Project Development Specialist II

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. THE OPPORTUNITY

The CCCCC is seeking applications for the position of Project Development Specialist II:

2. ABOUT CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE

Officially opened in August 2005, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) is mandated by the CARICOM Heads of Governments to lead the region's response to managing and adapting to the impacts associated with anthropogenic-driven climate change in addition to serving as the main repository for regional and national information on climate change.  The CCCCC was established by an Inter-Governmental agreement among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and is driven by the philosophy established and nurtured by foundation-setting activities such as that of the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) project, Adapting to Climate Change in the Caribbean (ACCC) project, and Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) project. The CCCCC manages its portfolio of responsibilities through its network of national, regional, and international collaborating agencies and institutions. 

The CCCCC is accredited to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as a Regional Accredited Entity that allows it to access and manage, on behalf of CARICOM Member States, projects up to USD 50 million per project and support larger-scale interventions under GCFs updated accreditation framework. The CCCCC, since April 2022, is also accredited as a Regional Implementing Entity to the Adaptation Fund. In addition, the CCCCC is currently implementing projects with other donors and bilateral partners that include the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), United Kingdom - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK-FCDO), Adaptation Fund, World Bank, and the Caribbean Development Bank.   

The work of the CCCCC is guided by the CARICOM Revised Regional Framework (RRF) for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change, which provides the high-level strategy, identified by its Member States, to systematically address the challenges posed by climate change for the Caribbean and by the CCCCC’s Strategic Plan (2021-2025) “Building Resilience. Securing Our Future.” 

The CCCCC’s Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) outlines five inter-related Strategic Objectives that, when achieved, will support the achievement of the CCCCC vision of a “Resilient and Sustainable Caribbean region for all.” The Strategic Objectives outlined in the SIP include:

• Strategic Objective #1: Scale up actions to manage the effects of climate change.  
• Strategic Objective #2: Strengthen strategic partnerships for sustained climate change results within the Region.   
• Strategic Objective #3: Increase the uptake of climate data and innovative tools for socio-economic development and evidence-based decision-making across the region.   
• Strategic Objective #4: Increase the Caribbean’s public ability to make informed decisions in responding to climate change and its impacts.  
• Strategic Objective #5: A strong and sustainable Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre delivering on its mandate and providing added value to the Region.  

 Strategic Objective #5 aims to transform the CCCCC into a fit-for-purpose institution that has the internal capacity to deliver on its mandate and deliver the outcomes of its SIP. To assist in delivering this strategic objective, the CCCCC is recruiting a full-time Project Development Specialist II (PDS II) within the Programme Development and Management Department (PDMD) to lead the project preparation process ensuring quality and timeliness in proposal submissions.

 The CCCCC aims to create a fair, transparent, and results-oriented system that aligns with its strategic goals and fosters a culture of continuous improvement, responsive to its business needs as a self-financed institution.

3. OBJECTIVES

Under the supervision of the Lead Senior Project Development Specialist (LSPDS), the Project Development Specialist II work within the Project Development Unit (PDU) in the Programme Development and Management Department (PDMD), collaborating closely with sector experts and national authorities. The PDS II leads the project preparation process, ensuring quality and timeliness in proposal submissions, and supports Project Managers by coordinating and managing consultants who contribute technical studies and reviews for proposal development.

The primary responsibility of the PDS II is to produce technically compliant full funding proposal documents, including Annexes. Proposals rank as complex and include multi-country, multi-sector initiatives that also may have high safeguard and risk complexities. The PDS II must employ a collaborative approach and engage closely with Member States and their focal points on Climate Change, ensuring that project concepts align with national and regional frameworks while being innovative, transformative, and impactful.

With guidance from the LSPDS, the PDS II is expected to ensure inclusive planning and continuous collaboration with key technical staff within the CCCCC to ensure that projects mainstream gender and promote social inclusion from the onset. The PDS II will engage and collaborate with technical specialists to ensure the effective integration of environmental and social safeguards (e.g. GCF, AFC) and gender considerations into project design and planning to meet donor’s requirements and compliance with CCCCC Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS).

4. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

• Lead at least 2 full funding proposals to completion to include the following: costing and budget, cost-benefit analysis, a log frame/result framework, monitoring and evaluation plan, risk management plan and outline of institutional arrangements. 
• Finalize proposal packages for submission to bilateral and multilateral donors.

• Support the expansion and diversification of the CCCCC project/programme portfolio through the active delivery of project ideas, concept notes, and proposals, leading or coordinating thematic and technical working groups for project development. This entails:
  • Developing and articulating the project’s Theory of Change.
  • Leading the collation/preparation of necessary Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews, with input from national counterparts for formulating projects.  
  • Facilitating and guiding consultations to determine project strategy, priorities, key partners, and key barriers to success.
  • Leading the stakeholder analysis and consultation processes, ensuring that they are complete and comprehensive.   
  • Ensuring that gender findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change, and results framework.  
  • Ensuring that action points, including risk assessments from the CCCCC Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP), are fully implemented during project preparation as appropriate.  
  • Defining the project/programme preparation arrangements including the technical coordination of each component/activity as appropriate.  
  • Accountable for quality assurance, submission readiness, and improving overall success rates of deliverables.
  • Evaluate project activities and assess the technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and incrementality of proposed activities.
  • Prepare project budgets, detailing necessary inputs (consultants, services, travel, etc.) in the appropriate format.
• Support Technical Studies:
  • Collate and prepare necessary preparatory technical studies and reviews with inputs from national counterparts.
  • Address all technical comments from the PDMD, donors, development partners, and countries.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Analysis:
  • Engage stakeholders, represent the CCCCC, and present its work at various forums.
  • Leads high-level negotiations with national counterparts driving country and donor alignment.
  • Ensure comprehensive stakeholder analysis and consultation processes.
  • Guide consultations to establish project strategy, priorities, key partners, and barriers to success.
  • Work alongside the CCCCC development team (including Social and Environmental Safeguard experts, Gender Experts, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Experts) and perform any other duties assigned for effective service delivery within the PDMD.
• Integrate Gender Findings:
  • Meaningfully integrate gender findings into the project’s strategy, theory of change, and results framework.
• Implement Risk Assessments:
  • Ensure action points and risk assessments from the CCCCC Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) are implemented during project preparation.
• Contribute to Capacity Building:
  • Support the CCCCC’s efforts targeting CARICOM Member States to enhance capacities for developing and implementing climate change projects.
  • Where applicable, suggest partnerships with government, civil society organizations, research centres, or private sector partners interested in multi-focal area approaches.
• Define Monitoring Indicators:
  • Define recommended project monitoring and evaluation indicators aligned with the CCCCC Programme Framework Document.

6. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

Eligible candidates should have the following minimum qualifications, experience, and key competencies:

Qualifications:

• A Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Finance, Environmental Science/Management, Economics, Agriculture, Biology, or related discipline.

Experience:

a) At least five (5) years of working experience with three (3) years of grant writing and developing donor-compliant project documents.

b) Proven experience in developing complex proposals for funding from bilateral and multilateral organizations such as the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Caribbean Development Bank, World Bank, and the European Union. 

c) Proven standard project planning and development/formulation cycle expertise. 

d) Knowledge and/or familiarity with climate change threats, development imperatives, and socio-cultural dynamics in the Caribbean. 

e) Experience in synthesizing baseline/situational analysis for full-size project development and articulating project theory of change.

f) Experience in safeguards, gender, MEL frameworks, budgeting/costing and multi-partner coordination.

g) Work experience in the Caribbean region preferred. 

Skills and Competencies:

• Proven ability to build strong relationships with clients, ensuring their meaningful engagement and participation.
• Ability to work independently and within a multi-disciplinary team of experts to design and develop project/programme designs.
• Ability to make sound judgement calls and resolve bottlenecks.
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English.
• Integrity by modelling the CCCCC’s values and ethical standards.
• Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age differences.
• Fulfils obligations to gender sensitivity and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills with the ability to work effectively in a team.
• Openness to change and ability to receive and integrate feedback.
• Ability to work under pressure and in stressful situations.
• Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.

7. KEY BEHAVIOURS

• Accountability
• Transparency
• Integrity
• Respect
• Excellence

8.  PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

• Adherence to CCCCC policies and procedures
• CCCCC Confidentiality Agreement and Code of Conduct.
• CCCCC’s Programme Development and Management policies and manual.

9. REMUNERATION PACKAGE

10. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

• The Project Development Specialist II (PDS II) reports to the Lead Senior Project Development Specialist.
• The PDS II provides mentorship to Project Development Specialist I positions.

11. COMMENCEMENT AND PLACE OF WORK

The Project Development Specialist II will be contracted full-time to the CCCCC’s Headquarters in the City of Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize. The initial contract duration is for two (2) years with a probationary period of three (3) months, and subject to extension and/or renewal, contingent on performance and availability of funding.

12. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION:

a) Eligible candidates shall submit the following application package: 

i. A Motivation letter outlining how your experience, skills, qualifications, and professional associations fit with the required terms of reference. 

ii. A detailed Curriculum Vitae or Résumé with full details of experience, achievements, official or certified copies of highest academic degree, and training certificates. 

iii. Completed Applicant Information Form (see enclosed). 

b) How to Apply: 

Applications should be clearly identified as: “Vacancy for Project Development Specialist II” in the subject matter of the email and be submitted as ONE PDF package (in the order listed above) via an email to: 

Caryn Guerrero

Human Resources & Support Services

Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)

3^rd Floor, David L McKoy Business Center, Bliss Parade

City of Belmopan, Belize

Phone: + (501) 822-1094 or 1104 

c) Application Deadline:   

Friday, 22 May 2026

Incomplete and late packages will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• The successful candidate will be required to submit a valid Police Record (no older than six months).
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 
• ALL qualified individuals are equally encouraged to apply.

 The CCCCC is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture.