Enhanced institutional and technical capacity of national and regional stakeholders to design, structure, and mobilize financing for innovative, investment-ready projects aligned with UNCCD priorities. This includes strengthened pipelines of NbS and multi-sectoral initiatives, improved financial structuring approaches, integration of lessons learned through practical case studies, and identification of successful business models. The consultancy will directly contribute to the implementation of the consultancy is embedded within the Partnership for Project Preparation specifically to support implementation of the Southern Africa Great Green Wall Initiative pipeline such as the AfDB-funded project “Gender-transformative Resilience to Drought in Transition States in Southern Africa (GRDSA)” and Greening Drylands Partnership among others.

Home based

12 months; starting Sep 2025

Background: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www.unccd.int) The Global Mechanism (GM) of the UNCCD is mandated to assist countries in the mobilization of financial resources from the public and private sector for activities that prevent, control or reverse desertification, land degradation and drought. As the operational arm of the convention, the GM supports countries to translate the Convention into action. The GM is currently spearheading several initiatives to implement its resource mobilization mandate by supporting countries in the development of a pipeline of projects and programmes for financing by donors and private sector partners. We are also promoting multi-sector, multi-stakeholder approaches to facilitate the financing and implementation of projects contributing to synergies across the objectives of the three Rio Conventions. The consultancy is embedded within the Partnership for Project Preparation specifically to support implementation of the Southern Africa Great Green Wall Initiative pipeline such as the AfDB-funded project “Gender-transformative Resilience to Drought in Transition States in Southern Africa (GRDSA)” and Greening Drylands Partnership. This assignment contributes to capacity development and project preparation by strengthening technical and institutional knowledge to mobilize investments for nature-based solutions, particularly under the regional framework of the Southern African Great Green Wall Initiative (SA GGWI). Duties and Responsibilities: Under the supervision of the responsible officer in the Global Mechanism, the consultant will undertake the following: 1. Design, deliver and facilitate capacity building activities: • Design, deliver and facilitate tailored capacity building programmes on the preparation of innovative, well-structured project proposals, using various tools and methodologies including online and in-person workshops, seminars, bootcamps, as appropriate depending on the target audience and training objectives. • Ensure training materials encourage cross and multi-sectoral engagement and dialogue between sectors, governmental, private, and financial participants and also consider cross-cutting issues including gender and vulnerable groups. • Conduct targeted training sessions focused on the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and financial structuring to strengthen participants’ technical and strategic capabilities. 2. Provide strategic and technical guidance in the development of investment-ready projects large-scale integrated investment projects and programmes that contribute to addressing land degradation, desertification and drought (UNCCD priorities) and other relevant priority issues: • Provision of advisory services and technical expertise in the design and financial structuring of multisectoral projects, with a focus on NbS delivering measurable returns on investment • Contribute to the preparation of priority agreed project concept notes/feasibility studies/proposals for UNCCD initiatives in accordance with the targeted source of funding • In alignment with the Partnership for Project Preparation, SAGGWI pipeline including the GRDSA project, provide strategic and technical guidance to the design and development of integrated, multi-sectoral projects 3. Support the development of case studies on successful business models and projects, tools, and guidelines: • Document and analyze successful business models and investment-ready projects relevant to sustainable land and water management, NbS, green infrastructure and other related areas. • Contribute to the creation of high-quality knowledge products, such as toolkits, guidelines, and methodologies, focused on integrating NbS and innovative financing mechanisms into UNCCD project design. 4. Facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement and strengthen project pipeline development: • Monitor and assess project pipelines to identify strategic opportunities for partnerships that enhance investment readiness and implementation prospects for the Global Mechanism. • Identify entry points for collaboration with multilateral development banks (MDBs) and private sector stakeholders in the co-design and financing of NbS projects aimed at sustainable land and water management.

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in gender studies, international development, social sciences, environmental studies, or a related field is required. At least 7 years of professional experience in project development, climate finance, or sustainable land management, preferably with international organizations or development banks is required. Proven experience in designing and structuring investment-ready, multi-sectoral projects, with a strong focus on NbS is desirable. Demonstrated ability to deliver capacity-building activities, including workshops and training on project design and financial structuring is desirable.

Excellent command of English and French (written and spoken) language is required. Knowledge of one of other UN official languages is an asset.

Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 10 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 10 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.

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.