General Information
Position Title
Climate Finance Advisor (Home based Retainer) – Mogadishu, Somalia
Job Category
Partnerships
Duty Station(s)
Home based
Seniority Level
Mid Level
ICS Level
ICS 10
Contract Type
ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer
Contract Level
LICA 10
Posting Start Date
10-Jul-2026
Posting End Date
28-Jul-2026
Duration
12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on the availability of funds
Job Highlight
The Climate Finance Advisor will support the Government of Somalia to mobilise resources for the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions and other climate related national priorities. The incumbent will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance and will work closely with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, sectoral ministries at Federal Government and Member States level, development partners, donors and the private sector to enhance institutional capacities, develop a pipeline bankable projects aligned with the NDC investment plan and other national priorities and facilitate access to domestic and international climate finance. The role offers a strategic opportunity to contribute to Somalia’s Climate journey while contributing to a low carbon and sustainable development pathway.
About the Region
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding – including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners – including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies – to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.
About the Project Office
WEC Background
The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.
WEC effectively operationalizes partners’ agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country-specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
About the Group
The NDC Partnership
The NDC Partnership is a global coalition, bringing together more than 260 members, including more than 140 countries, developed and developing, and more than 120 institutions to deliver on ambitious climate action that helps achieve the Paris Agreement and drive sustainable development. Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). For this project, the Consultant will be contracted through UNOPS.
Job Specific Context
Somalia is committed to pursuing a low emission sustainable development pathway. Under the updated NDC, Somalia has set a target of achieving 30% emissions reductions against the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario estimate of 107.39 MtCO2eq by 2030. To achieve this target, Somalia will aim to reduce and avoid its GHG emissions by about 32.40MtCO2eq relative to the BAU scenario by 2030. The updated contributions are in line with Somalia’s National Planning processes, strategies and actions in the energy, agriculture, forestry, transport and Waste sectors. Somalia’s NDC estimates the cost of implementing the adaptation components of the NDC target at USD 55.5 Billion for the 10 years. This translates to financial resources needed for implementation of the identified adaptation contributions is about USD 5.55 billion per annum from 2021- 2030. It is important to note some of the adaptation actions have mitigation co-benefits.
However, due to its fragile and poverty situation, the country is faced by serious financial, technological and capacity constraints that hinder implementation of its NDC. On the other hand, climate change actions and the low carbon development pathway, presents a wide range of opportunities that the country will take advantage of while presenting multiple sustainable development benefits.
To fully achieve the conditional targets of the NDC, Somalia will require substantial finance from national and international resources, from both the private sector and international development institutions. The government is requesting tailored technical support towards climate finance advisory with one embedded expert who will work closely with the NDC In-country facilitator.
The Climate Finance Advisor will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and Regional Manager and will work closely with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Finance, other ministries and closely coordinate with the NDC In-Country Facilitator and GCF Liaison Officer. The candidate will be hosted at the Ministry of Finance offices.
- This is a retainer national vacancy/position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on the availability of funds.
- This is a Home-based position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software.
- As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Somalia or have a valid residence permit in Somalia.
- Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Role Purpose
The Climate Finance Advisor will provide strategic and technical advisory support to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and other sectoral ministries to mobilise climate finance from public, multilateral, bilateral and private sectors, strengthen enabling environment and institutional capacities, and support the integration of climate finance into national planning and budgeting process. The advisor will also coordinate the development of a robust pipeline of bankable projects aligned with NDC 3.0, LT-LEDS and other national development priorities, and facilitate engagement with development partners, private sector and donors to increase climate finance flows in Somalia.
Functions / Key Results Expected
1) Resource mobilisation and policy support
- Conduct climate finance needs assessment on financing the NDC, identify funding gaps and provide policy recommendations of potential innovative climate financing instruments for accelerating implementation of the Somalia NDC adaptation and mitigation measures by tapping finance opportunities from national, international and private sector sources
- Work across line ministries and mobilize Development Partners and other potential donors to identify and develop climate financing initiatives, including low-carbon, climate resilient projects bankable projects that can be readied for finance.
- Solicit input from the line Ministries and other expertise from agencies within the Government and private sector to develop a green project pipeline, conduct initial due diligence of project proposals and assessment of bankability, prepare Project Idea Notes (PINs), identify potential sources of finance including climate finance or blended finance windows and de-risking mechanisms, support the development of suitable funding proposals and proposals to access project preparation facilities.
- Identify and develop solutions to create an enabling environment for investment in key sectors, including energy, agriculture, forestry, transport, and Waste sectors.
- Coordinate proposal development and manage opportunities through dialogues with development and implementing partners
- Revise the existing draft NDC resource mobilization strategy
- Support to the mainstreaming of climate change and associated intervention costs into the 5-year Development Plan, the Economic and Annual Social Plan (PES), and the corresponding sectoral and subnational plans by developing project screening processes, tools/instrument for the integration of climate change considerations into planning processes at national, sectoral and subnational levels; sector-specific and subnational indicators to monitor 5-year plan and implementation of the plans
- Co-lead the establishment of a Climate Finance Unit in Somalia including associated supporting policies and regulations and recruitment of staff.
- In close coordination with the NDC In-country facilitator, collaboratively review to the development of the NDC Investment plan for Somalia with the support of a consultant
- Coordinate the costing of the LT-LEDS in close collaboration with the NDC in country facilitator.
- In close collaboration with the NDC In-country facilitator, ensure costing of the NDC Implementation Plan interventions is regularly updated in Somalia’s Online Partnership Plan Tool
2) Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Development
- Build strategic relationships with government at Federal and Member state level, development and implementing partners and private sector to enhance strategic collaborations.
- Lead initiative to develop private sector engagement strategy and greening government and private banks and financial institutions
- Convene donor roundtable meetings to identify and develop climate financing initiatives, including low-carbon, climate-resilient projects that can be readied for finance in collaboration with the respective line ministries
3) Capacity Building and institutional strengthening
- Conduct an institutional capacity assessment and support capacity building needs for national experts at MoF, and sector units in salient aspects of climate change topics into the planning and budgeting processes including the global climate finance architecture and how Somalia can access the finances
- Support mainstreaming and capacity building on NDCs and climate change national planning and budgeting instruments; i.e. capital projects in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and National Budget.
- Lead capacity building for national experts in aspects of climate finance through on-the-job training and coaching.
- Organize technical training on climate finance requirements, policies and procedures related to GCF, GEF and Adaptation Fund
- Contribute towards strengthening coordination between government and partners
4) Knowledge Management
- Produce and submit monthly and quarterly plan and progress reports and submit to the Ministry of Finance Focal Point for feedback and approval;
- Provide inputs to the preparation of presentations, advisory and briefing notes and/or position papers for the UNFCCC Conference of Parties as needed.
- Coordinate arrangements for the publication of country reports, including desktop publishing, editing, printing, and dissemination;
- Facilitate and contribute to the development of articles, case studies, lessons learnt and newsletters in line with climate change interventions implementation;
5) Other Tasks
- Closely coordinate with the NDC Partnership In-Country Facilitator in support of the broader institutional mandates and implementation of the NDC Implementation Plan;
- Support the Ministry of Finance in design and management of Consultancy assignments and ensuring quality deliverables agreed.
