*The Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Adviser – Climate Finance in the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Programme. This position will be located at its headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia.*
Description
The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 26 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
The Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Programme (CCES) was established to enable SPC to strengthen and streamline its actions on climate change by bringing together work already undertaken by the organisation under a coherent strategic and technical leadership. In addition, it leads the actions of SPC on climate change and environmental sustainability, works with the Organisation’s regional and international partners and promotes the integration of these issues into all development activities conducted by the Organisation’s divisions.
The role – the Adviser – Climate Finance will have the following key responsibilities:
1. Support the Pacific island countries in the identification, development and design of GCF & AF projects
• Provide strategic advice to the Pacific island countries eligible to GCF & AF funding on how SPC can support them in developing and implementing projects.
• Upon countries requests, support the identification, development and design of GCF projects.
• Strengthen SPC’s role as an implementing agency for GCF readiness projects in the region.
• Lead and manage the project development work conducted by the Climate Finance Project Officer.
• Develop and maintain smooth and close collaboration with institutional and technical partners involved with GCF & AF project development in the Pacific region.
2. Provide technical guidance, awareness and training to SPC’s divisions on GCF & AF projects development
• Provide training and information to SPC’s divisions regarding the GCF and, pending accreditation, the AF, their policies, their modalities and the various projects development requirements.
• Provide SPC’s divisions with up-to-date information on GCF & AF projects development and countries priorities in the region.
• Provide technical guidance, awareness and training to SPC’s divisions on GCF & AF projects development.
3. Support the collaboration between SPC and the GCF and, pending accreditation, the AF
• Support the review and implementation of GCF engagement plan.
• Upon request from the CCES Director, support the development and implementation of SPC’s GCF Entity Work Programme.
• Support the accreditation process to the AF.
• Actively participate to GCF global programming or regional events.
• Provide technical support to the CCES director to design and develop a GCF reginal programmatic approach.
4. Provide strategic advice to the CCES programme to support SPC's work on climate change, in particular regarding the operations of the Climate finance unit
• Upon request from CCES director, provide strategic advice on the development and operations of CCES and the climate finance unit.
• Support the CCES director in managing the operations of the Climate Finance Unit incl. budget, procurement, communication, MEL.
• Lead and manage the contribution of the Climate Finance Project Officer to the operations of the CCES programme and the CFU.
5. When needed, take charge of coordinating the implementation of CCES-led climate change projects
• Upon request from CCES director, take charge of coordinating the implementation of CCES-led climate change projects.
• Supervise the coordination work of the FSM readiness project phase II by the Climate Finance Project Officer.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
1. Qualifications
• Master degree qualification in a relevant field relating to sustainable development and climate change (environmental sciences or management, economics, finance or business administration).
2. Technical expertise
• Around 7 years of practical experience in the ODA and climate change areas.
• Around 3-5 years of experience in large (over 5 million Euros) climate change project management and/or development.
• Proven experience in grants writing.
• Sound knowledge of issues related to climate change adaptation and mitigation in SIDS.
• Prior experience in managing projects in complex regional or international institutional setting with numerous partners, incl. design, organization, delivery, and MEL of project activities.
• Excellent drafting and writing skills including for a variety of reports and audiences.
• Proven track record in organizing, facilitating and presenting in workshops and seminars.
• Demonstrated competence in being well organized, works effectively under minimal supervision, able to multi-task, and effectively meet deadlines on multiple, and sometimes urgent requests for support.
3. Language skills
• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).
4. Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
• A proactive and positive team player able to work effectively in a multicultural environment, with great initiative, willing to lend a hand in a broad range of tasks to support the CCES team in achieving their goals.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration – This position is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.
Remuneration – the Adviser – Climate Finance is a Band 10 position in SPC’s 2020 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,490–4,267 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 514,028-628,360 (USD 4,817–5,888; EUR 4,308–5,266). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.
Benefits for international staff based in New Caledonia – SPC provides subsidised housing in Noumea. Establishment and relocation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave, medical and life insurance, and education allowance are available for eligible employees and their recognised dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 days of annual leave and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution).
Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.
Equal opportunity – SPC is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment is based entirely on merit; in cases where two short-listed candidates are judged to be of equal rank by the selection committee, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.
Child protection – SPC is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. SPC’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Police clearance – Successful candidates will be required to provide a police clearance certificate.
How to apply:
Application procedure
Closing date: 24 May 2020 – 11:00 pm Nouméa Time.
Job Reference: AL000282
Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/
Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.
For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:
· an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
· a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
· responses to all screening questions
Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.
All positions at SPC have specific screening questions. If you do not respond to all of the screening questions, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage.
Screening questions:
In your opinion, what are 2 or 3 of the key issues to watch for when developing a GCF project?
If you were given 1 hour to brief and train the SPC Fisheries team on opportunities with Climate Finance and the GCF, what would be the plan/outline of your proposed presentation? Kindly give the titles and a brief description for each of those parts.