National Programme Specialist- Nature Finance

The National Programme Specialist will lead the implementation of nature financing initiatives in Malaysia, bridging project-level implementation with high-level policy to mobilize finance, scale nature-based solutions, and elevate biodiversity outcomes. The role involves managing biodiversity finance portfolios, developing financing instruments, coordinating stakeholders, and ensuring effective programme delivery under the UNDP Malaysia Country Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide overarching strategic direction for UNDP Malaysia’s biodiversity finance portfolio, ensuring synergies between TLIF, BIOFIN, GEF programmes, and other nature-based financing initiatives.
• Oversee and implement Technical Assistance facilities to support business incubators, NGOs, and conservation enterprises for scalable biodiversity impact.
• Build capacity of incubators, local enterprises, and community stakeholders to maximize biodiversity outcomes and financial sustainability.
• Spearhead pipeline development by bridging conservation NGOs, business incubators, and Financial Service Providers to structure viable nature-positive projects.
• Coordinate with colleagues to equip Financial Service Providers with capacity to apply Environmental and Social Framework and monitor biodiversity impact.
• Synthesize lessons and data to influence national policies and regulations on scaling nature-based finance.
• Establish and manage multi-stakeholder governance and decision-making committees including indigenous groups and local communities.
• Conduct field missions to verify impacts, troubleshoot challenges, and provide strategic advisory support.
• Manage day-to-day operational execution of biodiversity finance workstreams ensuring coordination among stakeholders and UNDP teams.
• Develop annual work plans and budgets, monitor progress, and deploy adaptive management strategies.
• Lead donor reporting, manage third-party verifications, facilitate knowledge sharing and impact tracking.
• Map and operationalize opportunities for alignment between portfolio initiatives and other programmes to scale impact.
• Monitor programmatic and operational risks and propose mitigation actions.
• Ensure compliance with project frameworks, donor agreements, and UNDP policies.
• Integrate gender equality perspective in all portfolio interventions.
• Maintain engagement with government counterparts, conservation partners, financial institutions, private sector, and indigenous peoples.
• Cultivate relationships with Tiger Conservation Coalition and biodiversity finance partners.
• Participate in national, regional, and global forums to elevate Malaysia's biodiversity finance innovations.
• Assist in resource mobilization and development of future projects and instruments.
• Facilitate South-South exchanges and promote Malaysia as a regional knowledge hub.
• Lead knowledge building and management across the NCE portfolio aligned with UNDP policies.
• Contribute to knowledge products, communications, and visibility efforts.
• Identify and communicate success stories, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Support organizing knowledge generating events with partners.
• Collaborate with Communications Unit on advocacy strategies and plans.
• Perform other duties as necessary for efficient functioning of the Office and Organization.

Requirements

• Advanced University degree (master´s degree) in Finance, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field is required; OR A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree) in the said fields above in combination with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of a Master's degree.
• Minimum 5 years (with master´s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience in the field of resource mobilisation, pipeline development for nature positive initiatives, impact investing, sustainable financing and/or sustainable business incubation for climate and nature.
• Experience in project, programme and/or portfolio management.
• Experience in sustainable finance, impact investing, resource mobilization, pipeline development, business incubation, and/or nature finance initiatives.
• Experience in project and/or programme management, including coordination and delivery of development initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships with private sector entities, financial institutions, government agencies, development partners, communities and other relevant stakeholders.
• Experience in writing good quality reports, policy briefs/papers, and/or communication & advocacy articles/blog/stories.
• Experience working with the UN and/or UNDP's and familiar with rules, policies and procedures are an asset.
• Fluency in English and Malay is required.

Skills

• Resource Mobilization
• Pipeline development
• Impact Investing
• Sustainable Finance
• Business Incubation
• Nature Finance Initiatives
• Project Management
• Programme Management
• Portfolio Management
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Strategic Partnership Development
• Report Writing
• Policy Brief Writing
• Advocacy Communication
• Development Initiative Delivery
• Biodiversity Finance Management
• Financing Instrument Development
• UNDP Procedures Knowledge
• Environmental Management

Languages

English, Malay