Org. Setting and Reporting
The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy-oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region. This position is located in the Financing for Development Section, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division (MPFD). The Regional Adviser will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Financing for Development Section and the overall guidance of the Director of the Division. The Division is mandated to provide leadership / strategic / policy support to Regional Adviser on Green Finance. More information on MPFD can be found on https://www.unescap.org/our-work/macroeconomic-policy-financing-development. The services of the Regional Adviser will aim to ensure the provision of high-level technical expertise, the transfer of knowledge from global entities to Governments on policy-related issues and development strategies and the formulation, assessment or evaluation of projects and programmes in the area of financing for development.
The incumbent: Mandatory tasks:
• Provides policy advice, policy recommendations on financing for development issues particularly related to green finance, financing the energy transition, nature-based solutions and financing related to Agenda 2030,
• Monitors, studies, researches and analyzes economic developments, the trends and best practices on green, climate, nature-based and sustainable finance economic policies and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations and prepares policy advisory notes to inform governments as well as feed into the intergovernmental process.
• Contributes to the design/redesign of national policies and strategies upon requests from developing countries for green, climate, nature-based and sustainable finance policies and regulations for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Contributes to the Section’s publications and analytical products, including the Financing for Development Series, working papers, research and data analysis, ensuring the outputs are aligned with up-to-date market information and government priorities in light of the triple agenda of Agenda 2030, the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Participates in the design and development of capacity development programmes, projects related to green financing particularly in support of green and sustainability bond issuance, sustainable finance in banking markets, debt-for-nature or climate swaps, greening financial regulators
• Monitors implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
• Makes substantive contributions to and attend global/regional/sub-regional/national meetings, workshops, seminars, colloquia, and other training events, including proposals concerning agenda topics, possible participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.to advance ESCAP’s financing for development agenda in the area of green finance and to coordinate with respective governments and development partners including holding discussions with representatives of governments, development partners and institutions.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs on the topic of green finance for presentations by senior staff. Contributes to the Division’s resource mobilization strategies, notably as far as extra-budgetary funding is concerned, by designing technical cooperation programme and projects for developing countries in Asia and the Pacific focused on green finance, in alignment with country needs and requests.
• Assumes other tasks in the area of expertise and in line with capacity development guidance as requested by the supervisor i.e., designing and undertaking capacity development activities requested by member States related to green finance.
• Develops and conducts training seminars and workshops including the materials for the areas covered in capacity development activities for government officials and others to support them in adopting the relevant financing strategies, policies and financing mechanisms.
• Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Liaises with relevant professional networks and makes relevant external capacity development resources available to ESCAP.
• Establishes, engages, nurtures close relationships with governments, multilateral development banks (MDBs), public development banks, and the private sector in view of creating partnerships and an active network to mobilize efforts for better directing green finance in line with international agreements and national commitments.
• Provides inputs for the normative and advocacy functions of the Division based on the capacity development expertise.
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
- COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
- CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches