Climate Bonds Initiative Looking For Subnational Climate Finance Specialist (India specific) – Consultant at Mumbai, Maharashtra, Full Time

The Consultant is expected to commence work in mid-December for a three-month period

Background

Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) is an NGO and global leader in green and climate finance. For over ten years, CBI has worked with government and private industry to grow the green bond market. Its efforts in providing standards, market intelligence, policy advice, and capacity building and training have been instrumental to the growth of sustainable finance. The organization collaborates closely with a diverse network of governments, regulatory bodies, development institutions, financial market players, and civil society groups.

Recognising the importance of crowding in all public sector and private sector leveraging on debt market to fund/finance their sustainability agenda. This is priority that CBI pushing in key markets, India being one of them. Thus far we have supported municipalities that are ready to fund raise, to do so successfully and issue certified bonds.

As part of its awareness and capacity building campaign to build this pipeline of issuers, CBI will be designing and leading a two-day in-person workshop on subnational climate finance in India (New Delhi or Mumbai, tbd) for up to five municipalities as an initial phase of engagement.

Purpose and Objectives

The consultant is to bring localised experience, expertise and knowledge of the municipalities in India. Knowledge and understanding of the municipality landscape for example progress in embracing and prioritising climate, regulatory frameworks etc that would support the content creation of awareness programs. In addition, a strong network of key stakeholders with municipalities would be critical.

Scope of Services and Deliverables/Outputs

Working in coordination and collaboration with CBI, the consultant will be responsible for:

• Adapt CBI’s existing 2-day workshop design on subnational climate finance to the Indian context. This includes supporting CBI in identifying appropriate panellists and speakers, as needed, from the region, eg investors, loan providers, rating agencies, verifiers, etc. This would include reviewing and suggesting additions as needed to CBI’s existing 2-day workshop design, this includes review of agenda content, timing, and exercises, etc
• Lead in identifying municipal government participants, targeting municipalities with interest and capability in bond issuance, ensuring a workshop roster of motivated and financially poised participants that ideally would issue green bonds in the next 18 months. Invitations should be extended to city officials from the finance, engineering, and resilience divisions
• Support in the overall workshop content, working in partnership with CBI and contributors, to ensure content is comprehensive and participants gain actionable knowledge
• Co-lead 2-day workshop with CBI staff, currently planned for the week of March 4, 2024

Timeframe and Milestones for expected Deliverables/outputs

Expected Outputs:

Adapt CBI’s existing 2-day subnational climate finance workshop for the Indian market, including panelist selection and agenda edit/review.

Required Completion Date: 11th Jan 2024

Expected Outputs:

Lead the identification and invitation of municipalities, including city officials from finance, engineering, and resilience sectors.

Required Completion Date: 24 Jan 2024

Expected Outputs: Manage and finalize the workshop content in collaboration with CBI and contributors

Required Completion Date: 15 Feb 2024

Expected Outputs: Co-lead the workshop with CBI staff.

Required Completion Date: 4 Mar 2024 (week of)

Selection Criteria

The successful consultant should have significant experience in Indian subnational finance, including experience with issuing public debt at the local government level.

The consultant should be an established and recognized leader in Indian public finance, with more than 15 years of experience and a developed network within the sector that can be accessed to support the project, e.g. through obtaining workshop panelists and guest speakers.

Fees

Not to exceed: 750 GBP per day or 6,000 GBP total (based on 8 days)

Application process

Consultants should prepare and submit

• A technical approach and resources that will be applied to the deliverables, with a high level timeline, CVs of technical experience and your communication plan with Climate Bonds
• Consultants should provide a daily rate inclusive of all costs for the outputs/deliverables proposed. Please note that the maximum number days for this assignment XX days

Please submit your technical and financial proposals, by Monday 4th December at: programmes@climatebonds.net

Shortlisting and identification of the consultants will take place shortly after and the Consultant will be in place by the 10th December 2023.