UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field- based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

As a Global Environment Facility (GEF) Implementing Agency and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accredited Entity (together, GEF and GCF are considered ‘vertical funds’), UNDP also supports countries in addressing development, climate, and ecosystem sustainability in an integrated manner. The UNDP Nature, Climate and Energy Unit is based in BPPS and is responsible for providing leadership and technical support for, among other areas, delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local governance of resources, including energy.

UNDP country programme for Uganda (2021 -2025) will contribute to three interlinked and mutually reinforcing development results: transformational and inclusive governance; inclusive and sustainable growth; and sustainable management of natural resources and resilient development. To promote access to affordable renewable energy options in underserved rural and urban communities, UNDP will support innovative off-grid clean energy technologies for cooking and lighting to benefit small businesses, women and youth entrepreneurs, and service delivery in the education and health sectors.

Emphasis will be on supporting innovative and inclusive financing such as financial aggregation and the use of digital technology for small low-carbon energy technologies; de-risking private-sector investment in decentralized energy and waste management solutions; and piloting technologies and business models. UNDP will build on its Climate Promise to support the climate aggregation platform, the Pay-Go solar initiative, and implementation of the nationally determined contribution. Multi-stakeholder platforms will scale up energy solutions.

The Climate Aggregation Platform (CAP) is a Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) Unit GEF-funded project which, in partnership with the Climate Bonds Initiative, seeks to promote the scale-up of financial aggregation for small-scale, low-carbon energy assets in developing countries. The project aims to advance and raise awareness for innovative solutions to market barriers for financial aggregation. In so doing, the project can contribute to improving the lives of citizens in developing countries, bringing about affordable, reliable and clean energy.

The CAP’s activities and value proposition will be formulated in terms of a global offer and an in-country offer:
• Global offer: global awareness raising, knowledge management products and global network;
• In-country offer: an initial two to three in-country or regional initiatives (initial initiatives identified in Rwanda and Uganda), each centered around (i) a showcase transaction, likely in partnership with a development bank and/or the private sector, and (ii) tailored market development activities from a menu of services, such as market assessments, standardization efforts and addressing tax/regulatory barriers.

CAP’s primary focus is on advancing solutions to market barriers, and subsequentially raising awareness around those solutions. The project seeks to support innovative solutions. Innovative solutions can be understood as new, first-of-a- kind solutions in a particular market. Where possible, the CAP will prioritize innovative solutions which promise high impact, transform and/or disrupt established approaches.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has provided initial seed-funding to establish the CAP in the form of an initial grant. UNDP is the project implementing entity and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), as a Responsible Party to UNDP, will implement specific pre-identified activities.

The CAP National Coordinator (NC) will be based in Kampala, Uganda and will support the UNDP Country Office in Uganda and the global CAP Project Team in the successful execution of the CAP project’s in-country activities in Uganda and other regional activities. The NC will also contribute to the implementation of the project’s global offer.

The NC will provide both administrative and technical input for the implementation of CAP in Uganda and will contribute to the CAP global activities. Administratively, the NC will support the day-to-day running of the project’s in-country/in-region activities, while technically, the NC will draw on his/her financial expertise to guide the project’s direction and activities.

As a primary objective, the NC will assist in identifying and bringing together relevant stakeholders (e.g. energy companies, investors, DFIs, government, development partners, etc.) in order to source, assess and support showcase CAP financial aggregation transactions. The NC will work closely with the CAP Project Coordinator to first define the CAP’s assistance to these transactions (e.g. providing technical assistance related to SPV structuring, regulatory matters, etc.) and thereafter organize and support the delivery such assistance.

The NC will lead the development of a detailed market assessment providing an in-depth analysis and vision for financial aggregation for Uganda. The NC will also contribute to the production of other knowledge products, including national action plans, case studies, blog posts.