Public Finance Consultant Specialist

About the role

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is seeking a Consultant Specialist in Public Finance to support Panama’s climate‑change adaptation budgeting. The consultant will work with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Finance to develop national adaptation public expenditure estimates and a Climate Change Adaptation Budget Coding Protocol.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare an inception report outlining methodology, workplan, stakeholder engagement and data collection strategy for the Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Review (CPEIR).
• Conduct a comprehensive CPEIR, including expenditure analysis, institutional assessment and the design of a climate‑adaptation budget coding protocol.
• Produce a diagnostic report and a budget coding protocol with an accompanying action plan.
• Develop training materials, deliver workshops and document capacity‑building activities to operationalise the CPEIR.
• Organise and lead a validation workshop, compile stakeholder feedback and propose coordination mechanisms for climate‑finance governance.
• Deliver a final consolidated report and policy brief with strategic recommendations for mainstreaming adaptation into national budgets.
• Interview key officials from the Ministry of Finance and perform desk reviews of existing budget coding systems.

Required profile

• Proven experience in public finance, preferably within government or international development contexts.
• Familiarity with climate‑change adaptation budgeting and public expenditure reviews.
• Ability to engage with senior ministry officials and coordinate multi‑stakeholder processes.

Required skills

• Budget coding and public accounting analysis.
• Report writing and presentation development.
• Facilitation of training workshops and stakeholder validation sessions.