Office/Unit/Project Description

a)    Office/unit/project structure and context

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the United Nations’ flagship catalytic financing entity for the world’s 45 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). With its unique capital mandate and focus on the LDCs, UNCDF works to invest and catalyse capital to support these countries in achieving the sustainable growth and inclusiveness envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: (1) inclusive digital economies, which connects individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; (2) local development finance, which capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and (3) investment finance, which provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization.

b)    Rationale / background and the objectives of the unit or project

UNCDF leverages digital finance in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve the vision of promoting inclusive digital economies. On that basis, the Inclusive Digital Economies team adopted the strategy of ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’, which is based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific . The goal of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use digital services, which improve their quality of life and accelerate our progress towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

In 2021, UNCDF started to tailor its new strategy to the Pacific context with three complementary programme initiatives that are part of a bigger portfolio approach to implement UNCDF’s strategy “Leaving no one behind in the digital era” in the Pacific region. These programmes are; The Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP) , the Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP) , DFS for Resilience programme (DFS4Resilience) . Furthermore, as a UN agency with a unique investment mandate, UNCDF is expanding its interventions that incorporate blended finance (grants, loans, guarantees and technical assistance) in various thematics ranging from digital economy, climate change, and green/blue economy .

How the required services will contribute to the work of the unit/project

The Country Coordinator will coordinate UNCDF’s work in Samoa. He/she will be responsible for activities, outputs and outcomes under UNCDF’s programmes and the blended finance portfolio in Samoa.

This involves working closely with UNCDF partners, from the government (such as relevant Ministries and regulatory authorities), the private sector (including but not limited to commercial banks, mobile network operators, fintechs, insurance companies, remittance service providers etc), as well as development partners, such as other UN Agencies, donor organizations and NGO’s.

• Coordinate the implementation of UNCDF’s programme activities in the country which includes the management of project implementation according to country strategy, annual work plan, quality assurance and ensuring achievement of outputs;
• Advise the development of a pipeline of innovative projects and initiatives using UNCDF’s Technical Assistance facilities and blended finance instruments (e.g. grants, loans and guarantees);
• Supervise and manage volunteers/interns/consultants, who may be onboarded depending on project requirements;
• Evaluate performance and provide guidance and mentorship for personnel working on programme implementation;
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and support in resource mobilization for the strategy in the region;
• Advise and support relevant ministries and other entities from the Governments, regulators to improve the countries policy and regulations;
• Advise and support in partner relationship management with financial service providers like commercial banks, insurance service providers, fintechs, mobile money operators, remittance service providers etc. through financial and technical support from UNCDF;
• Represent UNCDF in all country level workshops, conferences and other events where UNCDF is invited;
• Facilitate country visits of regional technical specialists and other colleagues by liaising with partners in organizing meetings;
• Support timely reporting from partners that have received support as may be required;
• Contribute to knowledge management and communication by writing blog posts, focus notes etc.;
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the
  efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Results/Expected Outputs

• Robust relationships with Government departments, financial services stakeholders, donors and other development partners;
• A portfolio and pipeline of high quality and innovative projects and other initiatives to support the development of Samoa digital finance, digital economy and SDG financing;
• Increased visibility and recognition by UNCDF’s stakeholders in Samoa for its expertise and capacity to deliver development outcomes for an inclusive digital economy;
• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs);
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

Achieve Results:    
LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively:    
LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously:    
LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility:    
LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination:     
LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner:    
LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:    
LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)

Business Direction & Strategy: Systems 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 Direction & Strategy: Negotiation & Influence

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations.

Business Management: Portfolio Management    

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment.

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.

Digital & Innovation: Tech Literacy     

• Ability to apply new digital tools or adapting their original use to create new insights, fresh perspectives or develop solutions. Understand the potential as well as the limitations of certain technological developments; being able to identify how technology can add value when it’s used as a “”means to an end”.

Partnership Management: Private Sector Engagement    

• Ability to identify, conduct outreach and manage relationships with the private sector.

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Development Studies, Management. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) in financial services or digital economy related areas, such as with commercial banks, development banks, payments service providers, eCommerce, FinTech, insurance or any other type of financial institution is required.

Required skills and competencies:    

• Solid experience in financial services and/or digital economy sector (e.g. Digital Finance, FinTech, InsurTech, eCommerce, Telco, etc) is required.

Desired additional skills and competencies:

• Experience working in developing countries is considered as desirable.
• Expertise in Digital Payments, Financial Inclusion and Access to finance is considered an advantage.
• Experience working with development partners, such as UN organizations or other multilateral organizations (e.g. World Bank, IFC, ADB) or donor agencies is considered an advantage.
• Experience in coordinating with internal and external stakeholders on projects is a plus.
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship management and negotiation experience is desired.
• Computer and IT skills in Microsoft applications is desired.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English is required.