Financial Inclusion and Gender Specialist

Result of Service

The main objective of this consultancy is to contribute to UNEP’s team in matters of safeguards, financial inclusion and gender, providing additional expertise on TREES safeguards as part of the 2025 Technical Assistance (TA) activities under the UN-REDD Programme in the LAC region, with a focus on the work plan with Peru, Mexico and Colombia. The Consultant will also collaborate closely with UNEP’s financial experts working on the Results-Based Payments (RBP) project in Paraguay and the Central America Dry Corridor Restoration Flagship Project, providing targeted collaboration on activities related to the consultancy’s areas of expertise. Working in close collaboration with the UNEP LAC Nature and market-based solutions Section team and Coordinator in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, and the global safeguards specialist, the consultant shall perform the following activities: • Lead work planning and implementation on financial inclusion and gender within the 2026 UN-REDD Technical Assistance activities in LAC. • Strengthen the Central America Dry Corridor Flagship Restoration Project through strategic inputs to deliverables related to financial inclusion and gender equality. • Provide specialized technical inputs on financial inclusion and gender for the Paraguay REDD+ Project, ensuring alignment across key outputs and reporting. • Contribute to knowledge management and capacity-building activities, including the design and facilitation of workshops and country missions. • Ensure systematic application, monitoring, and reporting of gender-responsive actions across relevant projects. • Prepare high-quality progress reports and technical inputs for UNEP, UN-REDD, donors and others, as appropriate. • Develop and disseminate knowledge products, training materials, and advocacy tools promoting inclusive finance and gender-transformative approaches. • Provide strategic guidance for the design and delivery of regional events focused on financial inclusion and gender equality.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

5 months and 11 days

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. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) face significant challenges related to deforestation and forest degradation, and achieving climate and biodiversity targets. Sustainable finance and investment are needed to scale up forest and climate protection efforts, with robust environmental and social safeguards. UNEP provides technical support to LAC countries on safeguards, financial innovation, inclusion and gender approach for REDD+, as well as expert knowledge management (KM), advocacy, communications, and finance efforts to help address these challenges. UNEP LACO requires additional bolstering under the form of a consultant to contribute to the Nature and market-based solutions Section in financial inclusion and gender approach for REDD+, KM and capacity-building activities related to REDD+ on these topics in, to strengthen the UNEP’s role within the UN-REDD Programme in LAC, in the Results-Based Payments (RBP) project in Paraguay, and in the Central America Dry Corridor Restoration Flagship Project. This consultancy will strengthen the capacity of LAC countries through targeted technical advice, knowledge creation, and strategic input. The consultant will work closely with the UNEP LACO team, providing technical input, knowledge-sharing, advocacy, and communication efforts for REDD+ processes in LAC countries. The consultant will report to the UNEP Programme Management Officer UN-REDD for the Latin America and Caribbean Office and will work from home. The Consultant will work in close coordination with the UNEP’s Nature and market-based solutions Section / UN-REDD Team and Coordinator in LAC to ensure the effective integration of financial inclusion and gender considerations, alignment with safeguards frameworks, and the successful delivery of UNEP’s objectives across the relevant programmes and projects. Additionally, the Consultant will contribute to strengthening the UNEP Nature and market-based solutions Section LAC team by providing technical input, reports, knowledge management and others related to the UNEP’s role within the UN-REDD Programme, Flagship and RBP Paraguay projects. Output No. 1 Provide inputs for a semi-annual report on how UNEP UN-REDD Technical Assistance in LAC countries is integrating financial inclusion and gender perspectives. The report will identify needs and gaps to strengthen alignment with UN-REDD’s gender and financial inclusion principles. Product 1: Summary report including: • Updated Action Plan showing progress on financial inclusion and gender integration across UNEP UN-REDD Technical Assistance in LAC. • Key needs and gaps to strengthen gender and financial inclusion in LAC Technical Assistance. • Alignment of Action Plan activities and results with the UN-REDD gender monitoring and reporting framework. Output No. 2 Guide and monitor the preparation of at least five technical tools under the Central America Dry Corridor Flagship Restoration Project, including legal analysis of pilot countries, safeguards assessment, actor mapping, risk management for restoration actions, and case studies. Oversee the finalization of the financial strategy for the Investment Plan. Product 2: Document including: • Five technical tools finalized for publication on the UNEP Central America Dry Corridor Flagship Restoration Project website. • Finalized financial strategy for the Flagship Restoration Project Investment Plan. Output No. 3 Provide technical assistance to UNEP UN-REDD on gender and financial inclusion in LAC countries and provide inputs to the final report of the Gender Action Plan under the Results-Based Payments project in Paraguay. Product 3: Report including: • Description of activities carried out to integrate gender and financial inclusion into technical assistance in LAC countries, including preparation of presentations, review of materials, follow-up meetings, and consultations with the global UN-REDD Gender Team. • Summary of feedback provided for the Paraguay project Gender Action Plan final report, including review of materials, follow-up calls, and alignment of project documentation with donor gender requirements. Output No. 4 Manage the preparation of at least two additional technical tools under the Central America Dry Corridor Flagship Restoration Project, including a guide for developing restoration investment plans and a tool on financing mechanisms for restoration. Finalize the Investment Plan, contribute to capacity-building processes, and update the UN-REDD Gender Marker System with results from the Action Plan on gender and financial inclusion in UNEP UN-REDD Technical Assistance in LAC. Product 4: Report including: • Two finalized technical tools for publication on the UNEP Central America Dry Corridor Flagship Restoration Project website. • Communication and capacity-building materials. • Finalized Investment Plan for the Flagship Restoration Project. • Updated UN-REDD Gender Marker System with LAC results and documented evidence, aligned with the Action Plan and the UN-REDD Gender Marker System monitoring framework.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC: • Bachelor’s degree in environmental management, law, economics, administration, social sciences or a closely related fields is required. • Master’s degree in environmental management, law, economics, administration, social sciences or a closely related fields is required. PROFESSIONAL: • Three (3) years of experience working with environment, natural resources, climate change or development topics is required. • Experience working in financial inclusion, or design/management of financial mechanisms or financial policies or similar is desired. • Experience working with environmental and social safeguards in the LAC region is desired. • Experience working with gender approach is desired. • Experience working in REDD+ and/or forest governance is desired.

Languages

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required COMPETENCIES: PROFESSIONALISM - Ability to identify, analyze, and participate in resolving issues/problems. - Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work, and manage conflicting priorities. - Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. - Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results. TEAMWORK - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. - Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise. - Is willing to learn from others. - Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING - Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. - Identifies priority activities and assignments. - Adjust priorities as required; - Allocates appropriate time and resources for completing work. - Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. - Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.

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.