Sr. Financial Specialist

The Sr. Financial Specialist will support the GEF Programming Division under the Blended Finance team, working across geographic regions and thematic focal areas to build a pipeline of viable projects, manage project reviews, support reflow reporting, and develop blended finance policies. The role involves collaboration with GEF Agencies, countries, and stakeholders to optimize blended finance investments for global environmental benefits.

Responsibilities

• Build a pipeline of viable projects with GEF Agencies and Countries for GEF Council approval.
• Provide guidance to Agencies, Countries and colleagues on major issues involved in the development of blended finance project proposals and assist in overall preparation of work programs to be presented to Council.
• Perform and manage reviews of project proposals under the Blended Finance Global Program and project proposals submitted by Countries in accordance with the agreed project review criteria and GEF Programming Directions.
• Manage the preparation of annual reflow reporting in coordination with the GEF Trustee and GEF Agencies.
• Review existing processes for reflow reporting and repayment and make recommendations to improve existing processes and policies.
• Review GEF’s portfolio of ongoing projects through implementation, monitoring, and evaluation activities with GEF Agencies and countries.
• Develop blended finance policies and guidelines and support the overall GEF Programming Division.
• Provide quality inputs to the CEO and senior management on country and thematic briefings, talking points, speeches, analytical/strategic documents.
• Participate in the GEF work within the Country Engagement Strategy, including participation in country dialogues, expanded constituency workshops, and other relevant forums.
• Represent the GEF at a senior level at selected international political, business, scientific and operational forums as required.
• Undertake additional duties as directed by the Manager of the GEF Programming Division and, as delegated, by the Blended Finance Coordinator.

Requirements

• A Master's degree in business administration, finance, and related fields.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional work as investment officer/origination teams in MDBs and IFIs, or in the banking/investment management industry.
• Strong financial skills in investment analysis of projects involving debt, equity, fund investment, guarantees and structured finance.
• Additional knowledge in project management and reflow reporting.
• Experience with private sector and blended finance (public and private sector projects).
• Experience in designing, developing and executing large bilateral and/or multilateral funded projects is a plus.
• Excellent analytical skills and mastery of excel spreadsheets, databases, word processing, and web-based skills.
• Ability to participate in multi-disciplinary teams and coordinate input from multiple areas inside the GEF Secretariat and outside stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a team player within and across teams.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment in an international setting.
• Experience in developing countries, particularly in the development and execution of climate change projects and/or related environmental sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively engage and develop appropriate and sound relationships with a range of stakeholders, international organizations, development agencies, scientific and technical bodies, private sector entities, developing country counterparts, and NGOs.
• Excellence in written and spoken English is essential.
• Knowledge of other UN languages, especially French and Spanish is desirable.
• Working knowledge of the operations of the Global Environmental Facility and its Agencies is highly desirable.
• Willingness to frequently travel to global, regional and national GEF related events.

Skills

• Investment Analysis
• Debt Financing
• Equity Finance
• Fund Investment
• Guarantees
• Structured Finance
• Project Management
• Reflow Reporting
• Private Sector Finance
• Blended Finance Structuring
• Multilateral Project Design
• Bilateral Project Design
• Excel
• Database Management
• Word Processing
• Web-based tools
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Climate Change Projects
• Environmental Finance
• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
• Global Environmental Facility Operations

Languages

English, Spanish, French