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Sustainable Finance Specialist (and BIOFIN Project Lead)
Better Than Cash
Accounting & Finance
Accra, Ghana
Posted on Apr 24, 2026
Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
UNDP Ghana serves as the lead UN agency supporting the Government of Ghana to advance its green-growth priorities, with an increasing emphasis on mobilizing domestic resources and scaling development solutions for greater impact. The Environment and Climate Cluster (ECC) drives this support by providing technical and policy advisory services across circular economy, climate action, and green economy. Its portfolio spans climate mitigation and adaptation, waste and forest management, energy transition, and biodiversity conservation. ECC also manages UNDP Ghana’s Global Environment Facility (GEF) portfolio, including the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN).
The Innovative Finance and Inclusive Growth Cluster (IFIGC) is UNDP Ghana’s engine for economic transformation and financial innovation, designed to accelerate inclusive growth and crowd in private capital for sustainable development and resilience outcomes. It bridges the gap between policy and markets, enabling Ghana to move beyond incremental progress toward structural transformation. IFIG positions UNDP as a partner of first call for Ghana’s ambition to build a green, resilient, industrialized, and inclusive economy. This cluster acts as a strategic enabler for UNDP Ghana’s Transformative Governance Cluster and Environment & Climate Cluster by embedding private sector development, youth and women empowerment, and sustainable financing solutions into interventions. It ensures that UNDP’s programming delivers scalable, investment-ready models that attract blended finance and unlock opportunities for jobs, productivity, and resilience.
Innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance, impact investment, green bonds, and results‑based financing expand the pool of available resources by de‑risking projects and aligning returns with development outcomes. This creates opportunities for job creation, improved productivity, and enhanced resilience, particularly for women, youth, and small enterprises who are often excluded from traditional financing channels. Private‑sector engagement is equally critical for achieving SDG targets, as businesses drive market transformation, influence value chains, and provide the scale, technology, and market discipline required for sustainable and lasting results. Accelerating the use of innovative and private‑sector–led financing solutions is essential for delivering transformative, scalable impact and ensuring that development investments generate sustainable growth, resilience, and inclusive opportunities for all.
Biodiversity finance solutions are increasingly critical for achieving national and global biodiversity goals, with Biodiversity Finance Plans (BFPs)—including those developed under UNDP’s BIOFIN initiative—helping countries assess finance gaps and identify actions to scale funding, reform harmful subsidies, and improve expenditure effectiveness. In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. Following the adoption of the Montreal–Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022, countries are encouraged under Target 19 to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans.
GEF’s global programme supports this process by providing technical assistance, a knowledge platform, and a systems-level analysis of existing finance mechanisms, expenditures, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, and national financial needs. In Ghana, the project is implemented under the GEF-8 Umbrella Programme for developing the first National Biodiversity Finance Plan, led by a Sustainable Finance Specialist with support from a technical team, the government project director, and the National Steering Committee.
For the implementation of the wider Ghana country-office finance programme to deliver scalable, investment-ready models across portfolios, and for the GEF8-BFP Umbrella program implementation at the national level, UNDP is recruiting a Sustainable Finance Specialist (also BIOFIN Project Lead) hereafter SSFE/BPL.
Duties and Responsibilities
The SSFE/BPL for the Biodiversity Finance Initiative, will be responsible for the overall supervision and management of in-country activities, ensuring a proper workplan and budget is in place and implemented within set timelines, supported by an effective national team and strong partnerships. The role will be based in the Environment and Climate Cluster and further offer expert advisory and technical support services to all units in the CO through the Innovative Finance and Inclusive Growth Cluster. Within the Environment & Climate cluster, the Project Lead will particularly provide dedicated focus in leading the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), which has a technical team including an Environmental Policy Expert, a Biodiversity Finance Specialist and a Project Support Associate, all of whom report to the ECC Lead.
The scope of work for the SSFE/BPL is expected to cover the following:
Project Management (BIOFIN Only)
Oversee and supervise national consultants and experts, including identification, selection, supervision and quality assurance, in close collaboration with the UNDP Country Office, Sustainable Finance Specialist (and BIOFIN Project Lead) and the Global Project Management and Technical Support Unit (GPMTSU).
- Prepare and manage core project instruments, including writing/revising Terms of Reference for BIOFIN team members, and elaborating/revising workplans and budgets in consultation with the UNDP Country Office and GPMTSU;
- Supervise national experts, institutions, and the Project Support Associate to ensure timely, high‑quality delivery of outputs and effective administrative and budget management in line with UNDP and donor rules;
- Organize project workshops and multistakeholder engagements, ensuring participation of government, private sector, NGOs, academia and development partners in all relevant biodiversity finance consultations;
- Coordinate governance mechanisms, including discussing and supporting the establishment of the national Steering Committee, ensuring its regular convening, and preparing meeting reports for the Committee, UNDP CO and GPMTSU;
- Maintain regular communication and alignment with government stakeholders, including Ministries of Environment and Finance, ensuring timely development and completion of reports and products and linking project processes with national biodiversity and finance frameworks (e.g., NBSAP updates, Global Biodiversity Framework implementation);
- Lead coordination, monitoring and risk management, including identifying implementation risks, organizing regular national team meetings, monthly calls with the GPMTSU Technical Advisor, ensuring participation in regional technical calls, and representing the project at regional and global GPMTSU meetings.
Partnership and Resource Mobilization (IFIGC Strategic Enabling Only)
- Government/Development Partners: Build strategic alliances across Government (e.g. Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade & Industry (including GIPC), Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment and other sector ministries. Build strategic alliances with Development Partners: AfDB, World Bank, bilateral donors, Foundations (e.g., Mastercard Foundation), and engage with Regional & Global Platforms: AfCFTA, SDG Financing Hub, impact investment networks. Quality assurance and technical advisory: ongoing projects require quality assurance in terms of technical soundness and engagement with the relevant stakeholders on progress of activities. This also entails technical review of content designed for consultation meetings, review of analytical reports and leading technical-level discussions with key counterparts;
- Private Sector Development & Partnerships: Build strategic alliances with corporates (including those engaged in manufacturing, agribusiness, fintechs), financial institutions (including banks), and development banks to crowd in private capital for SDG-aligned investments. Facilitate diaspora financing, sovereign wealth strategies, and innovative debt instruments to expand fiscal space.
Technical Tasks and Responsibilities (BIOFIN & IFIGC Strategic Enabling)
1.BIOFIN
- Provide overall technical leadership and act as principal technical contact for project implementation with the GPMTSU, including addressing all technical questions during national implementation, ensuring horizontal integration and consistency of workstreams/studies, and providing overall guidance and quality control for the four main deliverables of the project;
- Provide technical support to the national project team to complete all deliverables of the BIOFIN methodology in a consistent, high‑quality manner, including data collection, analysis and conclusions for the BER, and the data collection, modelling, quality checking and validation of the FNA;
- Ensure continuous backstopping and quality assurance, including sending drafts of all work to the global Technical Advisor and GPMTSU for review and ensuring all feedback is adequately integrated into national reports; and researching and developing the sections on subsidies and financing incentives in the PIR according to guidance from GPMTSU and the BIOFIN Workbook;
- Develop the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) according to guidance provided by the GPMTSU global BIOFIN team and written guidance documents (especially the BIOFIN Workbook).
2. IFIGC Strategic Enabling
- Delivery Instruments: Policy Advisory & Thought Leadership: Fiscal reforms, SDG financing strategies, and investment climate enhancement. Portfolio-Based Programming: Aggregated interventions in MSME development, green finance, and industrialization;
- Innovative & Sustainable Finance: Design and operationalize financing mechanisms such as blended finance facilities, impact investment platforms, and green finance instruments (e.g., carbon finance, revolving funds). Support Government in implementing Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF) and Tax for SDGs, strengthening fiscal sustainability and transparency. Develop bankable projects and investment pipelines aligned with Ghana’s industrialization and climate goals;
- Inclusive Economic Transformation: Scale up MSME productivity through digital ecosystems, green business incubation, and AfCFTA-aligned trade facilitation. Promote value chain development in agribusiness, manufacturing, and circular economy sectors, integrating youth and gender lenses. Support industrialization strategies that leverage Ghana’s comparative advantages in commodities and emerging sectors (e.g., lithium, renewable energy);
- Youth & Women Economic Empowerment: Drive TVET and entrepreneurship programs linked to market demand and green transition opportunities. Expand access to finance for women- and youth-led enterprises through inclusive financial products and digital solutions, ensuring the inclusion of grassroots and rural communities
- Support the Cluster Lead: With exploring technical solutions for development issues with the analytical work needed;
- Cross-Cluster and Programme Support: Support the Cluster leads in Environment and Governance by extending expert advice on market systems development, financial inclusion, access to finance and innovative finance modalities;
- Design programmatic interventions and prepare project proposals with all required steps, together with the IFIG team as needed;
- Participate in programming exercises with the two clusters, scouting for ideas and entry points and overall project design;
- Deliver various technical related workshops, training and capacity building activities for the CO and other stakeholders;
- Liaise with UNDP HQ and Regional units as needed to support the CO maximising opportunities to contribute to regional and global initiatives in this area.
Reporting/Communication/M&E (BIOFIN & IFIGC Strategic Enabling)
1.BIOFIN
- Lead monitoring, reporting and quality assurance, including signaling any delays in national deliverables compared to the workplan to the UNDP Country Office and the GPMTSU; leading project monitoring, reporting and evaluation at national level; drafting monthly and quarterly reports; coordinating the development of workshop reports for the inception workshop and all technical workshops; and reviewing all technical reports as required;
- Ensure methodological alignment and technical consistency, including ensuring alignment of national work with global methodologies such as the BIOFIN workbook and others, and reviewing the final reports of the national Policy and Institutional Review, Biodiversity Expenditure Review, Financial Needs Assessment and Biodiversity Finance Plan;
- Liaise with relevant initiatives and programmes in UNDP and other organizations in support of the execution of the project, including BIOFIN, the NBSAP Support Programme, the GEF‑7 Early Action Support Programme, the Nature Hub, and other organizations and initiatives;
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Develop communication and knowledge products, including, developing, with the collaboration of the rest of the team members, at least one brief overview publication per year, press releases, and web and media products.
2. IFIGC Strategic Enabling
- Position UNDP in Ghana as a knowledge source to support in advancing the agenda of promoting Ghana as a competitive investment destination through investor communications and risk mitigation frameworks;
- Deliver key knowledge products, policy briefs, strategic analysis for UNDP to support in advancing innovative finance solutions for inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Sustainable Finance Specialist will perform duties under the guidance of the Resident Representative and extend daily support to the front office as required. The incumbent will report to the Environment and Climate Change Cluster Lead to ensure delivery of BIOFIN project in concert with the Environmental Policy Expert, Biodiversity Finance Specialist and the Project Associate, with a proxy reporting line to the Innovative Finance and Inclusive Cluster to ensure full delivery of the innovative finance enabler role in the CO. In advancing the CO’s work on innovative finance he/she will also work closely together with the members of the IFIGC.
Competencies
CORE
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
2030 Agenda: Nature, Climate and Energy
- Ecosystems and biodiversity: Biodiversity Finance
Administration & Operations: Events Management (including retreats, trainings, and meetings)
- Support offices with event management including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.
Administration & Operations: Travel Policy and Procedures
- Travel Policy and Procedures - Interprets travel policy, the Staff Rules, administrative circulars and financial regulations and rules on travel-related matters; management and tracking of exception requests to the standard of accommodation; reporting to UN.
Partnership: Private sector resource mobilization
- Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.
General (across the functions): Project Management
Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Finance: Financial Planning and Budgeting
- Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.
Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in finance, development finance is required, or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of 7 years experience (with masters’ degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) preferably in the implementation of finance/ investment- related projects.
Required Skills
- Experience in implementing/deploying financial products, investment modalities and/or financial instruments deployment is required;
- Experience in building partnerships and interacting with the financial sector’s ecosystem is required;
- Experience in managing work teams and supervising technical assessments, reports and technical documents.
Desired Skills
- Knowledge in biodiversity and environmental related policies;
- Experience in biodiversity/environmental finance;
- Experience in development finance and International Financial Institutions work is a plus;
- Designing fund structures modalities and facilities is desired;
- Prior experience with IFIs/UN projects would be an asset.
Required Language (s)
- Fluency in English is required;
- Knowledge of any other UN language or national language is desired.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
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Duties and Responsibilities