donors and institutional investors to explore financing opportunities for sustainable finance projects.
DELIVERY
Thematic Bond Advisory:
- Support issuers throughout pre- and post-issuance processes.
- Conduct thematic bond readiness assessments for prospective issuers.
- Identify and prioritize eligible projects for thematic bond financing.
- Assist in developing thematic bond governance structures (e.g., impact monitoring, use-of-proceeds management).
- Provide guidance on impact reporting and alignment with international standards and principles.
- Support issuers in obtaining Second Party Opinions (SPOs) from accredited verifiers and external verification for impact reports.
Policy and Market Development:
- Conduct research on barriers to thematic bond issuance in Central America and propose solutions.
- Provide technical input on sustainable finance policy frameworks in collaboration with regulators.
- Assist in the development of impact indicators for periodic bond reporting.
- Prepare presentations and external communication material for potential issuers.
Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing:
- Develop capacity-building modules for public and private sector actors.
- Contribute to international learning networks to exchange best practices on thematic bonds.
- Publish case studies, reports, and policy briefs to support knowledge dissemination.
Program Management & Reporting:
- Assist in internal and external reporting on projects being implemented.
- Monitor and evaluate sustainable finance activities and outputs to ensure alignment with program goals.
- Assist in preparing concept notes to the GTF Board and monitor and track project deliverables and budget execution.
- Support the preparation of funding proposals for international climate funds (e.g., Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility).
REQUIREMENTS
QUALIFICATIONSREQUIRED:
- Applicants must be nationals of El Salvador or hold a valid work permit to work in El Salvador.
- Bachelorโs degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Sustainable Development or related fields.
- At least 4-5 years of experience in financial institutions, development organizations, finance or economics ministries, stock exchanges or capital markets.
- At least 2 years of experience in sustainable finance (preferably in thematic bonds).
- Strong understanding of green finance instruments, sustainable investment frameworks, and impact reporting.
- Familiarity with sustainable finance taxonomies, standards (e.g., ICMA Principles), and ESG regulations.
- Fluency in English (written and verbal);
PREFERRED:
- Advanced degree (Masterโs in Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics, or Sustainable Development).
- Experience working with regulators, sovereign issuers, and institutional investors.
- Knowledge of sustainable banking initiatives and environmental and social safeguards (ESS).
- Strong data management and knowledge-sharing experience.
- Any other language proficiency is a plus.
- Data and knowledge management experience is a strong plus;
- Project Management knowledge and experience is a plus.
FUNCTIONAL:
- Ability to analyze market barriers and propose practical solutions.
- Ability to work with high-level government officials and financial institutions.
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams under tight deadlines.
- Proactive in identifying new opportunities for sustainable finance development.
- Ability to work with cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams and with limited supervision.
CORPORATE- Understand and actively support GGGIโs mission, vision and values.
- Promote the optimum use of public resources.
- Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
- Process and share information easily.
- Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.
- Promote creativity and innovation among staff.
- Be able to support where needed and provide solutions to project-level challenges.
WORKING CONDITIONSThe Sustainable Finance Senior Associate is an X7 grade level in GGGI El Salvador national salary scale. The salary range for the position starts at USD 30,951 per annum, depending on the country, qualifications, experience and internal equity.
GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.
GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members in achieving a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being. Child protection โ GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGIโs Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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