Laos Green Finance Analyst

The consultant will serve as the in-country anchor for UNEP’s green and climate finance activities in Lao PDR, providing substantive research and analytical support, government liaison, workshop coordination, and administrative backstopping across the EFPU and UNEP FI workstreams. The consultant will contribute to strengthening the policy and institutional foundations for sustainable public finance and financial sector development in Lao PDR.

Responsibilities

• Enable the development of robust, evidence-based analyses on green budgeting, environmental fiscal reform, and financial sector sustainability through data collection, research, and drafting support.
• Facilitate clear communication and alignment with government counterparts by ensuring accurate translation, localisation, and presentation of technical materials in Lao and English.
• Support the successful design and delivery of capacity-building workshops, ensuring relevance to the Lao context and effective participation of key stakeholders.
• Ensure smooth in-country coordination and continuity of programme activities through proactive liaison, administrative support, and stakeholder management.
• Source, compile, and where necessary translate Lao-language government fiscal documents for use in the SBA and EFR analyses.
• Support the application of the SBA methodology by assisting with data entry, verification, and formatting of budget line-item data for the triple-lens assessment framework.
• Conduct desk-based research on Lao PDR’s fiscal landscape to inform the EFR analysis.
• Assist in drafting Lao-language summaries, data tables, and briefing materials for Ministry of Finance counterparts.
• Support the preparation of policy briefs and workshop materials, ensuring accuracy of Lao-language fiscal terminology and alignment with MoF conventions.
• Contribute to mapping the transition from the 9th to the 10th NSEDP Financing Strategy as it relates to green budgeting and environmental fiscal reform commitments.
• Conduct desktop research and mapping of policy and regulatory developments related to sustainable finance in Lao PDR.
• Organise and conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders to complete the policy mapping.
• Analyse and summarise research findings based on analytical frameworks agreed with UNEP FI team.
• Draft relevant sections of the report based on the policy mapping and analysis.
• Translate relevant documents between Lao and English, including the policy report and climate mitigation journey framework.
• Coordinate logistics and provide substantive support for capacity-strengthening workshops under both EFPU and UNEP FI activities.
• Coordinate event logistics including venue arrangements, catering, participant invitations, communications with MoF, BoL, and other agencies, and scheduling.
• Prepare and translate pre-event and post-event documentation including concept notes, agendas, participant materials, and evaluation forms.
• Localise and adapt workshop materials for the Lao context ensuring cultural appropriateness and accurate terminology.
• Provide interpretation services during workshops or coordinate professional interpreters for simultaneous translation.
• Support UNEP staff with travel arrangements, on-site coordination, and introductory meetings with government counterparts during missions to Vientiane.
• Design and administer post-event evaluations with disaggregated data collection.
• Maintain continuity between international missions and ensure effective coordination with government counterparts and project partners.
• Act as day-to-day liaison between UNEP, government ministries, and other joint programme partners.
• Draft meeting minutes and correspondence; translate and interpret between Lao and English as needed.
• Maintain stakeholder contact lists and ensure timely information flow between UNEP teams, technical experts, and government agencies.
• Learn and apply UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures and Quantum Platform for project administration, financial reporting, and procurement support.
• Support the preparation of Financial Authorisations and procurement processes through the designated procurement agent.
• Contribute to quarterly and annual reporting against joint programme targets.

Requirements

• A master’s degree in environmental or climate science or management, public policy, economics, or finance is required. A bachelor’s degree could be taken in lieu of master’s degree provided the selected candidate has 5 years of relevant experience.
• At least three (3) years working experience in environmental/public policy, project management, and/or sustainable finance is required.
• Experience in conducting policy research, supporting the design of and/or delivering capacity building programme / trainings, and/or engaging with government agencies in Lao PDR, especially Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Bank of Lao PDR and other financial regulators, is highly desirable.
• Experience in project coordination, stakeholder liaison, or logistical support for policy or technical assistance projects, preferably in the field of public finance, environmental policy, or sustainable development is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate collaboration among international experts, government agencies, and project teams is highly desirable.
• Fluency in both English and Lao is required.
• Experience in environmental policy, financial regulations, and sustainable finance policies in Lao PDR, is highly desirable.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English, strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage complex analysis; ability to cope with juggling multiple tasks across diverse projects in an organized and timely manner; attention to detail.
• The consultant should have the ability to establish and maintain good working relations in a multicultural and gender-sensitive environment.

Skills

• Environmental Policy
• Climate Science
• Public Policy
• Economics
• Finance
• Sustainable Finance
• Project Management
• Policy Research
• Capacity Building
• Training Delivery
• Government Liaison
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Project Coordination
• Logistical Support
• Financial Regulations
• Sustainable Development
• Workshop Coordination
• Analytical Support
• Multicultural Relations
• Written Communication

Languages

English, Lao