TECHNICAL OFFICER, CLIMATE FINANCE - TONGA

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are highly exposed to the adverse effects of climate change such as tropical cyclones, sea-level rise, droughts and increasing temperatures which are negatively impacting their economies, human and physical capital, and long-term resilient development. Access to finance for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) thus needs to be accelerated and funds mobilized, absorbed and translated into project implementation with urgency. However, despite some success in project approval, the scale and pace of financial flows in the region is not commensurate with the existential threat posed by climate change to Pacific nations.

A major barrier to access, absorb and deliver climate finance is limited preparedness and capability in key institutions such as government ministries, national funds, regional and national accredited entities and development banks. This means that even when climate finance is approved there can be considerable delays in deploying this funding.

This programme is part of the UK Small Island Developing States Capacity and Resilience Programme (SIDAR) to support SIDS to access, absorb and deliver climate finance. SIDAR funding was approved to end by March 2026 and is being extended by a year. The programme will proactively pursue opportunities to strengthen the capacity of institutions to access new funding and absorb and deliver on already approved climate finance projects ensuring that the technical assistance (TA) helps to tackle blockages in Government or other systems. This could involve support to strengthen project management capacity, implementation of safeguards etc. Depending on the needs of a particular country, the support will be tailored and could include institutional strengthening, public financial management, project management, etc. Building capacity and strengthening long term institutional capability will be a key part of the programme.

The Programme aims to increase PICs’ resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change and reduce their CO2 emissions in line with National Adaptation Plans and NDC commitments through enhanced capacity and institutional capability to improve access to climate finance and strengthen their absorptive capacity for efficient delivery of impactful climate change programmes.

GGGI has will embedded seven (7) Technical Officers in key institutions such as government ministries, regional and national accredited entities and development banks to support and strengthen PICs capability to access, absorb and deliver climate finance.

PURPOSE

The Technical Officer will collaborate closely with government entities and stakeholders to strengthen their institutional capacity for accessing, absorbing, and executing climate finance. The Officer will aid in organizational assessments, strategy development, and capacity-building initiatives to support climate finance delivery and implementation. S/he will extend support to climate finance Project Development Units, facilitating institutional growth and staff training when required. The officer’s role encompasses diverse tasks including aiding feasibility studies and proposal development, guiding fiduciary processes, facilitating fund disbursement and project implementation, engaging stakeholders, and overseeing project financing alignment. S/he will collaborate with regional teams, GGGI Headquarters, and GGGI Country Representatives as well as a range of PIC stakeholders to develop business cases and assess project opportunities.

ENAGEMENT

The proposed scope of activities for the Technical Officer encompasses tasks such as supporting feasibility studies, implementing fiduciary and safeguards processes, aiding fund disbursement and project implementation, engaging stakeholders to finalize and submit proposals, and facilitating project financing. The Officer will offer in-country consultation, assisting ministries and external project proponents in managing processes, resolving queries, and ensuring alignment with priorities and donor requirements. S/he will continuously provide support by leveraging the established trust and working relationships, facilitating extensive consultations to mitigate risks of project failures, facilitating to remove blockages to project progress and supporting securing finances for implementation and follow-through to signing of contracts, disbursement, and project kick-off meetings, where appropriate. Specific activities include identifying priority projects, assisting feasibility studies, designing project structures, enhancing institutional capacity, conducting training needs assessments, delivering tailored training, and guiding stakeholders through proposal submission and negotiations. S/he will collaborate with regional teams and GGGI Headquarters to develop business cases and analyze project opportunities.

The Technical Officer will report to the Adaptation Lead for the Pacific Region and GGGI Country Representatives, working closely with other teams in Pacific Region in particular the Green Investment Service Advisors, and GGGI Headquarters.

DELIVERY

• Advise and provide assistance to relevant ministry focal point and other government line ministries, NGOs and private sector stakeholders in developing project proposals to submit to Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund and other relevant donors and partners.
• Provide assistance to the Government on relevant needs.
• Support development and submission of climate finance funding proposals, including by navigating the range of financing sources, engaging stakeholders to fulfil funding proposal requirements, and assessing financial instruments to structure investments.
• Coordinate between national ministries to accelerate projects through the investment pipeline.
  • Where possible, pursue opportunities to finance projects through domestic resources as a means of enhancing country ownership.
  • Support or lead project origination activities and actively contribute to adding to the green investment project pipeline.
  • Conduct gap analysis of green investment/infrastructure projects and programs engaging all relevant stakeholders.
  • Perform financial, economic, and regulatory analysis for project concept, design and delivery in collaboration with the country teams and government counterparts.
  • Support in-country consultations, assisting ministries and external project proponents in managing processes, resolving queries, and ensuring alignment with priorities and donor requirements for project initiation and delivery
  • Support project kick-off meetings and establishment of coordination and implementation mechanisms, where appropriate.
  • Assisting feasibility studies, designing project structures, enhancing institutional capacity, conducting training needs assessments
  • Delivery capacity building activities to strengthen project management capacity, implementation of safeguards etc. Any other analytical work to ensure that deliverables are provided in a timely manner to support subsequent work and consistent with work plan.
    
    

    QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

    • Advanced university degree in economics, finance, business administration or another related field.
    • Experience in institutional strengthening and public financial management,
    • 3-5 year of experience in project management
    • 3-5 years of experience working in climate finance, international development or economic analysis, preferably for financial institution or development agency
    • Minimum 2 years of professional experience outside of home country
    • Sectoral expertise in coastal resilience and infrastructure, agriculture, adaptation or water security, is a plus
    • Experience in accessing and structuring finance for climate investment is a plus Experience in organizational strengthening and/or public financial management is a plus
    • Experience working in developing countries on climate and development issues preferred.
    • Experience working in the Pacific is required
    • Fluency in written and spoken English

      FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

      • Demonstrated ability to formulate concept notes and project proposals in compliance with requirements of various climate finance funds.
      • Demonstrated relationship-building and facilitation skills.
      • Resourceful and able to develop and operationalize strategies to achieve outputs and outcomes
      • Knowledge of and experience in adhering to internationally agreed environmental and social safeguards (ESS) and gender-sensitive design requirements.
      • Willingness and ability to commit to in-country work for and travel as required and where possible.

        CORPORATE REQUIREMENTS

        • Project management: Proven ability to independently plan, manage and complete projects that deliver quality outcomes in a timely and inclusive manner.
        • Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver products or presentations that are concise, easy to understand and influential.
        • Influencing change: Track record of engaging effectively to secure buy in, underpinned by strong listening, trust building, influencing, facilitation and negotiation skills.
        • Team player: Capacity to be selfless team member, to operate across organizational boundaries, and maintain a resilient, positive and results-focused mindset in a dynamic environment.
        • Promotes an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership

          WORKING CONDITIONS

          The Technical Officer is an X8, international grade level in GGGI's salary scale. For X8 International grade, the base salary starts from USD 64,920. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background 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. In addition, GGGI provides expatriate benefits such as expatriate allowance - equivalent to 20% of the base salary, educational allowance, and other benefits (terms and conditions are to be reviewed in a case-by-case situation).

          GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.

          Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.