Result of Service

The consultant will develop an Investment Plan for the Restoration of Productive Landscapes for the Central America Dry Corridor region (Central American Integration System (SICA) countries), and associated incentive and investment models for each pilot country (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) within the Central American Dry Corridor Flagship Restoration Project (“Flagship Project”). This will include a proposal for financial or economic instruments and mechanisms to address the investment gaps in restoration. The Plan should serve as a practical and useful tool to provide technical guide for countries in achieving their restoration objectives and commitments as outlined in national and international legal frameworks and public policy instruments. This will make a decisive contribution toward the objectives of UNEP’s Finance Component within the Flagship Project. Additionally, the consultant will collaborate with the Dialogues consultant hired by UNEP for the project, strengthen stakeholder engagement and networking with relevant financial institutions and actors, ensuring ongoing engagement and collaboration aligned with the needs of UNEP’s Finance Component within the project. Output 1 Restoration finance context analysis developed, with focus on pilot countries. Activities to be developed: ● Provide technical inputs for (a) the mapping of key stakeholders, as well as financial institutions, products and incentives with potential impact on the restoration of productive landscapes in the Central America region, with emphasis on the three pilot countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) and (b) the stakeholder consultation plan, as developed by the Dialogue consultant and Project team. ● Develop a general context analysis of SICA countries on restoration finance, with more detailed analysis for each pilot country. ● Organize and participate in regular meetings with the Project team and stakeholders to ensure alignment and facilitate collaboration. Product1: Technical report with inputs on the mapping of key stakeholders and relevant financial institutions. The report will also include technical input for the Stakeholder Consultation Plan, developed by the Dialogue consultant and the project team, to ensure an effective consultative process aligned with the project’s objectives. Product 2: Document with general context analysis on restoration finance of the Central American Integration System (SICA) countries, with detailed analysis for each pilot country, addressing: a. Comparative analysis of national and international commitments on restoration, b. Overview of the regulatory framework and public policies related to restoration, c. Analysis of available financing, d. Analysis of economic, social, and environmental impacts. The report should also include a proposed annotated outline for an Investment Plan for the Restoration of Productive Landscapes which is a consideration of all SICA countries, with more detailed analysis and roadmaps for each pilot country. Include a proposed annotated outline for an Investment Plan for the Restoration of Productive Landscapes. Output 2 Detailed road map for the Investment Plan for the Restoration of Productive Landscapes developed, with financial instruments and/or mechanisms for each pilot country developed. Activities to be developed: ● Working with Project team and Dialogues consultant, support organization of and participate in multi-sectoral dialogues in the three pilot countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras), at least two per country, to explore opportunities, barriers to catalyze investment, and incentives in productive landscape restoration initiatives. These dialogues can be online or in person. ● Building on the annotated outline and context analysis (Output 1), develop a detailed roadmap for the Plan implementation in the pilot countries. Product 3. Document with a roadmap for the design of the Investment Plan for Restoration in the three pilot countries, with a general section for the other SICA member countries. This document should address: a. Assessment and mapping of financing sources and mechanisms for restoration in the three pilot countries, identifying the most viable and suitable options for each context, b. Estimation of the costs of restoration activities, including a detailed analysis of the investments required to meet the established objectives, c. Identification of potential financing sources, both public and private, analyzing their alignment with restoration goals and their capacity to fill financing gaps, d. Proposal for the creation of financial instruments and/or mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships or other innovative models, aimed at overcoming financial barriers to restoration, and e. Prioritization criteria, to classify activities and projects based on their environmental impact and financial viability, facilitating decision-making and resource allocation. Output 3 Case studies and knowledge management materials developed, to help increase capacity to replicate and improve financial and investment strategies in the restoration of productive landscapes. Activities to be developed: ● Working with the Project team and Dialogue consultant, contribute to the development of a regional platform related to financing the restoration of productive landscapes, identification of lessons learned and successful case studies, and participate in organization and facilitation of meetings. Product 4: A Document with (a) written inputs for a proposed design for a regional platform related to financing the restoration of productive landscapes; (b) lessons learned from funding and investment experiences in each pilot country, and summary of proposed synergies; (c) at least 3 detailed case studies of successful funding experiences in pilot countries or other similar contexts; (d) identification of successful models in other geographical contexts that may be replicable or adaptable; (d) link and guidance document for an accessible repository of resources and lessons learned to enable continuous knowledge sharing among stakeholders. Output 4 Finalized Investment Plan and increased commitment and alignment of stakeholders to implement the actions defined in the Plan, facilitating resource mobilization and effective restoration of productive ecosystems. Activities to be developed: ● Provide guidance for design and facilitate socialization and feedback process for the Investment Plan for the Restoration of Productive Landscapes at appropriate forums for dissemination, in coordination with UNEP’s Knowledge Management and communications expert. Gather and systematize feedback related to improvements of the different incentives and proposals with key actors. ● Prepare the final version of the Investment Plan for the Restoration of Productive Landscapes, with general information for all SICA countries, and with inputs, lessons learned, recommendations for the three pilot countries (Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador). Product 5. Finalized Investment Plan for the Restoration of Productive Ecosystems, which integrates stakeholder feedback and promotes alignment among key actors to ensure effective implementation. The plan will include a comprehensive framework with general recommendations for all SICA countries, complemented by a detailed analysis and tailored recommendations for the three pilot countries (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador). The plan will identify key opportunities for resource mobilization and investment. It will strategically focus on maximizing positive impacts through the application of innovative financial mechanisms and the implementation of incentives that engage public, private, and civil society actors. Furthermore, the plan will provide strategies for scaling up successful restoration projects to amplify their impact across the region. For this consultancy the incumbent t is expected to carry out the following activities: ● Design a specific work plan and schedule that includes the methodology and activities to be developed during this consultancy according to the Project Work Plan. ● Organize and participate in regular meetings with the Project team and stakeholders to ensure alignment and facilitate collaboration. ● Provide technical input on the deliverables prepared by other consultants of the project team to facilitate the collaboration. ● Analyze and systematize collected feedback related to improvements of the different incentives and proposals with key actors. ● Develop reports and share insights in the related area. ● Contribute with the UNEP team to activities related to the Dry Corridor project as needed. ● Participate in regular virtual and in presence meetings related to the Dry Corridor project. ● The cost of travel involved with the above tasks and activities is included as an integral part of payments to the consultant.

Work Location

Home Based

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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). UNEP is the institution responsible for implementing Outputs 2.4 and 2.7 of the Flagship Project under Outcome 2 [Increased capacity and capability in private, public sector, and civil society for policy reform, to catalyze investments and to access resources are resulting in restoration actions on the ground and implementation within Flagship Initiatives] in articulation with their cooperation and in-country implementing partners. The workstream implemented by UNEP is focused on collating, adapting, and developing financial incentives, instruments, and mechanisms to support the implementation of restoration actions and sustainable productive activities in three of the Central America Dry Corridor (CADC) countries, namely El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. The Central American Dry Corridor was one of the Flagship Initiatives selected to contribute to the implementation of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration per both regional and national commitments. Aiming to scale up restoration at the landscape level by improving the design and dissemination of restoration models to accelerate implementation and by building the needed legal frameworks and financial incentives, this initiative will also generate evidence of the restoration benefits by contributing to the quality of life of rural families and regional efforts for a green recovery. The project will be led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the delivery of the different outcomes will involve not only FAO, but also the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Central American Integration System (SICA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as other relevant partners (e.g. Center for International Forestry Research – CIFOR). UNEP’s Latin America and the Caribbean office requires additional capacity, in the form of a Financial Expert consultant for this Flagship with experience in environmental finance, administration or economics. This will include promoting dialogues with financial institutions and potential investors for the financing of productive landscape restoration (Product 2.4/2.7, Activity 2). The consultant will report to the UNEP Programme Management Officer UN-REDD+ for Latin America and Caribbean Office and will work from home.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC: ● Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, environmental management, social sciences or related fields is required. ● Master’s degree in finance, economics, natural resources, environmental or social science or related fields is required. PROFESSIONAL ● Five (5) years of experience in one or more of the following areas environmental finance, administration and/or economics or similar is required ● Experience in design, research and/or implementation of economic and financial instruments in environmental and/or agricultural and/or forestry areas is desirable . ● Experience in projects or program management in environmental, natural resources, climate change, Restoration of productive ecosystems and landscapes or development topics is desirable. ● Experience in identifying, managing and mobilizing funds and leveraging strategies in the environmental or climate change area is desirable. ● Experience in finance restoration or climate change projects in Central America is desirable.

Languages

● Fluency in Spanish is required ● Basic in English is desirable.

Additional Information

COMPETENCIES • Communication: He/she speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, interprets others’ messages correctly and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and shows interest in having two-way communication; adapts the language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness to share information and keep people informed. • Teamwork: He/she works in collaboration with colleagues to achieve the objectives of the organization; solicits contributions by genuinely valuing the ideas and experience of others; is willing to learn from others; shares credit for team achievements and accepts joint responsibility for team deficiencies. • Planning and organization: He/she develops clear objectives that are consistent with the agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and tasks; adjusts priorities as necessary; allocates the appropriate amount of time and resources to complete the work; foresees risks and allows contingencies when planning; supervises and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

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.