Result of Service

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop and pilot a practical climate finance integrity assessment methodology that integrates:

corruption risk assessment approaches;
integrity safeguards;
climate finance governance considerations;
UNCAC preventive measures; and
emerging risks associated with carbon markets and nature finance. The methodology will be piloted through an illustrative application in Papua New Guinea and refined into a practical toolkit that can inform future UNODC programming and technical assistance. Under the overall supervision of UNODC Regional Adviser in PNG and in close consultation with relevant stakeholders, the consultant will undertake the following tasks: Task 1. Climate finance integrity landscape review Review relevant international frameworks, methodologies and guidance, including:
UNODC corruption prevention and corruption risk assessment tools;
UNCAC preventive measures (Chapter II);
UNODC and World Bank work on corruption and climate change;
Green Climate Fund fiduciary standards;
Climate Public Expenditure review methodologies;
PEFA and related public financial management frameworks;
relevant climate governance and integrity assessment methodologies. The review should identify:
existing approaches;
strengths and weaknesses;
corruption risk coverage;
applicability to climate finance governance;
applicability to Papua New Guinea. Task 2. Climate finance governance and corruption risk mapping Undertake a mapping of corruption and integrity risks across the climate finance cycle in Papua New Guinea. The assessment should consider risks associated with:
policy and planning;
project selection;
financing and budgeting;
procurement and contracting;
implementation and delivery;
monitoring and reporting;
benefit-sharing arrangements;
forestry and carbon-market initiatives. The consultant will identify principal governance actors, accountability mechanisms and integrity safeguards relevant to each stage of the climate finance cycle. Task 3. Development of a climate finance integrity assessment methodology Develop a practical methodology for assessing corruption risks and integrity safeguards in climate finance governance systems. The methodology should include:
assessment domains;
indicators;
evidence requirements;
scoring methodology;
corruption risk register;
interview guides;
assessment templates; and
reporting formats. The methodology should draw upon relevant UNCAC provisions, particularly those related to preventive anti-corruption measures and transparency. Task 4. Pilot application in Papua New Guinea Undertake an illustrative pilot application of the methodology through:
documentary review;
stakeholder consultations;
preliminary assessment and scoring;
validation of indicators and tools. The consultant is expected to undertake approximately 10-15 stakeholder consultations with relevant government agencies, oversight institutions, civil society organizations, development partners and private sector stakeholders (Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA), Department of Treasury, Department of Finance, Auditor-Genera, Ombudsman Commission, Forestry Authority, development partners, accredited entities, CSOs, relevant private sector participants). Assess whether integrity safeguards adequately support transparency, accountability, inclusion and participation of women, indigenous peoples and affected communities in climate finance decision-making. Task 5. Finalization of the toolkit and recommendations Based on the pilot application, refine the methodology and develop:
implementation guidance;
lessons learned;
recommendations for future application with options for embedding the methodology within national climate finance governance processes, corruption prevention assessments, and future UNODC technical assistance programmes.;
opportunities for adaptation within other Pacific Island Countries.

Work Location

Home based with travel to Papua New Guinea

Expected duration

19/09/2026–14/12/26

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports Member States in preventing and combating corruption through implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Climate finance flows are increasing significantly in support of climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience-building, renewable energy, disaster recovery and nature-based solutions. Recent international discussions have highlighted the potential for corruption risks to undermine climate action through procurement fraud, conflicts of interest, regulatory capture, diversion of resources, weak transparency arrangements and governance challenges associated with carbon markets and climate finance mechanisms. UNODC and the World Bank have identified the need for practical approaches that integrate anti-corruption and integrity safeguards into climate governance systems. Drawing upon the UNODC discussion draft Addressing Corruption Risks to Safeguard the Response to Climate Change (Addressing_Corruption_Risks_to_Safeguard_the_Response_the_Climate_Change_Discussion_Draft_II.pdf), the consultancy will support the development and pilot application of a practical climate finance integrity assessment methodology using Papua New Guinea (PNG) as an illustrative case study. The assignment will contribute to strengthening understanding of corruption risks throughout the climate finance cycle and provide tools that can inform future UNODC technical assistance in the Pacific region. Papua New Guinea is expected to remain a significant recipient of climate-related finance and hosts a growing number of climate mitigation, adaptation, forestry and carbon-market initiatives. Climate finance arrangements involve multiple institutions, funding channels, public procurement processes, community benefit-sharing arrangements and oversight mechanisms. These systems can be vulnerable to corruption and integrity risks at different stages of the climate finance cycle, including project identification, approval, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring, verification and reporting. UNODC's recent work emphasizes the importance of strengthening corruption prevention measures and integrity safeguards within existing climate governance systems. While various climate finance governance, public financial management and fiduciary assessment methodologies exist, there remains a need for an operational methodology that explicitly incorporates corruption risk management, integrity safeguards and relevant UNCAC preventive measures within climate finance systems. The methodology should primarily assess national climate finance governance systems and institutional arrangements rather than individual projects.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, public administration, environmental governance, strategic studies, political science, development studies, or related field is required. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience in governance, accountability, integrity or anti-corruption programming is required.

A minimum of three years of experience with governance diagnostics, assessment methodologies or institutional reviews is required. Experience research, assessments, and development of practical tools or guidance is required. Experience with anti-corruption and integrity frameworks is desirable. Experience in the Pacific region is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Anti-corruption Consultant (International consultant)- climate finance integrity assessment methodology