UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector.  By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders.  UNCDF’s work is focused on six priority areas, including:

• Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
• Women owned enterprise financing
• Nature and climate financing
• Energy and decarbonization finance
• Sustainable food systems financing
• Inclusive digital finance

UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321 (XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.

The required expertise will also contribute to improving the understanding of finance sector stakeholders for water-related projects and regional/local investment opportunities and strengthen Investors’ appetite for such investment opportunities. Furthermore, the incumbent will support establishing policies, standards, and practices that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the capital financing process in beneficiary countries.

The incumbent is accountable for the identification, development, quality assurance of, and technical support to global as well as country-level opportunities within Blue Peace Financing programme, while ensuring gender equality and empowerment of women in strategic and operational activities of UNCDF.

1) Provide high-level strategic guidance and thought leadership on innovative financing for water and the SDGs, local and regional economic development, municipal finance, Financing for Development, etc.

• Provide technical advisory for innovative financing models in the context of the Blue Peace Financing Program, including designing and testing financial mechanisms, instruments, and tools for: investments by the sustainable finance sector in water projects, water infrastructure including through guarantee facilities, third-party managed funds, PPPs and debt instruments (borrowing, special purpose project vehicles, bonds, etc.).
• Provide strategic advisory for Blue Peace Bond(s) and other financing mechanisms, including strategies for the rollout of innovative finance instruments in accordance with the Blue Peace Financing programme.
• Identify and follow up on investment opportunities that can be leveraged within the LDCs and selected non-LDCs in the context of the Blue Peace Financing Programme.
• Leading and contributing to high-level strategic meetings and negotiations on sustainable finance for water and SDGs, including with government officials, BPF Responsible Parties and finance sector stakeholders.
• Leading and contributing to trainings and workshops on capital markets and sustainable finance for the SDGs/water.

2) Provide leadership in applying business development strategies, tools, and intelligence, to build and maintain technical partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and enhance resource mobilization for the BPF implementing partners

• Provide strategic advisory on navigating finance ecosystem the guides the engagement with partners and with other stakeholders in the capital markets, finance sector as well as the development sector.
• Provide thought leadership for the design of new instruments and mechanisms for replication and scaling up of the program as well as for partnership opportunities, donor outreach and resource mobilization.
• Provide strategic advisory in identifying, documenting, and incorporating lessons learned from BPF pilots with the objective of contributing to scaling up, policy influence and mainstreaming of the UNCDF models developed.
• Provide expert inputs to publications, seminars, and conferences in the area of sustainable finance for water and the SDGs, and in line with UNCDF’s mandate, vision and mission.

3) Provide strategic support and advice on Scalability and Replication of UNCDF success models and initiatives related to Finance for Water and Sustainable Finance for the SDGs.

• Provide strategic advisory for the design and roll out of the second phase of the Blue Peace Financing Program and its implementation, including positioning UNCDF as lead UN agency when it comes to Financing for Water/SDGs as well as through strategic inputs for decision making.
• Participate in and provide strategic inputs to relevant BPF and partner’s Working Groups and inter-agency bodies.
• Active participation in retreats, meetings and teleconferences.
• Provide strategic advisory in the area of Sustainable Finance, including innovative and blended finance frameworks, standards, and mechanisms and provide related inputs into corporate presentations and reports.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Achieve Results:    
LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact

Think Innovatively:    
LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight

Learn Continuously:    
LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all

Adapt with Agility:    
LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes

Act with Determination:     
LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence

Engage and Partner:    
LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:    
LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking    
•     Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNCDF objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
•     Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNCDF

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking    

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development: Knowledge Generation    

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management: Communication    

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Business Management: Project Management    

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritise and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Partnership management: Relationship management    

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

2030 Agenda: Partnerships: SDG Finance     

• Responsive investment and impact measurement

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Business Administration, Public Finance, Public Administration, Law or related field is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Min. years of relevant work experience:

• Minimum of 15 years (with master’s degree) or 17 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in international organizations, corporate or investment, impact investment, venture capital, private equity, or a relevant related field, preferably in developing countries & LDCs.

Required skills:    

• Proven experience of Sustainable Finance and Municipal Finance as well as investment leadership, including in developing and implementing financing mechanisms and blended finance instruments is required;
• Experience and deep technical knowledge of local development planning and capital investment programming in urban areas as well as non-sovereign contexts;
• Extensive experience in implementing or researching financial innovation initiatives and expanding investment finance, especially in emerging and developing markets, water-related and natural resources related investment is required;
• Proven experience and track record in working with senior officials and investors in developing countries is required;
• Proven experience in resource mobilization and record of success in building partnerships and negotiating financing mechanisms; Strong financial analysis and business project appraisal skills is an asset.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience with UNDP/UNCDF and Familiarity with UNCDF/UNDP rules and procedures is an advantage;
• Experience in developing project documents and start-up of new projects is an asset;
• Results-based management experience including monitoring, evaluation and incorporating lessons learned is an asset.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.