Energy Finance Specialist

About the role

The UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition is seeking an Energy Finance Specialist to support the implementation of the "Energy for Growth in Africa" program in Ethiopia. The specialist will work in close coordination with the UNDP Country Office in Ethiopia and under the technical guidance of the Rome Centre team, identifying and supporting energy initiatives that unlock financing and advance Ethiopia's sustainable energy transition under SDG 7. The post is based in Addis Ababa, with a reporting line to the Rome Centre team lead and a secondary line to the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme).

Key responsibilities

• Ensure project identification follows the Energy for Growth in Africa origination framework and aligns with Ethiopia's national energy priorities, including the National Energy Compact.
• Map stakeholders and engage government entities, private investors, development institutions and financial actors to promote partnerships and co-investment.
• Coordinate with financial institutions and investors on risk mitigation tools and on carbon credit opportunities under voluntary or compliance markets (e.g. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement).
• Support project developers with feasibility studies, business models, power purchase agreements and environmental and social safeguards.
• Advise on structuring project financing from public and private climate finance sources (multilateral development banks, vertical climate funds, bilateral funds) and support funding applications.
• Share lessons learned with other participating countries and prepare quarterly progress reports, monitoring tools and regular updates to partners.

Required profile

• Master's degree in Renewable Energy, Climate Change, International Development, Finance, Energy Policy, Engineering or a closely related field, or a bachelor's degree plus two years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience with a master's, or 7 years with a bachelor's, in clean energy projects in Africa, including policy advisory, programme implementation, finance and technical support.
• Openness to apply under the tiered process described in the vacancy title.

Required skills

• Expertise in energy finance: investment planning, blended finance mechanisms and project bankability assessments.
• Technical and financial analysis of renewable energy, energy efficiency, distributed generation, productive uses of energy and clean cooking technologies.
• Knowledge of PPPs, concessional finance and risk mitigation instruments, and experience with MDBs and vertical climate funds.
• Desired: financial modelling, investment plan development, energy market and regulatory knowledge in Ethiopia, and experience in the UN system or international organizations.