South America Climate Finance Advisor

Management and Engineering Technologies International, Inc. (METI), in support of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Office of International Programs (IP) and USAID Office of Environment and Sustainable Growth (ESG) in Lima, Peru is recruiting a Climate Finance Advisor to serves as a climate finance specialist in the ESG office to manage activities under the bilateral and regional portfolios of the office.

Position Overview:
The Climate Finance Advisor provides guidance and advice on climate change results and activities and supports the Climate Integration Lead (CIL) for the Mission providing guidance on the process of assessing and addressing climate-related risks to the Mission portfolio. The position requires travel (20%-30% of time) to activity sites in remote areas to monitor and assess progress and to identify and resolve issues or constraints with regards to project management and implementation. Additionally, the Advisor provides technical expertise in several environment and natural resource management areas in support of USAID/Peru's bilateral portfolio within the ESG Office related to climate.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Climate Finance Expert Advice and Coordination:
The CA will provide technical expertise in the design, procurement, and management of USAID/Peru's climate finance projects across both bilateral and regional portfolios. The program focuses on Amazon conservation, financial mechanisms for large-scale mitigation, improved forest governance, combating deforestation and degradation, combating environmental crimes, water security using nature based solutions, and fisheries/IUU. The job holder will foment an enabling environment for innovative carbon market readiness, mitigation, and adapting to climate risks and change across the ESG portfolio. The job holder will:
The successful candidate is expected to:

• Contribute to the implementation of projects aiming to develop business models for replication, both within climate mitigation and adaptation; generate new ideas and stimulate innovative thinking and approaches to addressing climate challenges in an economically and financially viable manner in a developing country context;
• Initiate new strategic partnerships with financial institutions and private sector entities; contributing to strengthen USAID/Peru's expertise in climate mitigation and REDD+ jurisdictional approaches in support of host country goals;
• Strengthen USAID's expertise in sustainable clean energy sectors; with the ability to work with qualitative and quantitative methods, processes, and tools;
• Be able to synthesize, analyze, and document experience and evidence and contribute to country-level learning on finance solutions in Peru and South America; providing expert counsel and advice on climate finance and other biodiversity, forest conservation, and climate change adaptation/mitigation issues;

• The job holder assists ESG staff to find their way to relevant Agency environmental/climate policies, strategies, regulations and tools and provides specialized input and assistance into design, evaluation, and management of ESG activities.
• Contribute to the implementation of projects aiming to develop business models for replication, both within climate mitigation and adaptation;
• Generate new ideas and stimulate innovative thinking and approaches to addressing climate challenges in an economically and financially viable manner in a developing country context; Initiate new strategic partnerships with financial institutions and private sector entities;
• Contribute to relevant portions of the Mission strategy and planning documents representing climate and resilience and prepares reports within the Mission and to external audiences;
• Maintain and establish strong relationships with high-level Government of Peru officials (including vice-ministry level), with other US government agencies, (including the US Forest Service, USEPA, etc.), with other donor organizations, and other organizations (including universities, NGOs, etc.)
• Contribute to relevant portions of the Mission strategy and planning documents.

• Respond to climate related deliverables and talking points in responses to reporting requirements; maintain MEL capacities for climate programming and participate as team member in procurement processes;
• Both for new activities and for established programs pivoting to climate activities, contribute to, and/or lead design activities, including project concept development and preparation of project design documentation and research/analysis; including theory of change and monitoring, evaluation, and learning as project manager of climate programs.

Climate Integration
In support of the New USAID Climate Strategy Integration Lead (CIL), the job holder will ensure that USAID/Peru follows Executive Order 13677 and USAID Climate Risk Management guidelines, which require the integration of climate-resilience considerations into all United States international development work. Ensures that the appropriate level of climate risk screening is considered throughout the program cycle, including at the strategy (Country Development Cooperation Strategy), project (Project Appraisal Document), and activity levels as detailed in the relevant Automated Directive Systems (ADS) mandatory references. Serves as point of contact for communication with USAID/Washington about climate risk management and Mission needs. The job supports the CIL in the assessment of capacity building needs in the Mission with respect to climate integration. Serves as the alternate POC with the USAID Washington office to coordinate training needs and provides mentoring and on-the-job training to staff, particularly to AOR/CORs and implementing partners to ensure that the climate integration requirements are known and followed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in the field of Business administration, Finance, Business strategies, Environmental Economics, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resources Management, Ecology, Biology, Forestry, and/or Rural Development, or a related subject is required; or an equivalent combination of education and work experience in a relevant field;
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience working with Peruvian or international donor's environmental programs, regulations, standards, policies and best practices; experience in development assistance or related work;
• Developing country experience, particularly in South America;
• Demonstrated excellent English/Spanish writing, communication, and presentation skills in English and Spanish (third regional language preferred).
• Understanding of climate risk management including:
  • Demonstrated experience in market-based mechanisms for climate mitigation, including blended finance, carbon markets, REDD+ .
  • Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization, private sector and investment stakeholder relationship building and collaboration with government agencies, donors and/international development partners, and non-government organizations.
  • Experience with project implementation and a strong methodological background and proven experience within finance in a developing country context.
  • Relevant practical experience with climate finance, from macro to micro economics/finance, meaning both overall political economy and strategic climate finance aspects, as well as financial feasibility analysis and solutions in individual climate projects.
  • Solid knowledge and experience with/from different types of finance, grants, loans, equity, guarantees, as well as financial structuring, and public-private and "blended" finance solutions.
  • Good understanding of the finance scene, the variety of institutions, e.g. development finance, climate finance, private finance etc. Strong international network - and experience from working/cooperating with the financial and private sector (small and medium size enterprises as well as multinationals), ideally in developing country context.
  • Experience with program/project development, implementation, and communication in cooperation with development agencies, finance institutions, and developing country institutions and experts.
  • Good track record with teamwork and an ability to produce high-quality results and outputs.

Level of Effort: Full-time

Location: Position will be virtual, not based in Washington, DC

To be considered, please apply to the posting by clicking on the link above
METI is an Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.
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