UNCDF, a hybrid development and financial organization, is uniquely positioned in the UN system to collaborate across private and public sectors to build strategic partnerships, co-management frameworks, and deploy various instruments (concessional loans, bonds, guarantees, etc.) as well as technical assistance to incubate solutions and attract private investment. UNCDF recognizes the critical need to catalyze private investment in inclusive and innovative solutions that deliver cross-cutting impacts for sustainable development with a focus on peace, climate adaptation and resilience, food security and nature conservation.

UNCDF launched a new Strategic Framework for 2022-2025 that offers an ambitious roadmap aimed at unlocking the potential of finance to accelerate SDG-positive achievements for the benefit of the most vulnerable nations. In particular, the new UNCDF Framework highlights biodiversity finance as a severely underfunded climate mitigation solution and propose to apply UNCDF multidimensional capital mandate to mobilize further public and private, international and domestic finance in LDCs through concessional capital deployment, financial advisory and support for the establishment of financing mechanisms and systems that promotes the valuation of the LDC unique natural assets potential.

UNCDF intent is to support LDCs to create an enabling environment for nature-positive pipeline building, investments and market opportunities that create equitable and diversified economic growth. The essence of this transformation is a strategic shift from viewing nature as a resource to treating nature as an asset. This represents a very different view to natural resource investing wherein nature is commoditized for short run gain and its long run economic and nature-based value is not taken into consideration. In order to support this strategic shift, UNCDF is consolidating its growing nature-based portfolio into a Nature Asset Team (UNCDF NAT). The team will serve to mobilize the nature-positive public and private finance needed for green & blue economic transformation supporting several pilot projects financed by the Central Africa Forest Initiative – CAFI, the Global Fund for Coral Reef, the Peace Building Fund – PBF and several bilateral donors. UNCDF’s Nature Asset Team’s objective is to identify solutions, drive investment, and transform markets to promote the protection and enhanced valuation of nature assets. Through UNCDF’s tailored financial vehicles and tools, the Nature Asset Team focuses on scaling-up investment in solutions that place nature at the heart of economic transition to enable long-term resilience and restoration.

Programme Management:

• Support strategic coherence among UNCDF NAT programming in particular with the Peace Building Fund and the Investment for Peace platform.
• Support the coordination of priorities and activities across the NAT portfolio for efficient implementation of the portfolio.
• Coordinate the implementation of UNCDF/NAT programme activities in the Country which includes the management of project implementation according to annual work plan; quality assurance and ensuring achievement of outputs
• Assist in the development and implementation of strategies to enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide expertise and analysis on nature, climate and stability contexts relevant to key NAT geographic priorities and projects.
• Contribute to the production of concept notes addressing strategic aspects crucial for effective project implementation.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:

• Set up and maintain a database for the management of the indicator framework across the various projects including the harmonization of data sourcing methods.
• Conduct comprehensive monitoring of project implementation status and provide recommendations to the Deputy Director.
• Contribute to the drafting of the respective project semi and annual report as required by the donors.
• Facilitate regular feedback sessions with project teams to assess the effectiveness of applied lessons and make real-time adjustments to project strategies.
• Ensure gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is integrated in the MEL framework and in results reporting.
• Ensure the integration of lesson learning into project planning, ensuring that future initiatives benefit from insights gained during the lesson learning process.

.Liaise with UN Agencies and other stakeholders:

• Establish and sustain effective communication channels with UN Agencies and other partners, fostering collaboration in key areas.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and support in resource mobilization for the strategy in the unit
• Effective advocacy of UNCDF/NAT
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key contacts at UN agencies and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate effective communication and collaboration
• Schedule and facilitate regular meetings, conferences, and discussions between internal teams and external stakeholders to exchange information, share updates, and address concerns.
• Regularly communicate updates, progress reports, and relevant information to other UN agencies and stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment with organizational goals and objectives.

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 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:   
LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:   
LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:   
LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:    
LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:   
LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:   
LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-functional and Technical Competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy   
Strategic Thinking:
Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNCDF’s 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 UNDP

Business direction and strategy   
Effective decision making: 
Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business development   
Knowledge generation: 
Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need

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 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
Monitoring:   
Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Partnership management    
Emerging partnerships:
Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Fluency in Spanish and/or other UN languages is an asset.