Technical and Financial Specialist

Organizational Setting

The FAO Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC) is responsible for leading FAO’s efforts to achieve food security for all in the Central Asian region. FAO’s three main goals are: the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and in close liaison with FAOSEC implements the project “Improving the capacity of Turkmenistan to access climate finance through capacity building and strategic frameworks”. The objectives are to enhance the capacity of the government of Turkmenistan to facilitate the access to climate finance and to improve compliance with the national targets under the Paris Agreements while promoting cross-sectoral collaboration and the engagement of diverse stakeholders in the integrated manner.
Since 2012, Turkmenistan championed the creation of a Climate Change Technology Centre for the Central Asia region to be based in Ashgabat. In the last years its advocacy has intensified, as reflected in UNGA documents and final documents of meetings of Central Asian Presidents. Turkmenistan has reached out to FAO and UNEP for technical assistance and fund-raising support to establish the Centre.
Turkmenistan received the endorsement of the other Central Asian countries to establish such a Regional Centre in Ashgabat. The Centre would focus its activities on both climate change adaptation and mitigation, aiming to become a regional hub for the promotion of climate technology transfer for Central Asian countries. The Centre will attract support from UN agencies, funds, and programmes. The purpose of the exercise will be to find the legal foundation of establishing the Center and its affiliation with the UN. The process of establishing the Centre is supported by the Office of the UNRC in Turkmenistan during the preparatory period.
While the Regional Center for Climate Technology holds great potential for supporting climate-resilient technologies and attracting climate finance in the region, there are some factors that need to be considered before establishing formal engagement at this stage. One primary reason is that the Center is still in its initial stages and its operational framework and jurisdiction are not fully established yet. Despite not engaging directly with the Center at this stage, this project will still involve relevant stakeholders associated with the Center to leverage existing expertise and knowledge while closely monitoring the developments of the Center and supporting awareness campaign by participating of the relevant representatives at the international events and preparing the Action Plan via Activity 1.3.2 b Promote the Regional Center for Climate Technology at the international level and prepare the Action Plan.
To support the implementation, FAO is seeking a motivated, dynamic Technical and Financial Specialist who will provide in-depth technical and financial analysis for the development of the feasibility study and action plan: ensuring the Centre project's technical feasibility, economic viability, and financial sustainability.

Reporting Lines

The Technical and Financial Specialist will report primarily to the project’s FAO Lead Technical Officer (LTO) - Natural Resources Officer SEC (Climate Change) and Budget Holder (BH), both based at FAO-SEC.

Technical Focus

Economics and Finance, Climate change and Development, Adaptation, Mitigation, Agriculture, Programme Management  

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Define and assess the technical requirements for the Centre, including infrastructure, technology, and human resources. Provide technical recommendations for the setup and operation of the Centre.
•     Estimate costs for setting up and operating the Centre, identify potential funding sources and financial sustainability models and determine the economic viability of the Centre.
•     Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine the economic viability of the project and propose a business plan.
•     Outline a detailed action plan with timelines, milestones, and responsibilities to establish the Centre.
•     Develop a roadmap for implementation, including short-term and long-term goals.
•     Go on missions to Ashgabat to conduct surveys or interviews with potential users and beneficiaries.
•     Provide input on technical and financial aspects of the market analysis.
•     Assist in identifying potential risks and developing mitigation strategies.
•     Provide input on technical and financial aspects of the governance framework.
•     Assist in developing policies related to financial management and technical oversight.
•     Develop a detailed presentation on the findings and results/outcomes of the assignment.
•     Prepare interim reports and updates.
•     Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     For Consultants:
Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Economics, Finance, or related field. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSAs:
University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Economics, Finance, or related field.
•     Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in technical and financial analysis of projects.
•     Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

•     Proven experience conducting feasibility studies, strategic planning, or institutional assessments.
•     Experience in the climate technology or environmental sector.
•     Familiarity with UN frameworks and climate finance mechanisms (e.g., GCF. CTCN, GEE, etc.).
•     Demonstrated understanding of regional dynamics and stakeholders in Central Asia.
•     Strong analytical and research skills.
•     Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation experience. 
•     Good knowledge of Russian will be an added advantage