Result of Service

The Consultants final result of services will be to support the Government of Costa Rica / MINAE in developing a portfolio of investable climate projects and concrete actions for resource mobilization and investment, facilitating inter-ministerial coordination of MINAE with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning (MIDEPLAN) (at the least), and promoting coherence between climate priorities and the country’s macroeconomic, fiscal, and development planning. This approach could serve as a working model for other countries in the region in strengthening impactful climate investments. Specific outputs include: 1. Consolidation of a prioritized portfolio of climate investment projects based on the guidelines of the Senior Climate Finance Advisor. 2. Propose an interministerial coordination framework on climate finance, describing every component of the framework. 3. Design and implement a partnership model for potential financial partners (identified) and the private sector starting with the support of the NDC Act & Invest project. 4. Develop a methodology for the development of a portfolio of investable climate projects that could be replicated at the regional level. 5. At least three (3) strategic alliances to mobilize resources, thereby consolidating the commitments of NDC 3.0, the Decarbonization Action Plan, and the National Adaptation Plan 2022-2026 into tangible results. Note that the strategic alliance must include at least one financial institution or source of climate finance. 5. One concept note for a project proposal targeting a strategic NDC contribution (to be determined by DCC MINAE), considering the hey requirements international funding organizations such as GCF, Adaptation Fund, IKI (the content and structure will be agreed with DCC). 6. Handbook on the basics on climate finance tailored for the national institutions and public servants considering the macroeconomic, fiscal, and development context of Costa Rica. 7. Training on basics on climate finance for representatives of national and local institutions, including as subjects the international (regional, global) funds and organizations, different profiles and areas of interest for support and investments and the role of public institutions. The details for each of these outputs will be discussed at the start of the assignment.

Work Location

MINAE (1-2 days weekly of home based to be negotiated)

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change represents a milestone in global efforts to address the climate crisis. As a vulnerable country to the effects of climate change, Costa Rica faces significant risks to its ecosystems, economy, and communities. Extreme weather events such as droughts, heatwaves, and forest fires have intensified, threatening biodiversity, water resources, and agricultural productivity. Coastal areas are also at risk due to rising sea levels, impacting infrastructure and livelihoods. Costa Rica is at a key moment to advance the implementation of its NDC 3.0 and of the Action Plan 2026-2030 of the Decarbonization Plan 2018-2050. This requires not only technical capacities but also strong strategic and political articulation to transform designs into sustainable investments. In this context, Costa Rica requested support for a Strategic Advisor based at the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) who will act as a trusted advisor to MINAE, and in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and MIDEPLAN, as a bridge with the public financial ecosystem (Central Bank of Costa Rica, SUGEF, SUPEN, SUGEVAL, SUGESE, and CONASSIF). In addition, the Advisor will facilitate dialogue with international partners, commercial banks (state-owned and private), the private sector, and investors. In this sense, UNEP is recruiting a Climate Finance Specialist to support the work of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the NDC Act & Invest Project in Costa Rica. This support will consist of translating technical inputs into concrete actions for resource mobilization and investment, facilitating inter-ministerial coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning (MIDEPLAN), and promoting coherence between climate priorities and the country’s macroeconomic, fiscal, and development planning, serving as a working model to strengthen the dynamization of climate investments in other countries of the region. The role will be to contribute toward building strategic alliances and mobilized resources, thereby consolidating the commitments of NDC 3.0, the Decarbonization Action Plan, and the 20222026 National Adaptation Plan into tangible results. In addition, the Climate Finance Specialist will work in close coordination with the Climate Finance International Advisor hired by the NDC Act & Invest project. While the International Advisor leads the development of technical inputs such as financing gap assessments, development of financial instruments, and the climate finance monitoring systemthe Climate Finance Specialist will ensure that these inputs are effectively translated into actionable steps, institutional processes, portfolio of investable climate projects and coordinated implementation between Government ministries, and other stakeholders. This complementary relationship will strengthen the articulation between technical design and political, financial, and operational execution. The consultant will be supervised by UNEPs NDC Act & Invest Global Coordinator and will work full time, in a hybrid model attending the offices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) based in San Jose, Costa Rica, at least 3 days a week, in coordination with MINAE’s Director of Climate Change. Specific Tasks and responsibilities 1. Work Plan:

• Prepare a detailed work plan with a timeline of deliverables and responsibilities.
• Validate the work plan with MINAE, the Ministry of Finance, UNEP, MIDEPLAN, the Climate Finance International Advisor and key stakeholders. 2. Institutional and National coordination:
• Support MINAE on the coordination with the Ministry of Finance and MIDEPLAN to promote coherence between climate priorities and the country’s macroeconomic, fiscal, and development planning.
• Support the work of the Senior Climate Finance Advisor by ensuring institutional continuity, facilitating access to information, coordinating follow-up actions, and enabling the effective integration of technical products into national planning, investment, and coordination processes.
• Facilitate coordination between the Senior Advisor and national institutions, ensuring timely access to information, data, and technical inputs.
• Coordinate follow-up actions, commitments, and recommendations arising from meetings, consultations, and missions led by the Senior Advisor.
• Ensure alignment between the Senior Advisors technical work and the Strategic Advisors political, financial, and interministerial articulation efforts.
• Support the organization of missions, workshops, consultations, and validation processes associated with the Senior Advisors work.
• Prepare background notes, briefs, presentations, and other materials required to support the Senior Advisors deliverables.
• Maintain updated documentation, shared workspaces, and institutional memory to ensure continuity between missions and across teams.
• Provide operational and institutional support for the development of diagnostics, financial instruments, and the climate finance monitoring system. 3. Advisory and Facilitation for the Prioritized Portfolio of Climate Investment Projects:
• Provide advisory and facilitation for the Prioritized Portfolio of Climate Investment Projects.
• Support the systematization of…