Innovation Analyst – Work from home

• Country: Costa Rica
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: UNDP
• Gender: Both 
• Deadline:  2024-01-13

Project Description

UNDP launched the Biodiversity Finance (BIOFIN) initiative in October 2012 as a new global alliance that seeks to address the challenge of biodiversity financing in a comprehensive way, building a strong business case for E% it has been developed in 41 countries of the world, including Costa Rica.

The project in Costa Rica is led by a Steering Committee made up of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), and the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN), and has technical support from UNDP. The initiative is implemented in two stages as described below:

The first phase consisted of applying a methodology to quantify the biodiversity deficit, understood as the gap between the resources that the country currently invests in the management of its biodiversity and the resources required to be able to successfully implement the ENB. Work was carried out on: 1) Analysis of the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services into sectoral development, planning and national budget policies; 2) Assessment of financing and governance needs for the management and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Costa Rica; 3)Identification, evaluation and prioritization of the different sources of funds to meet the financing needs of Costa Rica’s biodiversity; 4) Development of preparatory activities for the application of the resource mobilization strategy at the national level.

The second phase of the initiative consists of implementing a resource mobilization plan to reduce this deficit through innovative financial solutions. Its main objective is to support the implementation process of the resource mobilization initiatives (financial solutions) prioritized during phase I, which are indicated below:

I. Green Bond for investment in Protected Wild Areas (ASP): seeks to strengthen the sustainable finance framework, in particular by addressing a large and recurring financing gap regarding the need for investment and maintenance of infrastructure for Protected Wild Areas (ASP) . The financial mechanism will be consolidated through the securitization of future flows of entries to the ASPs and will be managed and implemented in the form of a Trust of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), and subsequent issuance of a green or sustainable bond for investment after the respective authorizations with the competent entities (Ministry of Finance, CGR, SUGEVAL). With this, the aim is to diversify and improve tourism services, which in turn will allow a greater possibility of expanding concessions of Non-Essential Services and Activities (SANE) and will improve the income and financial sustainability of SINAC, as well as improve the conditions of work of park rangers, particularly women park rangers, and other personnel who are on the front line in the management and protection of biodiversity. 

II. Concessions Platform for Non-Essential Services and Activities (SANE): aims to establish a system of concessions for Non-Essential Services and Activities (SANE) in Protected Wild Areas (ASP) and in tourist landscapes (biological corridors, ASP buffer areas ) as a complementary mechanism to public management and strengthening of protected areas, based on the establishment of public-private associations (PPP). The identification of the SANE, of potential local bidders, feasibility analysis, public bidding and granting of said concession contracts granted by SINAC, allows increasing financing both for SINAC (through the fee agreed in the contracts) and for the communities. to achieve more inclusive and equitable development in the areas surrounding the ASPs. Additionally, SANE concessions can increase employment, reduce wildlife poaching, and prevent the depletion of cultural and natural capital.

III. Public-Private Partnerships for Biodiversity and Livelihoods (Huella del Futuro): seeks to bring together partners from various fields with a view to rebuilding a greener, more supportive, inclusive and sustainable future in Costa Rica. Under this initiative, the Costa Rica team, together with the Vice Presidency of the Republic, MINAE, FONAFIFO, FUNBAM and other partners, launched the national crowdfunding campaign “Huella de Futuro” with the objective of providing economic relief while contributing to the restoration of the ecosystem, creating jobs, especially for women, for breeding, planting at least 200,000 trees and providing maintenance for at least 5 years.

IV. New generation of Payment for Environmental Services: Costa Rica has been a pioneer in the development of a successful Payment for Environmental Services scheme, currently linked to revenues from the tax on fossil fuels and which has been active for decades. This financial solution seeks to propose and implement the new generation of Payment for Ecosystem Services, which allows strengthening financial sustainability in a decarbonization scenario and also expanding the scope of the current payment scheme. Thus, the New Generation of PES has the ambition to transcend the strictly forestry approach that currently prevails, towards an ecosystem services approach and not depend on funds directly linked to the generation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

V. Seed Capital and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Tourism: Sustainable tourism represents a clear alternative to promote livelihoods that guarantee the conservation of biodiversity. Therefore, this BIOFIN financial solution focuses on the development of financial mechanisms to increase employment, promote resilience during the COVID19 pandemic, reduce wildlife poaching, prevent the loss of cultural and natural capital and achieve sustainable development. more inclusive and equitable for communities, especially for women and indigenous peoples through sustainable tourism in rural communities. Under this financial solution, BIOFIN co-created the Raíces Program in 2022, the first incubation program for tourism in indigenous territories.

SAW. Biobusiness Financing Platform: The Biobusiness Financing Platform develops a portfolio of projects with an emphasis on bioeconomy for the mobilization of impact investment funds and financing through preferential green credits, seed capital and risk. Through the creation of five innovative financial mechanisms, the biobusiness platform seeks to mobilize funds to address the biodiversity investment gap through private productive projects.

VII. +Mujeres, +Natura Program: formulated by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is the umbrella financial strategy for gender equality and empowerment of women in management, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; It is unprecedented in Costa Rica, unique in the region, and is proposed as a multidimensional and multisectoral economic recovery response. In turn, this program integrates the intersectional gender perspective into all financial solutions developed by BIOFIN Costa Rica.

The transition to a nature-positive economy requires a new way of working, therefore governments must implement ambitious policies that reflect a vision of the sustainable economy to which we aspire. The dependence of our economies and businesses on nature is clear and BIOFIN is using its unique, tried and tested methodology to identify these and other financial solutions that can help protect the future of the planet and our economies.

Scope of work

This call aims to hire a professional in Innovation Management to support the implementation of BIOFIN-UNDP, in particular the advice, advocacy and creation of financial solutions linked to: biobusiness, bioeconomy, sustainable tourism, public-private alliances and service concessions. and non-essential activities, as well as supporting knowledge management, communication, monitoring, strategic alliances and execution of BIOFIN UNDP.

The selected individual is expected to have superior experience and provide substantial technical knowledge to ensure horizontal integration and coherence of studies/work streams as well as quality assurance of national products and processes for the duration of the national project. He will also be specifically responsible for supervising programs co-designed with actors from the innovation ecosystem (Raíces Incubation Program, aimed at indigenous tourism initiatives), leading co-design processes of new programs for different phases of maturity (incubation, acceleration, strengthening, consolidation, expansion) and portfolio formation, including from the early phases of entrepreneurship to preparation for access to risk capital. Additionally, it will support outreach activities at the national level (Government, academia, etc.) and relevant international stakeholders, and the preparation of press releases and briefing notes for the government, UNDP, global BIOFIN project, donors, etc.

Activities 

The selected person must develop the following activities without being limited only to them. 

BIOFIN-UNDP general advice and support

1. Support the BIOFIN Costa Rica Coordination for the execution of the project strategy, updating of technical sheets of the financial solutions, work plan, writing of reports, presentations and other inputs in Spanish and English languages, required by UNDP Costa Rica , the Steering Committee or the global BIOFIN team. 

2. Advise and support the BIOFIN Coordination on the topic of positive nature innovation following design thinking methodology, especially with regard to the co-design, implementation and monitoring of resource placement programs of the Development Banking System (SBD). , in support of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Strategy of said strategic partner.

3. Accompany the process of creating new scholarship programs and specific training programs aimed at bioeconomy enterprises and SMEs, including business models of the rural bioeconomy (organic agriculture, tourism, sustainable fishing) biotechnological base (bioprospecting, biorefinery) and aimed at potential providers of concessions for non-essential services and activities (SANE) in Protected Wild Areas. The above in coordination with partners from INA, MTSS, SINAC, ICT, MICITT, MAG, CINDE, among others.

4. Support the BIOFIN-UNDP advocacy process with partners from the innovation ecosystem, for the inclusion of positive nature criteria in processes of generating new business models, including partners from academia, the business sector and government counterparts.

5. Preparation and review of communication material, training programs, working documents and publications produced by the BIOFIN Project from its area of ​​​​specialty, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and with a gender and human rights focus promoted by the United Nations Organization and the signatory countries.

6. Preparation and review of terms of reference, technical supervision of the work of experts, and assigned counterparts to ensure that products are delivered on time, within budget and with high quality standards.

7. Accompany resource mobilization processes, review of the different mechanisms designed by BIOFIN Costa Rica, in close coordination with the BIOFIN-UNDP technical team, also supporting other activities as requested by the Project Coordination and the UNDP country office. in Costa Rica.

As part of the UNDP, the person hired must promote, in the development of their tasks and responsibilities, the promotion of Human Rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as well as the pursuit of compliance with the Development Goals. Sustainable and the 2030 Agenda.

The incumbent performs other functions within his/her functional profile that are considered necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Agreement 

The selected person will work full time under the supervision of the BIOFIN Project Coordination – UNDP. The evaluation of the performance of the person who assumes this position will be carried out based on all the activities and competencies described in these TORs, with full compliance with the functions and competencies being essential to obtain a satisfactory performance evaluation.

Skills

Essentials

People Management

Transversal and Technical Competencies 

NPSA Successful Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Academic Requirements

• Advanced university studies (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Innovation, Innovation Project Development, Innovation Management and Policy, Strategy and Competitiveness or other related areas is required; either 

• University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Innovation, Innovation Project Development, Innovation Management and Policy, Strategy and Competitiveness or other related areas; in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience, will be favorably considered in lieu of Master’s Degree.

Minimum Years of Relevant Experience

• Up to 2 years (with a Master’s Degree) or at least 2 years (with a University Baccalaureate) of experience in management activities and innovation processes, in support of entrepreneurship in Costa Rica and related activities.

• Mastery of computer packages, such as MS Office, Outlook, among others.

Required skills 

• Highly motivated; able to work towards objectives, with a lot of initiative 

• Has experiences that demonstrate adaptation and sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality and age aspects. 

• Self-motivation and ability to work under pressure.

• Be proactive.

• Demonstrates ability to multitask effectively. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrates ethics and integrity.

• Ability to exercise tact and discretion in relationships with different partners and actors.

• Immediate availability

• Flexible and willing to travel outside the Metropolitan Area when necessary.

•            Resident in Costa Rica

Desired Skills additional to the competencies mentioned in the Competencies section

• More than 2 years of experience in management activities and innovation processes is desirable, in support of entrepreneurship and related activities.

• Previous experience in the execution or participation in fund placement programs of the Development Banking System (SBD) is desirable.

• Knowledge of innovation methodologies is desirable: Design Thinking, Agile, UX. 

• Knowledge of sustainable development, sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity, ABS, climate change and similar is desirable.

• Desirable knowledge of Human Rights, gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. 

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in Spanish and working knowledge of English.

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