Climate Services Financing Framework and Business Model (International)

Result of Service

The consultant is expected to work closely with the UNEP Project Management Unit, the National Executing Entity, Technical Partners, National Service Providers and development partners to develop the following ultimate outputs: 1. 9-month workplan and timeline 2. Finance analysis for sustainability of Climate Information and Early Warning Systems 3. Financing Framework for Climate Information and Early Warning Systems 4. Recommendations Report and Final Presentation

Work Location

Home-based, part-time

Expected duration

9 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. This consultancy is managed by UNEP’s Climate Change Division (CCD). CCD engages with the Member States and Partners to accelerate and support a just transition by addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation through enhancing implementation capacity, provision of data information and knowledge, access to finance and technology and building resilience. The International Consultant, Climate Services National Financing Policies and Sustainability Plans, will report to the Chief Technical Advisor in the Project Management Unit in Dili, Timor Leste. The consultant will serve to implement portions of the USD 21.7m Project “Enhancing Early Warning Systems to build greater resilience to hydro meteorological hazards in Timor-Leste”. The Project addresses the urgent need for integrated and end-to-end climate information services and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) in Timor-Leste through comprehensive institutional, technical and technological capacity building from national to local level to generate and disseminate robust climate data and information at all stages of the climate services value chain. The consultant will contribute to activities in the five Pacific Island countries under Activity 1.1, “Strengthen institutional and policy frameworks and delivery models for climate services”, that will lead to Result 1 “Strengthened delivery model for climate information services and MHEWS covering oceans and islands”. Under Sub Activity Sub-Activity 1.1.5 “Establish a financial framework and business model for sustainable climate services” the consultant will develop a financial framework to ensure that DNMG has the means to sustain and ensure the ongoing operation of its mandated services in order to mitigate weather-, climate-, and water-related risks beyond the term of the Project. Long term sustained financing for NMHS, especially in Small Island Developing States, remains a constant challenge. The consultancy will support the overall sustainability of DNMG with the investment provided through the UNEP CIEWS Project. The Financial Framework will be informed by a scoping activity, examining opportunities for sectors and business segments to utilise the strengthened climate services and identify opportunities to develop value-added climate products and services (e.g. targeting a particular sector such as agriculture or health, or related to a particular climate-related hazard); and potential for public-private partnerships and private investment in climate services. In addition, the consultant should link the Financial Framework to the National Meteorological and Geophysics Act (draft awaiting Ministerial approval), the National Meteorological and Geophysics Strategy (draft awaiting Ministerial approval), the National Framework for Climate Services (draft awaiting Ministerial approval), Climate Services Action and Communications Plan (2025), the National Roadmap for Anticipatory Action (2025), FbF/AA financing mechanism and SOFF. The consultant should also explore the potential to establish a National Climate Fund as a mechanism to support Timor-Lete to manage its engagement with climate finance. Given the specific circumstances of Timor Leste and its relatively small economy and remote location, the financing framework will be carefully developed to ensure it is tailored to the local context. The intention is that by the end of the Project, DNMG will be ready to negotiate cost recovery for new climate information products, have a concrete sustainability plan for the investments made in upgrading meteorological observations, and have a concrete Financing Action Plan, to ensure value added and sustainability of the Programme Investments. The consultant is expected to engage closely with the Project’s Technical Partners and National Service Providers involved in the programme. The consultant will report to the Chief Technical Advisor, PMU-TL, Climate Early Warning and Capacity Building Unit, Climate Change Division, based in Dili, Timor Leste.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree in financing (required), public policy (desirable), climate information services (desirable), economics (required) or a similar related field is required. • A minimum of 7 years demonstrated experience in sustainable financing, climate financing, cost recovery, and donor/development assistance. • A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated experience in developing institutional or national financing policies or sustainability plans or cost recovery plans in climate related or EWS areas is desirable. • Demonstrated knowledge of climate information services or multi hazard early warning systems. • Experience in working and collaborating with governments, development partners and NMHS in the Southeast Asia and/or Pacific region is desirable. • Previous work experience undertaking similar activities in the Southeast Asia and/or Pacific region is highly desirable.

Languages

For the consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Tetum and/or Portuguese or is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.