CONSULTANCY - Climate Finance Subject Matter Expert and Content Developer SSA-2026-CRI-SSCD-2

Background

Climate finance has become a central pillar of international efforts to support climate adaptation, resilience-building and the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Despite the growing availability of climate finance through multilateral climate funds, development banks and bilateral mechanisms, many developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other vulnerable countries, continue to face significant institutional and technical barriers in accessing and mobilizing these resources.

National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) play a critical role in supporting climate finance mobilization by providing the climate data, information, analysis and knowledge required for evidence-based decision-making, investment planning and climate risk management. Recognizing this role, the WMO has developed methodologies, technical guidance and capacity-development activities to strengthen the contribution of NMHSs to climate finance processes. In particular, the publication Enhancing the Role of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in Mobilizing Climate Finance at the National Level (WMO-No. 1365) provides practical guidance on how NMHSs can contribute to national climate finance planning, investment design, stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization.

Building on the Climate Science Information for Climate Action (CSICA), WMO has been implementing a series of capacity-development activities to strengthen the role of NMHSs in accessing and mobilizing climate finance. With the support of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), WMO successfully organized the first Consultative Meeting on Climate Science Information for Climate Finance and the 51st China Study Tour in 2024 and the WMO event on Climate Services to Enhance Access to Climate Finance for Senior Directors of NMHSs in 2025. During the two events, senior directors from NMHSs highlighted common challenges, including limited knowledge and information of climate finance mechanisms, insufficient capacity to develop investment-ready proposals, and the need for continued access to practical guidance, tools and peer learning opportunities.

To respond to these needs and expand the reach and sustainability of its capacity-development efforts, and as part of its 2026 Climate Finance Event Series, WMO is developing a self-paced e-learning course based on WMO-No. 1365. The course is intended for NMHS senior management, climate finance focal points, and professionals engaged in national, regional and international climate finance initiatives. It will translate WMO guidance, methodologies, country experiences, case studies and lessons learned into a structured learning programme consisting of 4–6 thematic modules.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide subject-matter expertise and content design support for the development of the self-paced e-learning course. The consultant will develop the overall learning framework, prepare module content and learning materials, identify and document relevant case studies, and produce learner-ready scripts and resources that can be transformed into an interactive e-learning product by the instructional designer.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of the Climate Research and Information Section and will report biweekly to the Scientific Officer of the Section. The Consultant shall work collaboratively with the complementary consultant appointed by WMO. The completion of certain deliverables is dependent on the timely completion and review of corresponding deliverables produced by the other consultant. The development process will follow an iterative approach, with periodic joint reviews and revisions coordinated by the WMO Secretariat. Under this structure, the Consultant will:

1. Review WMO-No. 1365 and related WMO publications, methodologies and technical resources relevant to NMHS engagement in climate finance.
2. In collaboration with WMO staff and the instructional designer, define the technical scope of the course and contribute to the development and validation of the intended learning outcomes.
3. Develop the technical content for 4–6 thematic modules, ensuring technical accuracy, consistency and alignment with WMO guidance.
4. Prepare learner-ready content packages for each module, including narrative text, explanations, examples, case studies, graphics recommendations, references and
supporting resources.
5. In coordination with WMO secretariat, identify documents and synthesize practical case studies, good practices and lessons learned from WMO Members and relevant climate finance initiatives, including experiences presented during the 2024 and 2025 WMO climate finance events.
6. Develop technical inputs for practical exercises, scenarios and knowledge checks in collaboration with the instructional designer, who will determine their instructional design and presentation.
7. Participate in technical review meetings with WMO staff and external experts and revise the content based on comments received.
8. Provide technical support to the instructional designer during course development to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the learning materials.

MAINS DELIVERABLES:

1. Inception report proposing the technical content development plan, including: proposed module topics; technical scope; key references; proposed case studies.
2. Complete technical content package of 4–6 modules including: module narratives; technical explanations; case studies; examples; references; suggested visuals; glossary.
3. Revised technical content package incorporating WMO review comments and finalized for instructional design and multimedia production.
4. Final validated technical content package, including all editable source files and supporting references.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree or equivalent in economics, economic development, international relations, business administration, finance, environment and natural science, or a similar field.

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years of experience with the preparation of funding proposals for climate funds.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement with private sector and civil society organizations.
• Experience working with developing countries in climate and/or environmental multilateral programming and financing.
• Proven experience in developing technical methodologies, drafting high-level technical or policy papers for intergovernmental processes.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering executive-level capacity development programmes, training courses, workshops or learning products on climate finance, climate services, adaptation planning or related fields.
• Proven experience in the capacity development of NMHSs to access climate finance.
• Experience in translating complex technical or policy guidance into practical learning and knowledge products for decision-makers.
• Experience working with UN systems, NMHSs, climate services institutions, or UNFCCC processes is highly desirable.

Other Requirements:

• Knowledge of climate change and climate science policy. Knowledge of international to national climate finance strategies and relevant institutions, particularly in developing countries.
• Ability to structure technical content into coherent learning modules for senior-level audiences.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize complex policy, technical and financing information into concise and practical guidance.
• Familiarity with adult learning principles and online learning approaches is desirable.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to foster diversity and team spirit.

Languages:

Excellent command of written and spoken English required.
Knowledge of another UN language is an asset. (Note: The official languages of the Organization are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.)

Salary and Allowances: Payband D

Duration: 20 days over a period of 7 months

Focal point: Xinrui WU - xwu@wmo.int

Applications:

Applications should be made online through the WMO e-recruitment system.

Do not send your application via multiple routes. WMO no longer accepts applications via post or email. Only applicants for whom WMO has a further interest will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit a written test and/or an interview.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

WMO does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

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