Your Role

As a Senior Environment Specialist, you will support the implementation of the Hub workstreams and the Technical Assistance (TA) on “Enhancing Outcomes of The Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and The Pacific”. You will also build collaboration and increase the exchange and transfer of good practice between development partners including the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and ADB operations.

You will:

Nature Solutions Finance Hub:

• Work across the Hub team to support implementation of main workstreams such as (i) TA administration, (ii) collaboration with financial and technical partners, (iii) pipeline development, (iv) development of innovative financial instruments, and (v) communications and knowledge sharing among others with the following role:

  (i)       TA implementation: support in expanding country coverage of the Hub to more regions and support implementation of Hub activities in new countries.

  (ii)     Pipeline development:

  -       support in engaging the Sector Group and Hub partners, linking and integrating the Hub activities with other relevant initiatives in the bank (e.g. Natural Capital Lab[1], Nature Capital Fund[2]);

  -       support in identifying potential NBS projects within AFD pipeline, in collaboration with AFD technical teams, in order to submit TA proposals or projects co-financing to the Hub;

  -       provide technical and financial expertise to build the knowledge and awareness on nature linkage with climate change and linkage with ADB core (energy, transport, urban, agriculture) sectors;

  -       provide technical advisory inputs to project teams to further mainstream good practice into project design of investment projects, and advise governments on mainstreaming nature-based solutions and improving biodiversity investment plans based on regional, local resources and data analytics;

  (iii)    Engagement on cofinancing agreement: support in implementing the cofinancing agreement between ADB and AFD.

  (iv)   Ensuring the liaison between the Hub and AFD teams at country regional levels in Asia-Pacific and at headquarters level through regular meetings.

  (v)     Engagement with technical and financial partners: support in establishing the framework agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with technical and financial partners and its implementation.

  (vi)   Development of innovative financial instruments for nature-based solutions: support in engaging private sector and mobilizing private capital; work with the project team leader to design appropriate blended finance structures using cofinancing from NSFH financing partners or other available blended finance sources and to maximize opportunities for private sector financing.

  ● Collaborate with workstream leads on above areas and lead on some selected areas and support the Team Leader in managing the Hub activities, implementing the business plan and join relevant missions.

  ● Respond to inquiries about the Hub and its activities from relevant parties, both internal and external persons, including the public.

  ●        Contribute to further mainstreaming nature-based solutions and nature positive investments in ADB operations following the commitments made by multilateral development banks (MDBs) during the 16^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (COP16) in Cali to take further steps in integrating biodiversity throughout their portfolio and to refine a common methodology for accounting their biodiversity finance.

Environment programs

·         Support in engaging AFD on environment and climate change related programs (e.g. regional flyway initiative, nature-based solutions, healthy oceans, circular economy, air quality management, climate change adaptation and resilience) from the finance angle.

·         Provide support to Environment team in linking various initiatives between teams and institutions and to support scaling up of opportunities for project co-financing and co-development, and enhance ADB team capacity as needed.

·         Support operations departments and Hub partners, in coordination with the Natural Capital Lab team, to build nature positive investments pipeline and mobilizing funding through innovative financial products such as bonds and debt for nature swaps.

Knowledge Generation and Sharing

•    Participate in and contribute to internal and external training and conferences on biodiversity, nature-based solutions and other activities for advocacy, dissemination, and knowledge building. 
•    Develop necessary knowledge products, services, and partnerships, support the team in preparing and/or reviewing relevant materials (e.g. relevant studies, assessments, approach papers, good practices, guidelines, briefing notes, talking points, speeches). 
•    Help in the organization of the Paris Dialogue for Innovative Finance for Biodiversity, a high-level platform focused on developing and building awareness of innovative finance tools for nature for the Asia Pacific (AP) region, including capacity-building training program.
•    Organize activities around nature-based solutions, such as conferences, site visits, study trip etc., thanks to a dedicated budget.

You will need:

●        Master’s degree or equivalent in Environment policy / management, climate change, green finance, nature-based solutions, biological sciences, nature conservation, financial management or other relevant fields. Complementary training/work experience in financing of nature-based solutions would be an advantage. Alternatively, a university degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered.

●        At least 10 years of international relevant professional experience in combination of nature-based solutions, natural resources management, environmental policy, environmental management, environmental safeguards, biodiversity and finance / investment and/or another related field;

●        Demonstrated managerial skill and ability to work with project teams;

●        Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;

●        Strong interpersonal skills with all types of internal and external clients/stakeholders; and

●        Preferably international experience working on financing of nature-based solutions and sustainable development in several countries;

●        Experience in procurement and contract and project management is an advantage;

●         Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for IS5

https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/page/568426/is5-core-competency.pdf