Tasks:

• Assessment of Current Financial Situation: analyzing current funding sources, expenditures and financial management practices of the NMHS. Assess the effectiveness of existing resource mobilisation mechanisms
• Identification of Funding & Sustainability Gaps: identify any shortfalls in finance and non-finance factors, needed to maintain and improve NMHS, including infrastructure, equipment, personnel, services.
• Develop list of all equipment/ products/ services developed/supplied under the programme and maintenance requirements (financial and non-financial) • Complement the National Financing Policy.
• Development of funding mechanisms: Explore various options for sustainable funding such as: o Government Budget Allocations o User Fees: implementing cost recovery for specific services used by commercial entities or other stakeholders o Public-Private partnerships: using the lessons and recommendations from the Climate Services Market Assessment o Climate Finance: accessing funds from regional and international climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives o Innovative Financing: investigating options like green bonds, carbon finance and other emerging financial instruments.
• Cost Effectiveness Analysis: assess cost effectiveness of existing and proposed meteorological services and identify opportunities for efficiency gains
• Risk Assessment: identify potential financial risks such as changes in government priorities or development partners funding patterns; and developing mitigation strategies
• Sustainability Framework: develop a framework to ensure long term sustainability of meteorological services, including mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation and adaptive management • Capacity Building: identify any capacity gaps within the NMHS that is required to support sustainability of the equipment, products and services (financial and non-financial) and develop a practical action plan to address them
• Reporting and Monitoring: establish clear reporting and monitoring mechanisms to track the implementation of the plan and its impacts on the sustainability of the NMHS.
• Output 4: Recommendations Report and Final Presentation Tasks:  Compile recommendations from the assignment and present final Financing Policy and Sustainability Plan to the PSC

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree in financing, public policy, climate information services, economics or a similar related field is required.
•  A first level degree with an additional two year of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated experience in developing institutional or national financing policies or sustainability plans or cost recovery plans in climate related or Early Warning System areas is desirable. Demonstrated knowledge of climate information services or multi hazard early warning systems.
• Experience in working and collaborating with governments, development partners and NMHS in the Pacific region is desirable. Previous work experience undertaking similar activities in the Pacific region is highly desirable.