INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

Since 2013, GGGI has been working with the Government of Colombia to advance green growth policies and green investments, through strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Treasury and Public Credit, the National Planning Department, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and subnational institutions. GGGI Colombia has grown significantly over the past few years and has transformed into a portfolio-based country program, with programs and projects of varied sizes covering various GGGI Programmatic Solutions, including Sustainable Forests, Solar PV, Climate Resilient Agriculture, Climate Action, and Green Investments.

During 2024, GGGI and Canada have designed the project ‘Gender-Responsive Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: Transforming Cesar’s Sustainable Future,’ which aims to promote inclusive economic growth and climate resilience through the implementation of innovative EbA solutions. The project seeks to contribute to Colombia’s adaptation goals and targets while creating resilient territories

GGGI has a rapidly expanding sustainable finance portfolio, assisting public and private financial sector actors to design, structure and bring to market innovative sustainable finance solutions, including green, social and sustainability bonds, sustainability-linked instruments, debt for nature/climate swaps, green credit and guarantee schemes. Since 2017, GGGI has successfully mobilized investment commitments exceeding USD 10 billion towards its member countries’ NDC and SDG goals.

POSITION SUMMARY

Based in Bogota, the Sustainable Finance Senior Officer will lead and coordinate GGGI’s sustainable finance activities in Colombia, with special focus on the implementation of the Gender-Responsive Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: Transforming Cesar’s Sustainable Future project, funded by Canada.

The Senior Officer will lead the identification, engagement and technical assistance to public and private financial sector actors to accelerate the design of innovative sustainable finance instruments, including but not limited to thematic bonds, to increase the flow of finance to Central America countries’ NDC and SDG goals.

The Sustainable Finance Senior Officer will possess extensive sustainable finance expertise, acting as principal sustainable finance expert for Central America throughout the implementation of the GGBI program, taking a lead in the identification, engagement and technical assistance to GGBI issuers and beneficiaries.

PURPOSE

The Sustainable Finance Senior Officer plays a pivotal role in accelerating the transformation of financial sector architecture to drive increased financial flows towards Climate Adaptation and implement the project and GGGI’s activities.

ENGAGEMENT

• Support the engagement with Colombian government on sustainable finance and green investment workstreams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with ministries of finance and environment, local financial institutions, national development banks, international financial institutions and international climate funds.
• Engage with public and private financial sector actors to originate sustainable finance opportunities.
• Map, identify and engage with potential green bond issuers, stock exchanges, SPO providers and relevant industry actors.
• Work closely with the Sustainable Finance team of the LAC Regional Office.
• Build and maintain a network of partner Second Party Opinion providers, Stock Exchanges, partner Arrangers, institutional investors, perspective issuers.
• Regularly engage with donors and cooperation partners to explore, identify, and materialize funding opportunities to expand GGGI’s sustainable finance interventions in Central America.
• Will report directly to the Colombia Program Manager.

DELIVERY

• Lead the design and structuring of sustainable finance instruments
• Deliver demand-based technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance, the National Guarantee fund, private financial sector and other key stakeholders to design and implement sustainable finance instruments, regulations and policies, including but not limited to taxonomies, climate-budget tagging, climate finance strategies, international climate funds’ funding proposals, thematic bonds and swaps, among others.
• Develop issuers’ Green Bond Frameworks, including i) Use of Proceeds, ii) Process for projects identification and selection, iii) Management of Proceeds, iv) Monitoring and reporting.
• Deliver capacity building to perspective issuers, in the form of workshops, webinars and bilateral engagement to build issuers’ awareness and capacity to complete green bond issuances.
• Negotiate with Second Party Opinion providers to secure positive evaluation of issuers’ green bond framework.
• Accompany the issuers in investor roadshows to respond and clarify potential investors’ questions.
• Assist issuers to screen, identify, prioritize and select eligible green projects.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• A national of Colombia, or in possess of a valid working visa
• Bachelor’s degree in Economy, Finance, Public Administration or other related field.
• An advanced degree in Finance, Public Administration, Economics, International Affairs or other relevant field is valued.
• Preferably 7-8 years of professional experience in sustainable finance.
• Experience in leading and managing teams / people management.
• Prior experience with green, social, or sustainable bonds is a strong asset.
• Familiarity with national and international taxonomies is a strong asset (e.g. EU taxonomy, Climate Bond Initiative).
• Experience and familiarity with sustainable finance and sustainable banking standards is an asset.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish are essential for this position.

FUNCTIONAL

• Commitment and willingness to work across time zones.
• Exceptional analytical skills, alongside strong synthesis skills.
• Leadership, teamwork and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Able to pick up and assimilate relevant information quickly and easily. Learns new tasks rapidly Responds swiftly and appropriately. Can think on their feet in rapidly changing environments.
• Excellent ability to multi-task and prioritize under stressful circumstances.
• Attention to detail, quality control and strong organizational abilities.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively support GGGI’s mission, vision and values.
• Promote the optimum use of public resources.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
• Process and share information easily.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, build rapport and resolve conflict easily.
• Promote creativity and innovation among staff.
• Be able to lead where needed and provide solutions to project-level challenges.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Sustainable Finance Senior Officer is an X9 grade level in GGGI’s Colombia national salary Scale. The salary range for the position starts at USD 38,953. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate’s experience, academic background and internal equity.

GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

The followings may be included in this section:

• Request document to be submitted: application form, cover letter, and CV in English

• Selection method/process: competitive

Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements