Background

General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDF’s vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

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

Following a recent restructuring, UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. 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 Programme (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.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide support on the quality assurance and review processes on assigned transactions prepared by the Investment and Implementation Division for investment decision

Review/Peer-review assigned investment transactions to ensure:

• adherence to internal policies and procedures.
• the structuring of the proposed transactions is appropriate to achieve desired outcomes.
• consistency in how financial instruments are applied across UNCDF’s operations.
• quality check on materials prepared leading to the investment committee and subsequent decisions.
• adherence of assigned investment structures to the principles and best practices of development finance, including minimum concessionaly, additionally, limited market distortion.

2. Contribute to technical advisory discussions on the utilization of various financing mechanisms and instruments under consideration

• Contribute, as assigned, to advisory services and support to operational units about financing mechanisms, structuring and optimized choices of financing instruments including at the initial assessment stages, support to due-diligence processes and ultimately the final structure of the transaction.
• Provide advice and tangible support to maximize the potential of public/private co-financing for UNCDF led transactions demonstrating pathways for sustainability, scalability and impact.
• Guide collaboration efforts with UN agencies and advisory services on how to best use UNCDF’s financing capabilities and instruments in their operations.
• Take lead, on scoping and technical missions based on demand from regions and countries.

3. Facilitate knowledge management

• Lead in research, learning, and knowledge generation related to UNCDF’s investment mandate and operations.
• Coordinate documentation and adopt approaches to ensure that the lessons learnt from UNCDF’s investment and transactional work and impact on local economic development are collected, documented, and disseminated.
• Ensure the development of training materials for UNCDF’s staff in the use of UNCDF’s financial instruments.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity<Enter Competencies here>

Cross-Functional and Technical Competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy: Entrepreneurial Thinking    

• Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.

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: Knowledge Generation    

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new 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 with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management

Business Management: Partnership Management    

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNCDF strategy and policies

Business Management: Communication    

• 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

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience within a financial institution, development finance institution, or development cooperation agency with investment operations is required.

Required  skills     

• Experience working with development finance, public finance,   and/or private sector.
• Experience in reviewing/peer-reviewing investment documents for investment decisions.

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

•    
• Knowledge and experience in the deployment of a variety of financial instruments, including grants, loans and or guarantees.
• Experience in financial analysis, modeling.
• Experience from structuring financial transactions or products.
• Knowledge and understanding of working with investing and/or financing partners across public and private domains, including vertical funds and international financial institutions.
• Knowledge and application of UNDP/UNCDF policies and procedures.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of other UN language is highly desirable.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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