The (Senior) Urban Advisory Specialist is required to provide technical and investment-oriented project advice to cities and other urban entities, especially in the areas of urban climate-related investment, primarily under the City Climate Finance Gap Fund programme. The post would be based in Luxembourg.
Operating Network:
The (Senior) Urban Advisory Specialist will report to the Head of the Urban Advisory Division and work closely with other professional staff of the Urban and Territorial Development (UTD) Department, as well as other PJ Departments and Bank staff as appropriate, especially those in the Bank’s Lending Directorates.
Projects would generally be in the area of urban climate mitigation and adaptation investment, with an emphasis on the following areas of activity: sustainable urban mobility, multi-sector urban investment programmes, green or positive energy districts, energy efficient buildings, nature based solutions. However, assignments may also arise in other areas such as social and affordable housing, public buildings, urban climate risk management, circular economy, digitalisation.
The (Senior) Sector Urban Advisory Specialist would work across the whole project cycle, with a focus on project planning and preparation, but potentially also in procurement and implementation. Regular travel (generally short trips to project locations or workshops) would be involved.
Accountabilities:
As a (Senior) Urban Advisory Specialist you will:
Contribute to the work of the City Climate Finance Gap Fund Secretariat through preparing, organising and delivering project-related climate advice and capacity building support to cities in low- and middle-income countries outside the EU; advising on the structuring, phasing and scaling up of urban investments; contributing to the delivery of reporting and other Gap Fund KPIs; contributing to conferences and events; liaising closely with colleagues in the EIB-GIZ team.
Contribute to or lead on the identification, formulation and delivery of other urban advisory assignments handled through the Urban Advisory Division, e.g., linked to JASPERS, Invest-EU Advisory Hub, both inside and outside the EU, in particular to ensure projects are prepared in accordance with EU and EIB policies to international standards
Network with international organisations such as the World Bank Cities Climate Gap Fund Secretariat, other Gap Fund partners such as ICLEI, GCOM, C40, and other partners such as the European Commission, UN-Habitat, Union for the Mediterranean, the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance, Eurocities, and other MDBs.
Network closely with EIB loan officers with regard to urban advisory assignments which may link to ongoing or potential EIB lending operations.
Selectively, provide inputs to wider EIB activities in the urban sector, including to project appraisal, sector policy work, or horizontal activities.
Input to sector studies and policy papers, as required.
Qualifications:
Degree (Masters level or above) in Economics, Engineering, Urban Development, Spatial Planning, Public Policy Analysis and Administration, Public Finance, or other discipline relevant to the sector.
At least 5 years of recent and relevant experience in investment-related advisory, preparation, appraisal or financing of urban or regional projects relevant to climate action in cities, such as in sustainable urban mobility, multi-sector urban investment programmes, sustainable urban development, energy efficient buildings, affordable housing, renewable energy, nature based solutions, resilient infrastructure; preferably combining experience in more than one of these areas.
Experience of risk analysis, implementation and monitoring of projects would be advantageous
Experience in working in developing countries would be an asset
Experience of working with innovative public and private sector structures would be an asset
Experience in appraisal of projects involving guarantees, risk sharing, equity, as well as senior debt, and work with intermediated financing through banks or other intermediaries would be advantageous
Experience of working with international financial institutions and familiarity with EU sector policies would be an advantage
Proficiency in standard computer applications, especially spreadsheets and presentation software
Excellent knowledge of English and/or French (*), with a good knowledge of the other.
Knowledge of other EU languages would be an advantage.
