INTER-REGIONAL ADVISER – (Climate Finance ), P4

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Department/Office: Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

Deadline: Mar 11, 2026

Job Description

Org. Setting and Reporting

ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA’s five strategic directions which aim to: advance ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solution to the continent; Developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate inclusive industrialization for poverty and inequality reduction; Designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for transforming Africa; Contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; Advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global development issues.

The Climate, Food Security and Natural Resources Division (CFND) is headed by a director and is accountable to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme). The Division is responsible for enhancing climate resilience, achieving food security and advancing inclusive and sustainable development by harnessing land, natural resources and the green and blue economies. It is divided into two main sections: African Climate Policy, and Natural Resources & Food Systems. The position is located in the Climate, Food Security and Natural Resources Division (CFND) at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Head of Section of African Climate Policy in the Climate, Food Security and Natural Resources Division (CFND).

Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority the Inter-regional Adviser

– (Climate Finance) will be responsible for the following duties:

– Support analytical work and research related to climate finance and just transitions in Africa by generating in-depth knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, approaches and practices relevant to policy analysis as they relate to climate change, finance and development.

– Provide ongoing technical backstopping to the Africa Group of Negotiators on the development and further refinement of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, including providing relevant data and metrics to facilitate monitoring progress and informing course correction where necessary.

– Provide broad conceptual guidance on climate finance trends to UNECA and its partners in the lead up to COP32 in Ethiopia.

– Support member states to quantify the costs of adaptation and mitigation in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), identify the appropriate sources of finance for these actions, and monitor implementation progress.

– Contribute to knowledge generation on climate finance and just transitions in Africa, with a particular focus on finance for climate adaptation.

– Contribute to developing capacities of member states to access available climate finance for adaptation and mitigation, including identifying opportunities for mobilizing domestic finance for climate action,

– Support member states to manage climate finance and adaptation initiatives and projects, including their monitoring and evaluation.

– Support the integration of climate change data and metrics in budgeting and GDP analyses of African economies, focusing especially on the costs of climate change adaptation and its impact on national budgets.

– Support African Member States in integrating climate change loss and damage accounting in national budgets, and in accessing reimbursements from the Fund for Responding to Loss and damage (FRLD).

– Contribute to the capacity development of member states, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other policy constituencies by delivering training and capacity-building programmes for planners, policy makers and other stakeholders in climate change adaptation and mitigation finance. – Contribute to ECA technical and related support to COP32 Presidency.

– Work effectively with other CFND discipline specialists and staff of ECA to assess the impacts of climate finance on key climate sensitive sectors, including energy, agriculture, water, transport, infrastructure and related sectors.

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to undertake analytical studies and elaborate policy for better understanding of climate finance and just transitions. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis. Capable of identifying issues, formulating options and making conclusions and recommendations on climate finance and just transitions topics. Determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Knowledge of the African climate context.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, resource management or a related field is required.
A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science programs is an advantage.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years progressively responsible experience in the climate/development finance, climate change and natural resources management at regional or country levels in the context of Africa is required. This should include at least three years of experience in research/analytical work on climate finance in Africa.
Experience working with RECs and other international organizations is desirable.
Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first-level university degree recognized by the United Nations.
2 years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English or French is required. Working knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

Language	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
English	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II
French	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is available on a temporary basis until the end of February 2028. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. The selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process, including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

Pursuant to section 5.9 of ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.2 Interns, consultants, individual contractors and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any position in the Professional and higher categories or positions at the FS-6 or FS-7 levels in the Field Service category within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. This restriction does not apply to associate experts (Junior Professional Officers) appointed under the Staff Rules. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, 7.11 …. Selected candidates shall be required to serve for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment before being eligible to apply to another position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.

The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c).

Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines.

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Job Description

Required Languages

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