Job offer: National Consultant On Biodiversity Finance (biofin)

Cambodia, renowned for its rich biodiversity, is proactively addressing conservation challenges through a comprehensive strategy that includes a biodiversity expenditure review, NBSAP cost estimates, identification of harmful subsidies, and a robust finance action plan. Further support from UNDP's Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support bolsters Cambodia's efforts to effectively operationalize its NBSAP and enhance its biodiversity finance mechanisms.

Building upon this foundation, Cambodia aims to translate plans into concrete action by mobilizing, allocating, and utilizing resources strategically. A consultancy partnership will play a crucial role in overcoming implementation obstacles and achieving the nation's biodiversity goals, ensuring the preservation of Cambodia's invaluable ecosystems for generations to come.

Cluster/Project: Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF-EAS)

Post Level: Senior Specialist

Contract Type: Individual Contractor (IC)

Expected Place of Travel: N/A

Contract Duration: 35 working days from 1st Week of November 2024 to 3rd Week of December 2024

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the BioFin Specialist and direct supervision of EAS Project Management/MoE. He/she will work closely with the Project Management Unit, and consultants based at the Ministry of Environment.

Duration of the Work  

The expected duration of this assignment 35 working days within the period from November to December 2024. 

Duty Station

The assignment is home-based; however, the consultant will be required to work at the Department of Biodiversity of the Ministry of Environment as needed. The consultant will be responsible for providing their working station (i.e., laptop, internet, phone, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection.

Scope of work

To assist the Royal Government of Cambodia in effectively implementing its biodiversity finance strategy, ensuring the concrete resource mobilization plan with action plans that aim to support biodiversity and natural resource management in Cambodia to achieve its ambitious biodiversity conservation goals as outlined in the NBSAP and aligned with the KM Global Biodiversity Framework and the national priorities.

Duties

• Specific Scope
• Update the existing biodiversity expenditure review across all sectors (e.g. environment, energy, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, extractive industries);
• Estimate the cost estimates based on the current NBSAP implementation; enabling adaptive management and resource optimization based on other countries' NBSAP implementation;
• Identify the practices of biodiversity-harmful subsidies, provide recommendations on how to promote sustainable practices;
• Conduct feasibility studies and support the early implementation of priority finance solutions, generate lessons learned to inform future effort, including action plan; and
• Prepare resource mobilization plan for implementing the NBSAP/achieving the new updated National Biodiversity Targets in addition to the existing finance solutions.

Requirements

• Education
• Master’s degree or higher in sustainable development, environmental economics, public finance, economics, or closely related subjects.
• Experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience in environment, natural resource management, biodiversity, and sustainable finance for conservation;
• Proven experience in conducting capacity assessment, and capacity building programs on sustainable finance, especially on Biodiversity Expenditure Review and Finance Need Assessment;
• Familiarity with the government’s funding management and project implementation; and
• Experience in engaging with government officials, and ability to synthesize and present complex arguments in easily understood terms.
• Competencies
• Ability to cope with flexible working conditions with government;
• Excellent facilitation skills;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Superior written/ oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex development concepts; recommendations; and
• Positive and results-oriented attitude, able to meet targets/deadlines.
• Language Requirement
• Fluent in Khmer and English