Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview),

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. The consultant will join the UNEP's Climate Finance Unit which actively works to develop innovative solutions to shift capital towards more sustainable forest and agri-food systems. In doing so, the Unit aims to develop into a leading hub, facilitator and public-private platform to generate an inclusive social and economic paradigm shift towards making sustainable land use ultimately the ‘new norm’. Its vision is for public and private capital to increasingly and systematically finance projects and businesses that achieve ‘net zero, nature positive’ and social impact across the forest and agri-food value chains. Overall, awareness of the financial materiality of biodiversity loss is rising. Businesses and finance institutions can make a significant contribution to accelerating the transition to net zero, nature positive and equitable investments required by 2025. This requires vision and willingness by governments, businesses, and civil society to put nature and climate investments at the heart of future economic growth. Additionally, governments through regulation, economic incentives and standard setting can advance the transition towards greening finance. The consultant will in particular contribute to the delivery of the Viet Nam Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture through Private Sector Transformation (VN-ADAPT). VN-ADAPT supports Viet Nam in strengthening climate resilience across its agriculture sector by scaling Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in two highly vulnerable landscapes: the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands. UNEP’s role focuses on integrating climate and biodiversity objectives into provincial land-use planning, while also mobilising public and private finance through sustainable budgeting tools, green public finance instruments, financial institution engagement and investment matchmaking for NbS in agriculture.

Responsibilities or duties,

More specifically, the consultant will: - Conduct a needs assessment of local financial institutions to understand their willingness, capacity, constraints and readiness to finance Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in agriculture. - Engage financial institutions, public actors, partner companies, investors and relevant market stakeholders through workshops, bilateral consultations and targeted meetings to assess the current NbSA finance landscape in Viet Nam. - Analyse key risks, barriers, opportunities and market players shaping the development of NbSA investment opportunities, including demand-side and supply-side constraints. - Support preparation of policy brief or white paper summarising key findings on the NbSA market in Viet Nam, including stakeholder mapping and practical recommendations to increase private capital flows. - Assess and categorise identified financial institutions according to their risk appetite, investment readiness, financing needs and potential role in supporting NbSA business models. - Develop and maintain a database of investment-ready partner companies, aligned with VN-ADAPT activities AIII.2–AIII.4 and other relevant enterprises where appropriate. - Facilitate targeted matchmaking between financial institutions and partner companies, based on investment size, risk appetite, readiness, sector focus and financing needs. - Build partnerships with relevant local organisations, platforms and service providers, including the Lower Mekong Finance Forum, the Vietnam Impact Investor Network and accelerator support providers. - Organise knowledge-sharing workshops, investment fairs and virtual or in-person events to connect government representatives, capital providers, technical assistance providers, companies and other partners around solutions to scale NbSA finance. - Support the translation (English-Vietnamese) of technical documents and UNEP mission reports (as needed)

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills),

- Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Economic Development, Social Sciences, or related field. - A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in finance and private sector engagements applied to climate change and sustainable development. Qualifying years of experience calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognised by the UN. Prior experience working in Financial Institutions is desirable. - Comprehensive understanding of financial institutions and financial environment of a country, as well as basic understanding of climate and nature issues - Strong desk research skills and solid track record of effective writing skills and event planning abilities - Ability to work effectively, precisely and autonomously in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing tasks across teams - Ability to travel within country as needed - Ability to work harmoniously in international teams, openness and flexibility, and ability to integrate feedback.

Experience needed,

A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in finance and private sector engagements applied to climate change and sustainable development.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes).

Languages: Fluency in English and Vietnamese

• Submit an inception workplan with key activities, timelines, deliverables and stakeholder engagement priorities.
• Provide regular progress updates to UNEP CFU on implementation status, risks, delays and emerging opportunities.
• Maintain updated trackers for financial institutions, partner companies, stakeholder engagements and potential matchmaking opportunities.
• Document key meetings, workshops, investment fairs and consultations, including participants, main findings and follow-up actions.
• Submit draft and final deliverables for UNEP review, including the FI needs assessment, NbSA market analysis, stakeholder mapping and policy brief/white paper.
• Track progress against agreed outputs, including FIs assessed, companies mapped, partnerships developed, events organised and matchmaking opportunities facilitated.
• Conduct a needs assessment of local financial institutions to understand their willingness, capacity, constraints and readiness to finance Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in agriculture.
• Engage financial institutions, public actors, partner companies, investors and relevant market stakeholders through workshops, bilateral consultations and targeted meetings to assess the current NbSA finance landscape in Viet Nam.
• Analyse key risks, barriers, opportunities and market players shaping the development of NbSA investment opportunities, including demand-side and supply-side constraints.
• Support preparation of policy brief or white paper summarising key findings on the NbSA market in Viet Nam, including stakeholder mapping and practical recommendations to increase private capital flows.
• Assess and categorise identified financial institutions according to their risk appetite, investment readiness, financing needs and potential role in supporting NbSA business models.
• Develop and maintain a database of investment-ready partner companies, aligned with VN-ADAPT activities AIII.2–AIII.4 and other relevant enterprises where appropriate.
• Facilitate targeted matchmaking between financial institutions and partner companies, based on investment size, risk appetite, readiness, sector focus and financing needs.
• Build partnerships with relevant local organisations, platforms and service providers, including the Lower Mekong Finance Forum, the Vietnam Impact Investor Network and accelerator support providers.
• Organise knowledge-sharing workshops, investment fairs and virtual or in-person events to connect government representatives, capital providers, technical assistance providers, companies and other partners around solutions to scale NbSA finance.
• Support the translation (English-Vietnamese) of technical documents and UNEP mission reports (as needed)

• Strong desk research skills
• Effective writing skills
• Event planning abilities
• Ability to work effectively, precisely and autonomously in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing tasks across teams
• Ability to work harmoniously in international teams, openness and flexibility, and ability to integrate feedback.

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Economic Development, Social Sciences, or related field.
• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in finance and private sector engagements applied to climate change and sustainable development.
• Prior experience working in Financial Institutions is desirable.
• Comprehensive understanding of financial institutions and financial environment of a country, as well as basic understanding of climate and nature issues