Advisor, Sustainable Cooling Investment

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality services, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approaches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva - from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, we work at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change.

Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind. 

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

The main objectives of the Sustainable Cooling programme are: Provide advice, convene leaders and support policy progress on access to sustainable cooling; Develop tools and resources that enable partners to have improved decision making on access to sustainable cooling; Track and analyze access to sustainable cooling through Chilling Prospects; Mobilize new investment in sustainable cooling to meet the needs of the most vulnerable; Provide and lead communications efforts that improve understanding of access to sustainable cooling through #ThisIsCool.

The Advisor Sustainable Cooling Investment plays a critical role within the Sustainable Cooling programme by leading the design, operationalization, and scaling of innovative financing mechanisms and investment frameworks. Working closely with governments, development finance institutions, private sector entities, and project developers, the Advisor Sustainable Cooling Investment directly supports:

• Market Enablement & Matchmaking: Driving the Sustainable Cooling Marketplace and disseminating investment guidance to address market barriers and connect solutions with investors in priority countries.
• Innovative Financing Instruments: Supporting the design, management, and operationalization of the Cool Finance Fund, focusing on results-based financing and revolving funds.
• Nature-Based Solutions: Developing financial incentive guidelines and investment frameworks for the Nature for Cooling Challenge (NCC) to assist target countries in creating bankable sustainable cooling projects.
• Targeted Project Support: Designing tailored financing mechanisms, such as local currency instruments, density bonuses, and blended finance structures to address urban heat risks and vulnerable populations.
• Strategic Partnerships: Contributing high-level technical expertise to SEforALL’s Energy Transition department, knowledge products, and multi-stakeholder investment dialogues.
  
  

This is a part-time retainer role, with an expected commitment of up to a total of 25 days over 12 months.

In duty stations where the National Professional Officer (NPO) category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the contract modality (Local ICA or International ICA) may be evaluated based on the nationality and/or permanent residency status of the preferred candidate.

Under the supervision of the Director, Energy Solutions, the Advisor Sustainable Cooling Investment role will focus on the following activities:

Sustainable Cooling Marketplace

• Support the launch and dissemination of the ‘Investment Prospectus Guide’ for sustainable cooling in countries supported by the programme.
• Support the delivery of the Sustainable Cooling programme’s ‘Sustainable Cooling Marketplace’ in target countries, by working with the programme team to address market barriers to investment with data evidence, advising on project design and prioritization, and supporting matchmaking between solutions with investors in supported countries. 
• Advise the Sustainable Cooling programme and Communities of Practice for Sustainable Cooling in supported countries on available sources of finance and innovation opportunities that can increase investment in sustainable cooling at the global and national level.  

Financing Mechanisms for Sustainable Cooling 

• Support the Sustainable Cooling programme’s efforts to leverage financial and business model innovation to increase investment in sustainable cooling technologies, with a particular focus on innovation benefiting vulnerable groups such as the rural and urban poor, women, and youth.  
• Support the design, management, and operationalization of the Cool Finance Fund in an advisory capacity, with a focus on results-based financing, revolving funds and other innovative financing instruments for sustainable cooling.
• Advise the Sustainable Cooling programme and relevant multi-stakeholder platforms on capital sources, financial innovation, and market mechanisms to mobilize investment in sustainable cooling globally and nationally. 

Financing Nature for Cooling 

• Lead the development and implementation of financial incentive guidelines and investment frameworks for the Nature for Cooling Challenge (NCC), assisting target countries and developers in creating bankable sustainable cooling projects.
• Advise the Sustainable Cooling programme and relevant multi-stakeholder platforms on capital sources, financial innovation, and market mechanisms to mobilize investment in nature-based solutions for cooling globally and nationally.

Strategic Support and Partnerships

• Collaborate within the SEforALL Energy Transition department to expand organizational engagement in financing energy efficiency and cooling solutions across broader initiatives.
• Provide high-level technical and advisory input to internal and external partners, contributing to knowledge products, strategic proposals, and investment dialogues.

Required:

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in energy, finance, business management, policy, economics, engineering or a related field is required.
• A first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in energy, finance, business management, policy, economics, engineering or a related field with an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the master's degree.

Required

• A minimum of 7 years of direct experience in energy and climate change financing, with a focus on energy efficiency is required.
• Demonstrated experience in enabling investment and business model innovation in sustainable energy technologies is required.
• Demonstrated experience supporting Governments, development agencies, or NGOs in the areas of investment mobilization for sustainable energy technologies is required.

Desired

• Experience or knowledge of sustainable cooling needs and solutions, as well as applicable business and financial models suitable to increase their adoption among people living with low incomes is desirable.
• Experience in designing energy efficiency financing initiatives in the Global South, in support of both public and private sector actors is an asset.
• Experience and familiarity with tools and methods of economic analysis, including deriving the net-present value of investments, internal rates of return, life-cycle costing, and derivation of concessional financing needs at the firm-level, among others is an asset.
• Experience coordinating or working in complex multi-stakeholder projects is considered an asset.

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