Portfolio Assistant, ESARO (GEF and GCF), Nairobi
Vacancy #: 7722 Unit: Multilateral Finance Unit Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya Reporting to: Portfolio Manager Eastern and Southern Africa - (GEF and GCF) Work percentage: 100% Grade: A3 Expected start date: 01 December 2026 Type of contract: (up to 24 months) Closing date: 05 November 2026
BACKGROUND
THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION
Organization Background
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges.
IUCN's work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world's oldest and largest global environmental international organisation, with more than 1,400 government and NGO Members and some 18,000 volunteer experts in around 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by around 1,100 staff members in more than 50 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.
Unit Background
IUCN Multilateral Finance Unit (MFU) is a global unit within Corporate Services that leads on IUCN's strategic engagement with the Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, and other multilateral funds, and includes the Environmental and Social Management System. MFU's main functions are to engage strategically with the Funds, to advise and guide IUCN regional and thematic experts on pipeline development, to oversee the portfolio, and to monitor and report to the Funds. A core aspect of the work is to ensure compliance with GEF and GCF technical and policy requirements. IUCN is a Partner Agency to the GEF since 2014 and an Accredited Entity to the GCF since 2016, and both portfolios have grown significantly over the last ten years. It is the largest portfolio where IUCN Secretariat plays the role of an implementing agency overseeing execution by governments, IUCN members, NGOs/CSOs and other agencies. The MFU portfolio, including GEF and GCF, now represents over one third of the overall IUCN project portfolio.
In Eastern and Southern Africa, IUCN manages a portfolio of over USD 60 million funded by the GEF and the GCF, including flagship large-scale initiatives on climate change adaptation in Kenya and Rwanda funded by the GCF, and a growing pipeline under GEF-8 and GEF-9 spanning agriculture, forest landscape management, drylands, ecosystems and ecosystem services, and coastal and marine management. The number of projects under implementation and in preparation, and the associated volume of financial reporting, budgeting and audit follow-up across implementing partners, means the region requires dedicated finance and administrative support embedded within the Multilateral Finance Unit's regional presence.
Under the overall guidance of the Portfolio Manager, Eastern and Southern Africa, and working closely with the Portfolio Officer, the MFU Senior Finance Officer, and other MFU colleagues, the Portfolio Assistant will ensure overall support for financial management, administrative tasks, and financial and administrative compliance with GEF/GCF policies and procedures across the ESARO portfolio.
Job Description
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Management and Administration;
Assist the Regional Portfolio Manager, the Portfolio Officer, and the MFU Senior Finance Officer in reviewing financial reports submitted by implementing partners.
Maintain a consolidated calendar of financial reports to be submitted by implementing partners across the ESARO portfolio.
Ensure timely recording of implementing partners' expenditures in the IUCN financial system.
Support periodic review of GEF/GCF projects and the portfolio's financial performance.
Support the MFU Senior Finance Officer in the reconciliation of ESARO GEF/GCF projects in the
I
UCN financial system and facilitate preparation of project financial closure;
Provide the Portfolio Manager and Portfolio Officer with financial information and analysis to support overall management of the ESARO GEF/GCF portfolio, as required.
Project Preparation Activities and Budgeting;
Assist the Regional Portfolio Manager, Portfolio Officer, and MFU Senior Finance Officer in the preparation of GEF/GCF project budgets.
Ensure budgets are aligned with IUCN and GEF/GCF guidelines and policies.
Facilitate planning and procurement for project preparation activities.
Ensure accurate recording of expenditures under GEF Project Preparation Grants (PPG) and the GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF).
Provide guidance on the use of budgeting tools, such as the budget review tool and the finance checklist for donor contracts, and review completed checklists.
Audits;
Maintain a consolidated calendar of audit reports required from implementing partners and to be submitted to donors.
Ensure timely submission of project financial audit reports by implementing partners.
Support and coordinate with project staff to facilitate the preparation and submission of GCF project audit reports, given the region's active GCF portfolio (Kenya and Rwanda flagship projects).
Assist the Regional Portfolio Manager and the MFU Senior Finance Officer in reviewing audit reports submitted by implementing partners and highlighting issues of concern.
Year-End Closing;
Assist the MFU Senior Finance Officer on outputs pertaining to year-end closing, especially those relating to implementing partner accruals for GEF/GCF projects.
Other Administrative Tasks as Requested;
Perform any other administrative or financial tasks assigned by the line manager, as required by programme/project needs.
Requirements
Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English. French or Portuguese is an asset given the region's linguistic diversity (including Mozambique, Angola, and Francophone countries in the Great Lakes area).
At least 7 years of full-time professional experience in Finance, Accounting, or Project Finance Management.
Experience supporting the financial management of a portfolio with donors and a large number of projects in an international, multicultural context.
Proficiency with accounting software is essential; familiarity with ERP/SAP systems is strongly preferred.
Proficiency in Word, Excel, and online collaboration tools (OneDrive, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams); familiarity with institutional project portals is an asset.
Comfort using digital finance and reporting tools, and willingness to use available AI-enabled tools (for example, to speed up data reconciliation checks, first drafts of routine correspondence, or report formatting) to increase efficiency, while checking outputs carefully and flagging any discrepancies rather than accepting automated results at face value.
Knowledge of and experience working with IUCN and partners, or similar international organizations, is required.
Knowledge of the Adaptation Fund, GEF and GCF is an asset.
Core Competencies;
Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provides a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
www.iucn.org
https://twitter.com/IUCN
BACKGROUND
THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION
Organization Background
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges.
IUCN's work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world's oldest and largest global environmental international organisation, with more than 1,400 government and NGO Members and some 18,000 volunteer experts in around 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by around 1,100 staff members in more than 50 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.
Unit Background
IUCN Multilateral Finance Unit (MFU) is a global unit within Corporate Services that leads on IUCN's strategic engagement with the Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, and other multilateral funds, and includes the Environmental and Social Management System. MFU's main functions are to engage strategically with the Funds, to advise and guide IUCN regional and thematic experts on pipeline development, to oversee the portfolio, and to monitor and report to the Funds. A core aspect of the work is to ensure compliance with GEF and GCF technical and policy requirements. IUCN is a Partner Agency to the GEF since 2014 and an Accredited Entity to the GCF since 2016, and both portfolios have grown significantly over the last ten years. It is the largest portfolio where IUCN Secretariat plays the role of an implementing agency overseeing execution by governments, IUCN members, NGOs/CSOs and other agencies. The MFU portfolio, including GEF and GCF, now represents over one third of the overall IUCN project portfolio.
In Eastern and Southern Africa, IUCN manages a portfolio of over USD 60 million funded by the GEF and the GCF, including flagship large-scale initiatives on climate change adaptation in Kenya and Rwanda funded by the GCF, and a growing pipeline under GEF-8 and GEF-9 spanning agriculture, forest landscape management, drylands, ecosystems and ecosystem services, and coastal and marine management. The number of projects under implementation and in preparation, and the associated volume of financial reporting, budgeting and audit follow-up across implementing partners, means the region requires dedicated finance and administrative support embedded within the Multilateral Finance Unit's regional presence.
Under the overall guidance of the Portfolio Manager, Eastern and Southern Africa, and working closely with the Portfolio Officer, the MFU Senior Finance Officer, and other MFU colleagues, the Portfolio Assistant will ensure overall support for financial management, administrative tasks, and financial and administrative compliance with GEF/GCF policies and procedures across the ESARO portfolio.
Job Description
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Management and Administration;
Assist the Regional Portfolio Manager, the Portfolio Officer, and the MFU Senior Finance Officer in reviewing financial reports submitted by implementing partners.
Maintain a consolidated calendar of financial reports to be submitted by implementing partners across the ESARO portfolio.
Ensure timely recording of implementing partners' expenditures in the IUCN financial system.
Support periodic review of GEF/GCF projects and the portfolio's financial performance.
Support the MFU Senior Finance Officer in the reconciliation of ESARO GEF/GCF projects in the
I
UCN financial system and facilitate preparation of project financial closure;
Provide the Portfolio Manager and Portfolio Officer with financial information and analysis to support overall management of the ESARO GEF/GCF portfolio, as required.
Project Preparation Activities and Budgeting;
Assist the Regional Portfolio Manager, Portfolio Officer, and MFU Senior Finance Officer in the preparation of GEF/GCF project budgets.
Ensure budgets are aligned with IUCN and GEF/GCF guidelines and policies.
Facilitate planning and procurement for project preparation activities.
Ensure accurate recording of expenditures under GEF Project Preparation Grants (PPG) and the GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF).
Provide guidance on the use of budgeting tools, such as the budget review tool and the finance checklist for donor contracts, and review completed checklists.
Audits;
Maintain a consolidated calendar of audit reports required from implementing partners and to be submitted to donors.
Ensure timely submission of project financial audit reports by implementing partners.
Support and coordinate with project staff to facilitate the preparation and submission of GCF project audit reports, given the region's active GCF portfolio (Kenya and Rwanda flagship projects).
Assist the Regional Portfolio Manager and the MFU Senior Finance Officer in reviewing audit reports submitted by implementing partners and highlighting issues of concern.
Year-End Closing;
Assist the MFU Senior Finance Officer on outputs pertaining to year-end closing, especially those relating to implementing partner accruals for GEF/GCF projects.
Other Administrative Tasks as Requested;
Perform any other administrative or financial tasks assigned by the line manager, as required by programme/project needs.
Requirements
- REQUIREMENTS:
Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English. French or Portuguese is an asset given the region's linguistic diversity (including Mozambique, Angola, and Francophone countries in the Great Lakes area).
At least 7 years of full-time professional experience in Finance, Accounting, or Project Finance Management.
Experience supporting the financial management of a portfolio with donors and a large number of projects in an international, multicultural context.
Proficiency with accounting software is essential; familiarity with ERP/SAP systems is strongly preferred.
Proficiency in Word, Excel, and online collaboration tools (OneDrive, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams); familiarity with institutional project portals is an asset.
Comfort using digital finance and reporting tools, and willingness to use available AI-enabled tools (for example, to speed up data reconciliation checks, first drafts of routine correspondence, or report formatting) to increase efficiency, while checking outputs carefully and flagging any discrepancies rather than accepting automated results at face value.
Knowledge of and experience working with IUCN and partners, or similar international organizations, is required.
Knowledge of the Adaptation Fund, GEF and GCF is an asset.
Core Competencies;
Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provides a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
www.iucn.org
https://twitter.com/IUCN