Result of Service
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide support for the development and operationalisation of the Drought Resilience Investment Facility with a focus on alignment with the Business 4 Land initiative Finance Pillar and internal coordination at the Global Mechanism. The consultant will also contribute to enhancing UNCCD’s engagement with Multilateral Development Banks and the Arab Coordination Group, and also help prepare for and support the convening on finance and private sector-related activities at UNCCD COP17.
Expected duration
10 months.
Duties and Responsibilities
Background: The objective of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification around the world, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas. The Global Mechanism (GM) assists countries in the mobilisation of resources from the public and private sector for activities that prevent, control or reverse desertification, land degradation and drought. Spearheaded by the GM, the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF) emerged in 2024 and is currently being designed to promote investments in drought resilience through a blended finance approach. The DRIF will coordinate investments from private institutional investors, impact investors, development finance institutions, foundations, and public donors to scale up drought-resilient solutions across various sectors including water management, agriculture, and nature-based solutions. The DRIF serves as an accelerator to implement viable, sustainable business models to mitigate the impacts of drought and promote long-term land productivity. Like the LDN Fund, the DRIF will act as a platform to attract private sector participation by demonstrating clear investment cases and de-risking projects. This consultancy will play a pivotal role in advancing the development and operationalisation of the DRIF in preparation for its official launch at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia in August 2026. In particular, the consultancy will support the GM in coordinating internal processes related to the structuring and establishment of the facility, contribute to the development of the project pipeline and resource mobilisation strategy, and provide inputs for communications and promotional efforts. The consultancy will also assist in facilitating engagement with key stakeholders, including governments and investors. Lastly, the consultancy will ensure that the DRIF is designed and launched in alignment with UNCCD priorities and initiatives, in particular the Finance Pillar of Business4Land (B4L). B4L is the UNCCD’s main initiative to engage the private sector in sustainable land and water management, helping companies and financial institutions manage risks and seize opportunities tied to land degradation and drought. Its Finance Pillar focuses on mobilising sustainable finance and philanthropic contributions for LDN, especially from the private sector, including through the design of innovative blended finance mechanisms such as the DRIF. The consultant will also work on enhancing UNCCD’s engagement with Multilateral Development Banks and the Arab Coordination Group, aligning this work with the objectives of the B4L Finance pillar. Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Innovative Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Coordinator and under the daily direction of the Associate Programme Officer of the Global Mechanism, the responsibilities of the consultancy are to: - Provide support to prepare the launch of DRIF at COP17 in Mongolia with a focus on GM internal processes and coordination. - Support pipeline development for DRIF by facilitating the identification, prioritisation, and structuring of high-impact drought resilience projects, coordinating with relevant stakeholders and ensuring integration with UNCCD flagships. - Contribute to the design and implementation of a comprehensive resource mobilisation strategy for DRIF, supporting outreach and engagement with public, private, institutional, and philanthropic investors. - Assist with communications, marketing, and promotion of DRIF through the development of tailored communication materials, stakeholder engagement, and identifying and preparing participation in key global events. - Support activities under B4L, specifically the Finance pillar, to help ensure that the development and operationalisation of DRIF aligns with broader efforts for mobilising private finance for LDN and drought resilience. - Support the engagement of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and the Arab Coordination Group to strengthen their contributions to UNCCD objectives and to identify mechanisms for leveraging UNCCD expertise. - Contribute to and help prepare for activities and events at UNCCD COP17, including expected events on finance day, such as a Rangelands Investment Forum, as well as the Business4Land Forum. - Perform any other duties as assigned by the Global Mechanism or UNCCD secretariat.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) from a recognized university in a relevant field of work (e.g. finance/economics, politics, international relations and/or any relevant field directly related to climate, disaster risk, environment or international development) is required. - At least two (2) years of relevant professional working experience in one or more of the following areas is required: sustainable development, public policy or project development communications, contribution management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant areas is required. - Excellent organizing, multi-tasking, research, writing and project management skills are required. - Previous experience in a relevant area such as private sector, relationship management, partnerships or resource mobilization/fundraising is desirable. - Previous experience working in an international environment (UN, International Organization, Private Sector or NGO) is an advantage. - Knowledge of project development and financing is an advantage.
Languages
- Fluency in English language (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Additional Information
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 11 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 11 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
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.
