GEF National Portfolio Development Consultant

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Introduction

Description of the Assignment:

The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, mostly from climate change impacts. The country has enunciated policies and programmes to reduce these risks, among others the finalization of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the Philippines Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP). It has also institutionalized a climate budget tagging process for all agencies and developed tools and mechanisms to mainstream climate change and vulnerability assessments in various levels of programming. However, to achieve the desired transformation, funding would be needed not only from government, but from private sector and international sources as well.

The Climate Finance Network (CFN) is a regional programme implemented by UNDP and is part of a wider UK-funded programme Climate Action for Resilient Asia (CARA). The CFN works on six workstreams: 1) Climate change aligned budgeting and planning; 2) Access to international climate change finance; 3) Tax and Innovative climate finance; 4) Gender and social inclusion and climate change finance; and 5) Transparency and accountability of climate change finance; and 6) Modelling climate change impacts on economic growth, sectors and consideration of distributional impacts. In line with CFN’s objective to enhance countries’ capacities to access international climate funds, the project will be supporting the National Portfolio Formulation Exercise (NPFE) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) portfolio in the Philippines, with a view towards the replenishment of resources for the 9^th Operational Cycle.

The GEF, in its more than 30 years of existence, is now considered as the largest and longest-running family of funds that is mandated to generate global environmental benefits in the areas of climate, biodiversity, land, chemicals and waste, and trans-boundary water bodies. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Global Environment Facility - Operational Focal Point (GEF-OFP), has initiated a series of multi-stakeholder meetings/consultation workshops since the GEF cycle 5 when the GEF provided specific allocation for the country. These workshops served as a venue in coming up with the criteria in prioritizing proposed projects as well as an indicative list of projects for endorsement to the GEF.

To sustain this initiative and to firm up the list of projects to be endorsed under the 9th cycle of Global Environment Facility (GEF 9) funding, the OFP together with the Foreign-Assisted and Special Project Service of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-FASPS) deemed it appropriate to continue the conduct of the GEF National Portfolio Formulation Exercise (GEF-NPFE). This entails a broader consultation process through a series of Focus Group Discussions and Workshops involving relevant government agencies and other stakeholders such as civil society organizations, community-based organizations, academe, and with the private sector.

The 9th cycle of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF-9) and its Programming Directions (GEF, January 2026) will continue to strengthen global environmental actions through five focal areas: biodiversity, climate change mitigation, land degradation, chemicals and waste, and international waters. This is supported by flagship integrated programs such as Forest Biomes, Food Systems, Ecosystem Restoration, and Sustainable Cities. Key innovations include mainstreamed blended finance, expanded private sector mobilization, and enhanced country engagement strategies that empower OFPs, promote policy coherence, and integrate Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities through direct funding and execution roles (GEF-9 Programming Directions).

In line with the new GEF policies and the GEF-9 Programming Directions, the Philippines, through the GEF-OFP is initiating the development of the country’s National Portfolio Formulation Document (NPFD). The NPFD would contain project ideas aligned with the country's thrusts and priorities and the GEF 9 Programming Directions. This document identifies and describes the country’s strategic priorities under each of the GEF focal areas plus an indicative list of project concepts that could be developed to achieve the objectives.

The implementation of the NPFE would require the expertise of a Portfolio Development Consultant to assist the GEF-OFP in identifying and analyzing country trends and needs as a basis in generating project proposals for GEF funding support and which will form part of the GEF-9 NPFD.

Period of assignment/services: 20 person days spread over eight months

Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, Environmental Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or related fields.
• Minimum ten (10) years of demonstrated experience in the full-cycle management of GEF-funded and/or other international environmental financing projects, programmes, and portfolios. Experience should include development, design, appraisal, and monitoring, and following results-based methodologies.
• Minimum ten (10) years demonstrated experience supporting the development of projects, programmes, or policies aligned with relevant national and/or multilateral environmental agreements and frameworks, including engagement with government agencies, development partners, regional organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders.
• Proficiency in English as indicated in CV

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