NUNV Associate BIOFIN

General

Description of assignment title

Assignment country

India

Expected start date

04/05/2022

Sustainable Development Goal

15. Life on land

Volunteer category

National UN Youth Volunteer

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities

Host entity

UNDP

Type

Onsite

Duration

8 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments

Duty stations

New Delhi

Details

Mission and objectives

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

Context

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a global programme of UNDP, was launched in 2012, in response to the identified need by the CBD, to have better and adequate information to assess current expenditures and financing needs for countries to implement their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and need to have a comprehensive methodology to develop resource mobilization strategies and Biodiversity Finance Plans to implement NBSAPs. BIOFIN provides an innovative methodology for countries to measure their current biodiversity expenditures, assess their financial needs for biodiversity conservation in the medium term and identify most suitable finance solutions to reduce their national biodiversity finance gaps. BIOFIN was launched in India in May 2015. It is being led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), hosted by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and managed by UNDP. The BIOFIN process presents a coherent and comprehensive national approach to biodiversity finance that encompasses a full suite of finance solutions, well beyond the mobilization of new and additional resources, engaging the public sector, private sector, and civil society. The aim is to produce a nationally validated Biodiversity Finance Plan that proposes steps to implement a mix of finance solutions in order to expand and improve the country’s biodiversity finance and achieve the NBTs. Under BIOFIN, 4 finance solutions out of 12 potential finance solutions enlisted in the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) -working document, have been selected for demonstration and implementation. These include Corporate Social Responsibility, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Public sector (Agriculture Sector), Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and Fintech for Biodiversity. As part of the BIOFIN Extended Phase II (2021-25), the project aims to leverage the potential of these finance solutions to ‘green’ the key economic sectors and enhance resource mobilization for biodiversity conservation activities.

Task description

• Support in mapping the role and impact of businesses (public, private and Financial Institutions) towards conservation and management of biodiversity and natural resource management, identify innovative project ideas based on state/national priorities in this area and match making the same with priority areas of corporate investment/CSR funding. Developing a business case as well as concept notes/proposals in this regard. (1-2 vetted concept to be developed on a bi-monthly basis)

• In the above context, support in preparation of necessary background materials for one to one /round table meetings/workshops with the public/private corporates/Financial Institutions.

• Develop stories/blogs/ fact sheets/media outreach materials, tweets etc. for social media for reaching out to relevant business groups.

• Support in development of training and capacity building materials targeted to build capacities and sensitise corporates in taking up priority actions in biodiversity conservation and management, based on government priorities.

• Support in development and management of an e- network for relevant business groups, and development of materials to facilitate in implementation of the e-network on a regular basis

• Provide coordination, communication and technical support towards formulation of the draft proposals, Country Implementation Strategy and Annual and Multi-Year Work Plans for the 4 financial solutions under BIOFIN Phase II Extended, namely, 1. Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Public Finance (Agriculture), 2. Corporate Social Responsibility, 3. Access and Benefit Sharing and 4. FinTech for Biodiversity

• Develop technical reports, concept notes, MoUs, presentations on the development and implementation of activities and initiatives under the financial solutions

• Organise, manage and coordinate consultations, stakeholder engagements and training programmes with government, civil society and corporate sector stakeholders for technical partnerships and future collaborations.

• Provide assistance towards development of a robust communication and partnership strategy and maintain regular contact with related institutions and network of regulators and industry stakeholders

• Participate in and contribute to the national, state and local level consultations and validation workshops, as needed and support necessary revisions that arise during the workshops, as appropriate.

• Spatial mapping of the priority biodiversity actions in ecologically sensitive areas to streamline conservation efforts in fragile ecosystems, and further dissemination of the results for effective planning of future corporate investments in biodiversity

• Contribute towards furthering the priorities of UNDP and GoI with respect to international conventions such as UNFCCC, UNCCD and CBD within the purview of the projects

• Provide support towards implementation of joint UN Events and campaigns and contribute to the tasks under the upcoming COPs.

• Support in identification and documentation of best practices and outcomes across thematic areas relevant to the project and prepare concept notes, proposals and research papers for the same

• Perform any other tasks assigned from time to time by the Project Manager

Requirements

Required experience

1 years of experience in • In-depth knowledge of environmental management concepts and nature-based finance;
• Proven record on similar documentation work (disclosures) at the national level;
• Excellent drafting, documentation and communication skills in English

Area(s) of expertise

Energy and environment , Community development, Development programmes

Driving license

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required Hindi, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in Biodiversity and Conservation, Environment Management, Natural Resource Management or a closely related field.

Competencies and values

• Integrity and professionalism
• Accountability
• Commitment to continuous learning
• Planning and organizing
• Teamwork and respect for diversity
• Communication
• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.