Programme Officer – Project Financing, P-3

                                           Vacancy Announcement

         Secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

                              Division of Project Facilitation and Support (PFS)

Deadline for Application:                  20 September 2024 (at midnight, Abu Dhabi Local Time)

Title and Grade:                                 Programme Officer – Project Financing, P-3 

Indicative Annual Salary:                    (a.) Annual Net Salary: USD 64,121.00 to USD 73,463.00[1]

 (b.) Post Adjustment: USD 47,064.81 to USD 53,921.84[2

Duration of Appointment:                  One Year, with possible extension

Duty Station:                                         Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates           

Entry on Duty:                                      As soon as possible

Background

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organisation mandated with the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. At present, IRENA has 169 Members (168 States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 15 additional States in the process of accession. IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource, and financial knowledge on renewable energy. The Agency implements its mandate with the view of sustainable development, increased energy security, and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

The Project Facilitation and Support (PFS) division integrates all the previous initiatives of IRENA related to project facilitation. It has an ambitious goal to achieve a tangible impact by facilitating funding and investments for promising projects, co-organising regional Investment Forums with matchmaking events, and fostering cooperation between international institutions that have compatible objectives.

The core of the PFS modus-operandi is to facilitate and support IRENA Member States to achieve their Nationally Determined Contribution renewable energy targets by building a solid pipeline of projects covering the entire project size spectrum from utility scale projects, to commercial and industrial level, and micro & small level projects, as well as energy efficiency measures. This includes facilitating their realization through a comprehensive set of operational tools including – but not limited to – project-based technical assistance packages, targeted de-risking instruments and structured capacity building.

One of the earliest initiatives managed by the division is the IRENA Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) Facility. The IRENA/ADFD facility aimed to facilitate concessional co-financing loans from ADFD, for the implementation of renewable energy projects in developing countries. IRENA was responsible for project selection and recommendation to ADFD for final selection and funding. The joint IRENA/ADFD Project Facility (the Facility) is the result of these commitments and represents a unique partnership between IRENA and ADFD. In January 2020, the seven selection cycles of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility concluded, with ADFD making funding available for 26 projects. Today, six projects reached completion and one project is close to Commercial Operation Date (COD).

The division also hosts the Climate Investment Platform (CIP), as well as the Energy Transition Accelerator Finance (ETAF) Platform. Both CIP and ETAF are inclusive, multi-stakeholder climate finance platforms, which pursue facilitating capital mobilisation to scale up the development of renewable energy projects to advance the energy transition across developing markets.

Under the overall guidance of the Director of PFS and the direct supervision of the Head of the Project Financing Unit, the Programme Officer (PO) P-3 will primarily engage on the Agency’s work related to RE investment scale-up.  In particular: 

• Serve as the division’s main coordinator for the IRENA/ADFD Facility related activities, including but not limited to:
  • Coordination with country representatives assigned for the projects under the facility;
  • Project progress follow up, reporting, and engagement facilitation;
  • Main point of contact for the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development representatives involved in the facility;
  • Preparation and delivery of relevant documentation to United Arab Emirates Representatives to IRENA regarding the facility;
  • Management and facilitation of periodical meetings among ADFD and country representatives for the projects under the facility;
  • Report learning points to ADFD and IRENA management to help improve both current and future initiatives;
  • Lead the update of brochures, factsheets, press releases, videos, other multimedia, and social communication material with the learning points as well as impact of the facility;
  • Coordinate with the IRENA’s IT to maintain all online information of the facility up to date;
  • Encourage and promote the use of IRENA’s Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform with the project proponents and co-financiers, as well as other project development tools and platforms in IRENA to provide support to shortlisted and selected projects;
  • Prepare project case studies to highlight impacts of projects and learning to be shared internally and externally;
• Regarding IRENA’s current and future Project Facilitation and Support initiatives:
  • Facilitate procedures, knowledge and matchmaking measures to ease access to finance in the context of IRENA project facilitation and support tools; 
  • Perform feasibility and bankability analysis of projects submitted to IRENA through ETAF;
  • Facilitate development and co-funding of projects shortlisted in the ETAF;
  • Contribute in the development of the ETAF and CIP Platforms, as well as other initiatives and tools of the division;
  • Coordinate with other funds and development partners for project support and additional funding;
  • Contribute in the performance of country, regional and sub-regional dialogues to support RE investments within IRENA’s CIP and ETAF Platforms;
  • Leverage resources from international financial institutions, public and private financiers and convene matchmaking with RE projects pipeline;
  • Support the creation of new instruments and mechanisms for financing large, medium and small scale renewable energy projects;
  • Contribute in the development and implementation of initiatives that increase the impact of IRENA’s project facilitation tools in the energy transition;
  • Contribute with IRENA’s ETAF engagement to accelerate renewable energy investments, through building a pipeline of bankable projects with the support of ETAF Partners as well as representatives of IRENA member states;
  • Liaise with registered ETAF partners regarding projects and initiatives of IRENA as well as proposals that meet their eligibility criteria and give feedback to registered partners on relevant matters;
  • Contribute in the preparation of matchmaking events and investment forums;
  • Contribute to the preparation of state-of-the-art reports and other written material and lead effective outreach activities (workshops, conference participation, webinars, etc.);
  • Engage with representatives of IRENA member states, public and private finance institutions, and project developers in order to disseminate IRENA’s project facilitation tools and increase their impact;
  • Monitor the renewable energy investment landscape, reviewing other initiatives that are comparable or relevant to the work of PFS, make recommendations on the best way to engage them, and take initiatives to maximise the efforts, leverage synergies and avoid duplications;
  • Maintain close working relationships with other teams in PFS and other divisions of IRENA, identifying synergies to increase the impact of the agency;
  • Work with other PFS Teams and IRENA Divisions, in order to build and present proposals for voluntary contributions related to the work of the Agency;
  • Oversee the performance of assigned junior personnel and provides guidance and mentorship to their work and professional development;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Professionalism: Knowledge of renewable energy and project finance with a particular focus on developing countries. Familiarity with renewable energy economics and technologies. Ability to assess and guide RE projects developers. Ability to identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. Demonstrates professional competence in subject matter and pays attention to detail. Experienced in engaging and working with government representatives, development financing institutions (DFIs), multilateral development bank (MDB), and financial institutions (FIs); is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Experience in working in international multicultural environments.

Communication: Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills, both oral and written; creates and promotes enabling environment for open communication; listens to others and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed and enjoys public speaking and negotiation skills. Ability to review and edit the work of others. Having an international exposure to different energy communities is required.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Able to organize, direct, delegate and follow up work among the team.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Innovation: Ability to generate ideas and solution for complex problems with high quality, applicable and affordable solutio

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, finance, economics, public administration, renewable energy or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: At least five years of relevant professional work experience, some of which should be at the international level. Practical experience in the renewable energy sector, renewable energy project preparation and facilitation, banking and project finance, project management, risk mitigation. Good knowledge about the different financial instruments and financial products available in the market.

Language: Excellent command of written and spoken English. Fluency in other UN languages would be an advantage.

                                                        *****

Qualified candidates must apply for the above-mentioned vacancy on-line, through IRENA’s recruitment platform, ORC by submitting a complete and comprehensive application, CV and a letter of interest, including details of three professional references who will be contacted if their application is shortlisted.

Applications from qualified women, especially from nationals of developing countries, are highly encouraged.

Please note that only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for an interview and will receive notice of the outcome of the selection process.

[1] IRENA provides similar ICSC benefits and entitlements, including rental subsidy, education grant (for school aged children), annual leave, health insurance, provident fund, etc. as would be applicable.

[2] The post adjustment is a variable component that is adjusted periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living in a duty station. Post adjustment multiplier for Abu Dhabi duty station is currently 73.4%, determined by the International Civil Service Commission and subject to change without prior notice.