Coal Transition Finance Consultant - Remote EU

at  European Climate Foundation

ABOUT THE POOLED FUND ON INTERNATIONAL ENERGY

The Pooled fund on International Energy (PIE) is an international grant making and strategy platform with a mission to secure a safe climate, clean air and prosperity through encouraging a just transition in the power and steel sectors.
We work with charitable foundations and regional climate foundations to support a diverse set of research institutions, think tanks and civil society organisations working with governments, business and other parts of society all over the world. We aim to back local organisations and international partners to overcome the barriers to clean energy and steel.
PIE was formed in 2013 and is hosted at the European Climate Foundation (ECF). PIE is comprised of a small and dedicated international team of exceptional people based around the world. More information available at: www.pieclimate.org

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the finance, energy or government sectors, or working with organisations focused on bringing about change in these sectors.
• Either existing knowledge of, or a demonstrable ability apply similar expertise to understanding:
  oThe coal transition finance landscape including its intersection with policy and regulation, diplomatic/multilateral processes, public and private finance.
  oThe dynamics between coal asset owners, governments, investors and public finance institutions, and how they can be motivated to transition to clean energy.
  oThe existing ecosystem of initiatives seeking to accelerate the managed phase out of coal, such as the Coal Transition Accelerator, ADB Energy Transition Mechanism, Energy Transition Accelerator, Coal to Clean Credit Initiative, WEF Coal to Renewables Initiative, to name a few.

oDevelopment cooperation issues and development finance challenges, in particular related to coal transition.

• Strong organisational and project management skills, including setting impactful SMART objectives and clear timelines, monitoring and evaluating progress, and timely reporting.
• Excellence in networking and maintaining trusting professional relationships across different sectors and diverse partners, including many working in different cultural contexts.
• Excellent written and verbal communications, with the ability to crystallise complex issues into effective outputs.
• A demonstrable ability to self-manage and self-organise, establishing your own workspace and schedule.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

This contract will grow PIE’s capacity to build and deliver impactful strategies leveraging public and private finance to accelerate the retirement of coal-fired power stations (CFPPs).
While the economics of power generation continue to shift in favour of clean energy, significant barriers remain to transitioning the existing coal fleet. There is a growing ecosystem of thought leadership, initiatives and activities seeking to overcome these barriers, address moral hazard and demonstrate best practice. This includes leveraging innovative financial mechanisms to facilitate early asset retirement in line with the principles of a Just Transition.
PIE currently incubates two such initiatives, the Coal Asset Transition Accelerator (https://coaltransition.org) and Clean Energy Bridge (https://www.cleanenergybridge.org). We actively partner with governments, asset owners, financial institutions, philanthropies and civil society in overcoming this challenge.
This contract will lead PIE’s activities on this crucial issue. Including refining our strategic approach, managing existing initiatives, identifying opportunities to grow a complementary programme of philanthropic grants, and becoming a trusted expert and strategic partner across the spectrum of stakeholders above. They will work closely with PIE’s Head of Energy Finance, Executive Director and the rest of the PIE team.
The successful consultant will require expertise in either coal transition finance or energy finance and care passionately about accelerating a just and equitable transition to renewable energy. They will understand the intersection between energy finance and policy at the national and international levels. They will highly value the power of collaboration – across civil society, the financial sector, businesses, governments and more – to drive change. They will also have excellent programme management and communication abilities.

SCOPE OF WORK & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide subject matter expertise and maintain a deep understanding of the coal transition finance landscape, including an up-to-date awareness of the technical, economic, political and social variables that will either unlock or prevent the early retirement of coal and shift to renewable energy, particularly in developing countries.
• Further develop, and implement, a coal transition finance strategy - a key component of PIE’s wider energy finance strategy - working closely with the Head of Energy Finance and Executive Director. Operationalise the strategy, related priorities and budgets; developing and executing a monitoring and evaluating process and impact of initiatives and grants; and acting as a liaison to report regular progress to funders and the PIE team.
• Co-ordinate the development and grant management requirements of the Coal Asset Transition Accelerator, an initiative which aims to support the rapid retirement of coal-fired power plants underscored by the principles of a Just Transition.
• Co-ordinate the development and grant management requirements of Clean Energy Bridge, an initiative which leverages technical and financial sector expertise to facilitate transactions to repurpose coal-fired power plants to clean energy.
• Proactively identify opportunities to build a complementary portfolio of grants to support the development of coal transition finance best practice and accelerate the early retirement of coal-fired power plants, including validating and refining proposals from potential partners, ensuring grant reporting is timely and accurate and drafting recommendations for the consideration of the team and funders.
• Proactively engage, build and maintain strong relationships with external actors to inform strategy and activities and improve effectiveness, covering relevant initiatives, diplomatic platforms, officials, influential figures, grantees and other partners.
• Work closely with partners and identify any convening and co-ordination needs to foster collaboration and a creative shared approach to problem-solving.
• Support the development of revenues, by providing reports, helping to write proposals/presentations and/or meeting with funders e.g. attending funder convenings and participating in Steering Committees as required.